Stories from Monday, November 25, 2013

sports@monett-times.com Monett wrestling coach Daryl Bradley can't help but smile when he looks around the Monett Athletic Center (MAC). Bradley has 31 wrestlers this season working toward securing another state title for his storied program. "This is the most kids we have had out for the team since I started here," noted Bradley. "It is exciting to see the interest in wrestling at Monett."...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Nov. 25, 1933 At the meeting of the "spot holders" of the Ozark Canners' Association, it was reported the total pack of tomatoes in the Ozarks is 2,320 cars, which is about 700 cars under a normal pack. Tomatoes on hand unsold are approximately 500 cars, nearly 1,000 cars less than a year ago...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett City Council decided on two deals at the Nov. 20 meeting, one for a purchase and another for a sale. Council members agreed to purchase the airport hangar built by EFCO, a Pella company, at the Monett Regional Airport, on land owned by and leased from the city. Mayor Jim Orr observed, "They're not using it."...

Miss Merrie Christmas and her court have been announced at Monett High School. This year's Miss Merrie Christmas is Kelsey Wiseman, above center. Her court, from left, are: Skylar Pinkley and Sofia DeLeon. Wiseman will be crowned during the holiday assembly on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Monett High School...

Monett Police Chief Tim Schweder cautioned members of the Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers of at least four suspects who are forging checks and have stolen "several hundred thousand dollars" over the past few weeks. The crimes have taken place locally in Monett, Pierce City and Purdy, where checks that appear to be written from area cattle markets have been cashed for large sums of money...

times-news@monett-times.com Area residents and business representatives spoke to U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill's staff members during a Listening Post session held on Nov. 21 at the Monett Chamber of Commerce community room. Gail Melgren, the new district director for McCaskill, and David Rauch, the field representative, heard a variety of concerns...

At their November meeting, members of the Pierce City R-6 School Board discussed a tax rate increase to go before voters in the April 2014 election. A draft ballot reviewed by school board members is seeking a 35- cent increase to the district's operating levy while fully rolling back the Proposition C tax. What that ultimately means to patrons is a total levy of $3.89 per $100 in assessed valuation compared to the $3.54 current levy...

Raw power and pinpoint precision were on display Nov. 22 at the old Jumping-Jacks building on Front Street in Monett, between Fourth and Fifth street. The demolition crew from Gator Industrial LLC, of Joplin, began the arduous task of deconstruction on Nov. ...

The Monett Senior Center, located at 405 Dairy St., will host its monthly dance at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. Evelyn Lock and the Outriders will provide live music. Admission is $3 per person. Participants are urged to bring food for a pot luck and finger food feast at the break...

jwhitlock@monett-times.com One person received serious injuries in a man-verses-car crash on Highway 76, a half-mile south of Cassville at 6:10 a.m. on Nov. 22. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Charlotte J. Ray, 56, of Cassville, was traveling north in a 2003 Saturn Ion, when her vehicle struck William P. ...

Gerald Michael "Jerry" Donnini, Jr., age 35, of Monett, Mo., passed from this life all too soon on Friday morning, Nov. 22, 2013, at his home following a sudden illness. Jerry (called "Charlie" by his uncles), was born on June 24, 1978, in Springfield, Mo., the only son born to Gerald Michael Donnini, Sr. ...

Ollie Elizabeth "Libby" Eaton, age 68, of Aurora, died at 10:48 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 25 at Community Faith Church, in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home. Burial will be in Clio Cemetery near Jenkins. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, in Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

Margaret Arvilla Mahan, age 89, of Marionville, died at 10:37 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, of Aurora, will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25 at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery...

Leola Juanita Mason, age 88, of Aurora, died at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Aurora Nursing Center. A private family service was held on Nov. 23, 2013, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial followed at the Orange Cemetery.

Kenneth R. Sack, age 89, of Shell Knob, died on Thursday, Nov. 21 at Red Rose Health and Rehab Center in Cassville. A celebration of life was held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Lakeside Christian Church, under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville...

Joe Collens Tate, age 77, of Seligman, died on Friday, Nov. 22 in his home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the White Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Kings Cemetery in Seligman...

Ida Mae Thulin, age 90, of Verona, formally of Miami, Okla., died Friday, Nov. 22 at Lacoba Homes in Monett.. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, Okla. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home...

Travis Dean Torres, age 30, of Cassville, died on Nov. 20. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2 at the White Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville. The family will receive friends from noon until service time at the funeral home...

The Missouri Office of Administration is now accepting management contracts bids for the Cassville License Office. Interested individuals and groups must submit their bids to operate the license office by Friday, Dec. 6. In the fiscal year of 2013, more than 43,490 transactions were conducted at the Cassville office, generating $143,675 in agent processing fees...

Jessica Lynn Schad, an alumni FFA member of the Monett FFA Chapter, was awarded the American FFA Degree at the 2013 86th National FFA Convention held on Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Louisville, Ky. The American FFA Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence. ...

Times Photo by Murray Bishoff Among the vivid memories of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 are those of Monett Times advertising manager Lisa Craft. As a second grader, she wrote a seven-page letter condolence on tablet paper to Jacqueline Kennedy. ...