Stories from Friday, October 4, 2013

The four-year-old dispute over Monett's tax increment financing (TIF) program concluded on Oct. 1. The Missouri Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal filed by Barry County 911. In issuing rulings and decisions, the Supreme Court issued a one-word decision, "Denied," ending the case...

Scott Regional Technology Center sent nine students to the Skills USA State Leadership Conference on Sept. 26-28 in Jefferson City. The purpose of the conference was to train local student officers in the organization and management of a chapter. The students elected chapter officer teams, organized committees and developed a program that they presented to the conference...

Monett High School has announced Students of the Month for September.

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Sept. 30.

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Sept. 24.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the largest and oldest student business organization, held their National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Anaheim, Calif. on June 27-30. Taylor Reynolds and Brittany Schultz, of Purdy High School, received national recognition at the conference...

Floyd Hinkley Thornton, age 75, of Monett, died on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Freeman West, in Joplin. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.

George William McCormick Jr., age 91, of Aurora, died at 9:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, at his home A funeral service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, will be held at 1 p.m. on Oct. 4, at the United Methodist Church of Aurora with burial at Maple Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3 in the funeral home chapel...

Charles W. Stipp, age 86, of Fairview, died at 11:12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, in McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Burial will be in Rocky Comfort Cemetery.

After 54 seasons in Branson, The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre will greet its final guests on Oct. 19. Management cited rising costs for insurance and production, the new health care mandate and declining crowds as the reason. During its peak in the 1970s and '80s, The Shepherd of the Hills performed to over 2,000 guests each night and most shows were sold out...

Many of you may have heard about a recently proposed Arkansas power line that could pass through southern Barry and McDonald counties. Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is considering Route 109, running for about 25 miles along the Missouri-Arkansas border, as one option to address power supply issues in north Arkansas...

Four years of arguing and litigation over Monett's tax increment financing (TIF) program has finally ended. One of the longest, most contentious and expensive cross county brawls in the history of southwest Missouri costing an enormous amount of money and didn't change anything...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Oct. 4, 1933 Governor Alf Landon, of Kansas, addressed a large assembly of Republican men and women at the Monett Park Casino. The Monett firemen have engaged Clifford Ellis and his eight-piece orchestra to play at a benefit dance on Oct. 6 at the Park Casino. Money raised will be used to buy supplies for fighting fires...

The feeling and scene was indescribable on Nov. 5, 2012 as hundreds of purple clad fans poured onto the field at Cassville like water through a broken dam. The Monett Cubs football team had erased three years of football frustration with a 10-6 win that ended the Wildcats' season and gave the Cubs a district title...

For some football teams, the special teams facet of the game is like the ignored child of a family. The offensive and defensive brothers and sisters always garner more attention. It seems that the only time the special teams sibling gets recognized is when something goes horribly wrong...

The annual Davis/Henderson reunion will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the First Christian Church in Cassville, beginning at 11 a.m. Descendants of Vera Gertrude Wormington/Henderson/Davis and George Ervin Davis are invited to attend. Drinks and tableware will be provided for the potluck meal. Friends are also welcome. The church is located on Highway 37 across from Walmart...

National Fire Prevention Week will be observed Oct. 6 through Oct. 12. During this time, special attention is focused on fire prevention and safety. This years theme is "Get Low and Go" explaining how to safely escape in the event of a fire. The Monett Fire Department will be at Monett Elementary School on Monday, Oct. ...

On a day warmer than usual, Monett High School students displayed their good fortune by turning up the heat at the annual homecoming parade. "Hawaiian Homecoming" was this year's theme and each class found it's own way to bring the islands to Monett...

An Aurora woman sustained serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, on Highway 39 about a half mile south of Aurora. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2003 Ford Ranger, pictured above, Charolett L. Thomas, 64, was traveling south when she ran off the roadway, struck a ditch, overturned and struck a utility pole...