Stories from Friday, February 15, 2013

Times Photo by Jared Lankford Monett R-1 School Superintendent Brad Hanson turns 50 today (Feb. 15). As a way to cheer up their colleague, members of the R-1 administrative team announced Hanson's milestone to the world with matching T-shirts declaring "Brad Hanson is 50 today" and found a wheelchair to keep him comfortable. ...

Two people were injured in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, on Newton Road, about four miles north of Diamond. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 1999 Mercedes E320, Devin W. Rust, 18, of Monett, drove off the south side of the road, struck a fence and came to rest in a field...

Mildred Welsandt, age 85, of Monett, Mo., Passed away on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 while at the Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett, Mo., following a lengthy illness. Mildred was born on Feb. 21, 1927 in Aurora, Mo., the daughter of the late Guy Noble Essex and Ora Ellen (Shepherd) Essex...

Winter seems to have had one final hurrah this week with a day of snow. Sledders had no chance to enjoy the brief accumulation but at least had a look at winter. It hardly seems like winter when contractors see no interruption in their work schedule. School kids feel robbed without a snow day on the horizon...

CENTRAL PARK AND MONETT ELEMENTARY HM - Homemade fresh in the Opaa! Kitchen. WG - Whole Grain item. Monday -- Breakfast: No school. Tuesday -- Breakfast: Breakfast burrito, cereal or oatmeal. Lunch: 1. Chicken rings. 2. Super nachos. 3. Fajita chicken salad...

The Monett High School speech and debate team competed at the Cassville Individual Events tournament on Jan. 19. The team placed first in a field of 10 schools. The following students advanced to finals and received a trophy: Duo interpretation, Andrew Brown and Sarah Burton, sixth; Matt Murphy and Andrew Gilliam, fourth; Kendra DePriest and Kole Eden, second; Anna Cloud and Taylor Renfro, second; and Garrett Maxey and Zeina Masri, first; improvised duet acting, Matt Murphy and Kole Eden, sixth; Zeina Masri and Kendra DePriest, fourth; Kiersten Harper and Hayley Henry, third; and Wesley Kilgore and Matt Bowsher, first.. ...

Tiffany Dohn, of Monett, was named to the College of the Ozarks, in Point Lookout, fall 2012 president's list. To qualify for the president's list, students must maintain a minimum 4.0 grade point average during the semester and carry at least 15 credit hours...

Hope Caselman, of Monett, was named to the dean's list at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout. To qualify for the dean's list, students must maintain a 3.6 minimum grade point average during the semester and carry at least 15 credit hours. Caselman is a graduate of Monett High School...

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) will be offered at the Pierce City Senior Center for those suffering with arthritis, diabetes, heart or other chronic diseases. The program will run from 10 a.m. until noon from March 6 through April 10...

Pierce City Central Elementary students are jumping at the chance to fight heart disease and stroke, the number one and number four killers in the nation. On Feb. 21 from 3:30 to 6 p.m., students in third through fifth grades will host the annual Jump Rope for Heart event to raise money for the American Heart Association, which funds lifesaving heart and stroke research and community and educational programs for the youth...

This past week I had the opportunity to attend the Midwest Educators Technology Conference (METC) in St. Charles, Mo. The conference is designed to showcase best classroom practices, newest products, and to allow educators to learn from each other. Monett was well represented with participants and presenters...

Eagle watching is planned for Saturday, Feb. 16 at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The Monett R-1 Schools will not be in session on Monday, Feb. 18 for the February break. The Mt. Pleasant Benefit Special Road District commissioners will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 at the Freistatt fire station...

The local YMCA has announced the launch of a tree planting effort that will add 120 new trees at Monett's South Park. The goal of the campaign is to plant two trees for every one tree that had to be removed in the process of constructing the Y's new recreational facility, which officially opens to the public on Saturday, Feb. 16. In all, 120 new trees will be added at the park...

An unusual award has come to a Monett teacher, coach and songwriter, Amy Sampson. She has been declared a co-winner in the contest to write the lyrics to a new fight song for Missouri Southern State University (MSSU). An accomplished singer/songwriter who regularly performs at Mocha Jo's in Monett, Sampson got her degree in English from MSSU in 2003. Sampson became intrigued by advertising from MSSU seeking someone to write words to the school's established fight song...

New details on how the storm shelter safe rooms at Monett Middle School and Monett High School will look emerged in discussions at the January meeting of the R-1 Board of Education. Architects Pam Haldiman and Jim Stufflebeam, with Sapp Design Associates, presented more detailed drawings of the shelters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help fund...

A family movie event at the Monett Branch Library event will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 21. Movie details are available by contacting the library. All ages are welcome to attend. New fiction titles available at the Monett Branch Library include: "The Struggle" by Wanda E. ...

Marilyn Nelson, of Pierce City, will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, in the fellowship hall of St. John's Lutheran Church, located on Highway H north of Monett. Her children will host the event. The omission of gifts is requested. Cards may be addressed to: 21311 Lawrence 1050, Pierce City, MO 65723...