Stories from Thursday, November 7, 2013

Hundreds of area residents attended the annual Halloween party at St. Mary's school in Pierce City on Oct. 26.. There was a chili feed for the adults, games and a costume contest for the children. The event also served as a safe haven for kids to trick or treat...

Chester Lee Chase, age 72, of Neosho, died at 12:45 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4. Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, in Dice Cemetery, Fairview, under direction of McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, at McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton...

Jerrold J. McKean, age 81, of Exeter, died at 3:53 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4. Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, in Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville, Missouri.

The Environmental Services division of the Lawrence County Health Department inspected 15 area food service establishments during the month of September. Of that group, 11 establishments had critical violations and one had only non-critical violations...

Fans didn't have a chance to settle into their seats before the Monett Cubs scored their first goal in a 9-2 win over Aurora. The Cubs first five shots of the game found the back of the Houn' Dawg net in the Class 1, District 12 semifinal on Nov. 5...

The annual Pizzazz Poms dance clinics will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23 in the Monett High School gym. The K-6 clinic is 1 to 5 p.m. and the seventh and eight grade clinic is 1 to 5:30 p.m. The clinics are open to any boy or girl in grades kindergarten to eighth grade from any area school or home school. ...

The Wheaton area has become the latest in the area to approve establishing a tax-supported fire district on Nov. 5. Following the passage of the Pierce City Fire District and the Aurora Rural Fire District in April, both on the third attempt, Wheaton firefighters opted to seek voter approval on their last chance of the year. A tax-based district offers security and higher funding, rather than relying on memberships for income...

The Monett R-1 School Board has begun adding up totals and considering a bond issue to help pay for the performing arts center and new storm safe rooms at the high school and middle school campuses. During the board's annual retreat on Oct. 1, members met with investment banker Larry Hart, from the L.J. ...

Working with teenagers and finding ways to connect with students is what Monett High School English 3 teacher Beth Nation enjoys most about her career in the classroom. This month, Nation's educational efforts were recognized when she was selected as EFCO's Teacher of the Month for September. She was honored on Halloween day when she dressed up as Cruella De Vil from the Walt Disney movie "101 Dalmatians."...

More than 300 people attended the reception held for retiring Monett utilities superintendent Pete Rauch, held on Nov. 1 at the Monett City Park Casino. Pictured above, Rauch accepted congratulations on concluding 25 years with the city from Elner and Bill Medlin...

Drury University will hold its second annual Leadership Summit at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Monett City Park Casino. The event offers major business leaders in the Monett community to share insights into their leadership views and experiences...