Stories from Friday, September 6, 2013

The Barry-Lawrence County Development Center will celebrate 40 years of service. The center, which provides therapy with developmental delays or disabilities,, primarily focusing on pre-school children, opened on July 10, 1973. The formal celebration will be held during the bi-annual benefit auction, scheduled for Nov. 8 at the City Park Casino...

The Monett Cubs football team pull out an improbable 28-25 win over the Neosho Wildcats on Sept. 6. Monett trailed 25-13 with 8:06 left in the game and rallied with 15-unanswered points to claim the win. Jorge Meza's 71-yard catch and run with 3:47 left in regulation provided the necessary points needed for victory...

By the Numbers 12 Number of consecutive losses Neosho has endured. Last Wildcats varsity win (28-13) came against Central High School on Oct. 27, 2011. 481 Numbers of points Neosho's defense has given up during the 12-game slide. The Wildcats have only managed 147 point offensively over the same period...

It was after week one's devastating loss to Mt. Vernon in 2012 that Monett defensive coordinator Jim Genzler decided that drastic changes needed to be made. "After that game I told the other coaches that we were going to change our style," said Genzler. "We weren't going to read and react anymore. We were going to attack."...

The Monett Cubs football team will try to remain perfect on the young season as they invade Neosho on Friday, Sept. 6. It's been awhile since the Wildcats' football team (0-1) has tasted victory. In fact, it has been 48 quarters, 576 minutes, 680 days or one year 10 months and 10 days since the Wildcats earned a 28-13 win over Central High School on Oct. 27, 2011...

The Lawrence County Tax Board for the Developmentally Disabled approved its tax levy hearing for the 2013 cycle at its Aug. 20 meeting. Board members approved a levy of 8.97 cents per $100 of assessed property, up from 8.93 cents in the previous tax cycle. The end result would bE an increase of revenue for tax services of $3,172. The levy will generate $376,5456.64 for services to the developmentally disabled in the county...

The 38th annual Newtonia Fall Festival will kick off at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 28 with the Newtonia Battlefield 5K Run/Walk. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Civil War Ritchey House and Old Civil War Newtonia Cemetery, repairing damage caused by vandals earlier in the year...

The second annual dinner and silent auction, for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, was held on Saturday, July 27 at New Site Baptist Church in Monett. The event was hosted by Jason Hensley in support of the ALS Association, Keith Worthington Chapter, Walk to Defeat ALS. Jason is the son of Lynn and Louise Hensley. The dinner was held in honor of his father, Lynn who was diagnosed with ALS in September 2010...

The public is welcome at the Berean Christian Academy's fourth annual Country Fun Fair on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 5 p.m. to dark. Booth space is available for artists, crafts makers and vendors for $20. There will be barbecue, carnival rides, games for kids and fireworks. For additional information, call Leslea Clifton at 417-737-0498...

The Monett swimming and diving team competed in their first meet at Springfield on Sept. 3. The Cubs' diving duo of Matt Kelly and Payton Genzer took third with 109.6 points. "It was good for our drivers to be able to get up and throw some dives for the judges and see what else is out there," said swimming coach Dan Janssen. "I think their third place finish gives them some confidence moving forward."...

The Monett High School speech and debate team competed at the NFL national tournament the week of June 16. Seven students qualified at the Carver-Truman district competitions held in March. Jonah Ragsdale was elected presiding officer of the senate and received a gavel...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Sept. 5, 1933 The Monett delegation to the three-day state American Legion and Auxiliary convention at Jefferson City earned honors. The Hobbs-Anderson Auxiliary unit received first place for Americanism. The Barry County Office For Federal Relief And Reemployment will be located in Monett above Millsap's store...

On Nov. 20, 1962, at a news conference, President John F. Kennedy stated, "It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut rates now. Cutting taxes now is not to incur a budget deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous, expanding economy which can bring a budget surplus."...

I hope this writing finds everyone in high spirits, preparing for what will hopefully be a beautiful fall. I am personally looking forward to seeing how the area high school football teams perform, as well as my Mizzou Tigers and Kansas City Chiefs. If the Rams do well, that would be a bonus, but I am ready for good season in KC...

Few places in town inspire such nostalgia as restaurants. When the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise closed in Monett on Sept. 1, we discovered again how fleeting memories are. KFC opened in Monett in 1974 on West Highway 60, west of Eisenhower. Owners Richard and Ruth Fry moved to East Highway 60 by 1976 and the business has changed owners several times since then...

Marjorie C. Askew, age 86, of Eagle Rock, died at 3:49 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 9, in Red Rose Health and Rehab Center, Cassville. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., on Monday, Sept. 9, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m., in Butler Cemetery, Butler, under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

The 25th Pierce City Car Show, held Saturday, Aug. 31, saw 59 first, second and third place winners, along with three special award winners. Kevin and Rhonda Hatfield, who have hosted the show for 22 years, announced they would be retiring after this year...