Stories from Thursday, September 12, 2013

One month has passed since Monett Middle School introduced the One to the World program, distributing laptop computers to every student. Expanding the high school program to the middle school has introduced innovation and challenges for educators and students...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its 2013 Fall Festival and Chili and Salsa Cook-Off, which will be held on the downtown square in Cassville on Saturday, Oct. 26. The theme for this year's event is "hillbilly chili bash." Vendors and chili and salsa cook-off participants are encouraged to decorate their booth space with hillbilly memorabilia...

Jason Navarro, history teacher at Wheaton High School, is one of seven finalists for the Missouri Teacher of the Year Award, to be presented on Oct. 21 in Jefferson City. Navarro became eligible for the state award after being named the Wheaton R-3 District Teacher of the Year last year...

The Dream Team of Hospice Compassus needs help to make the wishes of local terminal patients in their care come true. "The Dream Team is similar to the Make a Wish Foundation," explained Ginger Harrison, Hospice Compassus, volunteer coordinator. "We've made wishes come true for many patients. We've provided trips, vacations, weddings, reunited families and other requests...

The annual Field Day at the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center near Mt. Vernon, usually held on the second Friday of September, will not be held this year. University officials chose to hold a series of mini field days through the summer on different topics. The annual meeting of the Ozark Electric cooperative will still be held across from the Southwest Center, with a dinner at noon and meetings at 1 p.m...

A Galena man was hurt in a single-vehicle crash five miles east of Aurora on Sept. 10. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, James Barker, 53, was hauling a load of hay with his 1997 Ford F250 pickup on County Road 2240 at 1 p.m. The hay caught fire as the truck headed west. The driver abandoned the vehicle while it was in motion. The pickup ran off the road and into a fence...

The Purdy Lady Eagles softball team traveled south to play the Southwest Lady Trojans in a game that had district implications on Sept. 9. The Lady Eagles (6-1) earned a 3-1 victory. The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth when Purdy plated two runs...

The Wheaton Lady Bulldogs volleyball team kicked off its season with a two sets to one home win over Diamond on Sept. 5. The Lady Bulldogs held on to claim the first set 25-23 but fell 25-9 in the second set. Wheaton wouldn't back down and claimed a 25-20 victory in the third and decisive match...

The statewide high school football rankings are as follows. The prep rankings are compiled by a 15-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Team's first-place votes in parenthesis and local teams of interest are bolded. CLASS 6 1. Blue Springs (15)...

The Monett Lady Cubs tennis team earned an 8-1 win over Clever on Sept. 10. The Lady Cubs improved to 3-3 on the season. In singles play, Hannah Pitts defeated McKenzie Buckert, 8-2. Josee Caudill topped Jada Hampton, 9-8. Katie Tinklepaugh downed Abbey Waterworth, 8-3. Lauren Bass handled Shyla Camron, 8-2; and Meghan Gaines won 8-6 over Erin Jones...

The Verona Lady Wildcats volleyball team improved to 3-0 on the year with a 2-1 victory over Clever on Sept. 10. The Lady Wildcats got off to a slow start and fell behind by seven points in the first set when a tremendous hustle play by Tori Pinkly saved a point and led to a 25-20 rally win...

The Pierce City Lady Eagles volleyball team swept a pair of matches from Greenfield on Sept. 10. The Lady Eagles (4-0, 1-0) won the first set 25-9 and prevailed in the second set 25-12. Pierce City was led by Christine Stellwagen with three service aces and 10 digs. Christine Younker had eight kills and three blocks, and Courtney Zebert added 10 digs...

The Monett Cubs swimming and diving team swam at a seven-team dual at Carthage on Sept.10 Each team swam against each other for head-to-head victories and each swimmer received points toward overall placement. "I was very happy with how we competed today in our first real meet of the season," said Monett coach Dan Janssen. ...

The softball Monett Lady Cubs picked up a pair of wins to open action in the Big 8 Conference. On Sept. 10 the Lady Cubs topped Lamar 1-0, and on Sept. 5 Monett (6-2, 2-0) routed Cassville 10-0. Against the Lady Tigers, Monett faced Class 2 All-State pitcher Emmie Robertson. With Monett's ace pitcher Allie Kruger entering the pitchers circle for Monett, this game had the makings for a defensive struggle...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Sept. 12, 1933 The all-star teams of the Twilight League were drawn by lot and the two teams, the Yankees and the Giants, will play this evening on the East Broadway diamond. A new issue of NRA stamps was received by the Monett Post Office. The stamps are pale lavender, issued only in the three-cent amount. On the stamps are a farmer with a scythe, a business man, a baker with his apron and a woman...

Rosetta Mangrum, 79, of Diamond, Mo., formerly of Monett, Mo., passed away on Monday, Sept. 9, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. She was born on Jan. 25, 1934 in Bono, Ark., the daughter of the late Oliver Porter and Josie (Johnson) Killion. She was united in marriage on Dec. 2, 1950 in Monette, Ark., to Lawrence Mangrum and he preceded her in death on Sept. 23, 2011...

Robert W. Main, age 72, of Cassville, Mo., passed away on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 at Benchmark Healthcare in Monett, Mo. Robert was born on Dec. 18, 1940 in Chicago, Ill., the son of the late Robert Wilbur Main, Sr. and Irma Erkxlivon Main. He had worked in the maintenance department for George's in Butterfield. He was of the Baptist faith...