Stories from Thursday, December 6, 2012

Monett city employees have been busy on numerous projects in recent weeks, according to reports by department heads at the Nov. 20 meeting of the Monett City Council. In January, 2013, the water tower at South Park, dating back to the 1930s, would be removed by a Utility Services crew. ...

The Pierce City Eagles basketball team exploded for 24 points in the fourth quarter to rally and defeat Wheaton on Dec. 4. "For the first three periods of the game we were flat," said Pierce City coach Matt Street. "We woke up in the fourth quarter and were able to get on a run."...

The Monett Middle School wrestling team recently took second at the Seneca Junior High Wrestling Tournament. Seneca won the 11-team tournament scoring 229 points. Monett recorded 227 points winning 43 total matches. Placing first for the Cubs were: Brody Crawford, Aaron Howard, Ian Meyer, Caleb Hilton, and Desmond Hill...

Pierce City High school volleyball standout Krishna Merriman recently signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin next year. "It feels good to know that I get to keep playing," said Merriman. "I love to play volleyball and to continue that in college is awesome."...

Three churches joined together for a joint handbell concert in Mt. Vernon on Sunday, Dec. 2. The Trinity Ringers, from Trinity Lutheran Church in Freistatt, joined forces with the Disciple Bells from First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Grace Note Ringers from First United Methodist Church, both from Mt. Vernon...

Berean Christian Academy will present a "living nativity" at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7. The program will include live music, refreshments, hay rides and a bonfire. The public is invited to attend. The school is located at 10385 Highway 60, one mile east of Lowe's. For more information, call 236-9088...

The second annual Vendor and Craft Fair Explosion will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Monett Masonic Lodge, 501 13th Street. Products available will include MICHE, homemade jewelry, Pampered Chef, DIVA Girl, Sniffty Kreations candles, handbags, Mary Kay and more...

Area merchants are cautioned to be on the lookout for counterfeit bills. Barry County Chief Deputy Leonard Collins, reported three counterfeit $50 bills had been passed in deposits through Freedom Bank in Cassville. The case was referred to the Cassville Police Department for investigation...

The holiday season has arrived and Monett is definitely in the spirit. South Park is filled with lighted displays, houses are decorated and one last step in decorating is placing the "Happy Holiday" banners on the downtown Broadway street lights.

Area residents are invited to participate this week in a special non-event gala, sponsored by the Monett-Purdy affiliate of the Habitat for Humanity. Invitations have been mailed to individuals and businesses in Barry and Lawrence counties. "This is a perfect event for those who are weary of holiday party-going," said Rev. Ron Stair, Habitat president. "To take part in this non-event, you don't have to get dressed up. You don't have to hire a babysitter. You don't even have to leave home...

Monett High School celebrated the holidays on Wednesday, Dec. 4, by crowning Miss Merrie Christmas in the school gym. Raigan Ratliff was crowned Miss Merrie Christmas. She and her court, fellow seniors Anabril Ortega and Anna Cloud led the celebration with Christmas wishes and read to visiting children from the Barry-Lawrence County Development Center...

Brian Berry Andelin, age 64, passed away on the family farm in Pierce City, Mo., on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was born on Jan. 6, 1948 in Alhambra, Calif. to Aubrey Passey Andelin and Helen Lucille Berry. One of eight children, he grew up in Idaho Falls, Fresno, and Clovis, Calif...