Stories from Friday, December 13, 2013

The Monett chamber of Commerce has cancelled its 2013 Christmas parade. The decision was based on the best projections of weather conditions on Saturday morning. "The decision was in the best interests of everyone for the safety of the public," said Jeff Meredith, Chamber executive director...

Purdy Middle School has announced Students of the Month for October. Each month the middle school core class teachers nominate one student from each grade level, fifth through eighth. Pictured above, from left, are: Elmer Rueda, Kimberly Coyoy, Caterin Lopez and Megan Hibbard. October's Students of the Month received a certificate of accomplishment and an invitation to a pizza lunch with Principal Janet Boys...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Nov. 11. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Maddox Dodd, Gunnar Creed and Mikaela Guerra. Back row: Evan Witt, Frank Hurtado, Bulmaro Ortiz and Bree Burton. Not present for the picture was Nevaeh Arehart...

Jeff Swadley, elementary principal at Purdy R-2 School District, has announced character education medal winners for the month of November. In partnership with elementary counselor Gary Jurgensen, Purdy's kindergarten through fourth grade teachers present a different character trait each month. ...

The week of November 18-22 at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett was all about employability. Students completed job applications and resumes during the first part of the week followed by" Dress for Success' day and journaling about their future...

Karen Sue (Mitchell) Alexander, age 70, of Bartlesville, Okla., formally of Monett, died on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the Sarcoxie Nursing Center in Sarcoxie. Services are pending under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, in Monett.

Tom Welsandt, age 63, of Covington, Tenn., formerly of Monett, son of Lewis and Louise (Cowherd) Welsandt, died on Dec. 3 following an extended illness. Burial was on Dec. 7 at the Quito Memorial Cemetery in Drummonds, Tenn., under the director of Covington Funeral Home...

Christmas traditions and love of parades Christmas is probably the most tradition-laden public celebration. We prize the family activities, the favorite ornaments, the memories made in the living room under the tree. Every household has its own memories and special moments to recall from year to year...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Dec. 13, 1933 With only eight more shopping days before Christmas, many of the local stores have employed extra sales forces to assist during the holiday rush. Several dry goods stores and clothing stores will stay open until 9 o'clock, starting Dec. 15...

Playing against bigger schools is nothing new for the Verona Wildcats basketball team. The Wildcats' latest adventure ended in a 59-44 loss to the McDonald County Mustangs in the fifth-place game of the Pierce City Invitational on Dec. 11. The Wildcats showed grit and moxie while battling the bigger Mustang squad...

Led by Zack Hyde's 31-point outburst, the Pierce City Eagles boys basketball team defeated the Wheaton Bulldogs, 70-43 on Dec. 10. The two squads were happy to get on the hardwood and battle after weather delays, but it was the Eagles who were the sharpest on their home court...

The Pierce City Eagles basketball team fell 50-45 to the Sarcoxie Bears in the third place game of the Pierce City Invitational on Dec. 11. The Eagles started slow and never fully shook the lethargic pace. "We were flat," said Pierce City Coach Matt Street. "We got outplayed and outperformed."...

The Monett Museum, located at 705 E. Broadway, will be open before and after the Monett Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 14, serving hot chocolate in the style of the Harvey Girls in the early days of the city. The Pierce City community vespers Christmas service has been moved to Sunday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. Rehearsal will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14...

The 90th Lawrence County Soils and Crops Conference will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 at the Southwest Research Center, located at 14548 State Hwy H, southwest of Mt. Vernon. "This long-running conference will look at new technologies as well as 'tried and true' management tools to support local farmers who feed the rest of us," said Tim Schnakenberg, an agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Galena...

The Monett license office, which provides driver's license services for the Missouri Department of Revenue, is now open for bids. This is the second time under Governor Jay Nixon that the license office has been opened for bidding. The office has been run by the Monett Chamber of Commerce since the 1970s...

Plans for the storm safe rooms at the Monett schools moved forward at the R-1 Board of Education's November meeting. Architects Pam Haldiman and Bonnie Crawford, with Sapp Design Associates, updated board members on what will happen next, now that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the plans and funding for both projects...

By Murray Bishoff International Dehydrated Foods has been honored by Arc of the Ozarks and the Missouri Senate as an outstanding employer for the handicapped. Arc of the Ozarks, which provides services to 700 individuals in 21 southwest Missouri counties, named IDF as its Employer of the Year. Arc crews provide janitorial support for manufacturing operations at IDF's Monett facility...

The Barry-Lawrence Area United Fund has awarded a grant of $1,000 to the Linn Thornton Christmas Project, which includes the distribution of toys to needy families and the Christmas day dinner, continuing the tradition established by the late Linn Thornton. ...

In a game where points were as hard to come by as winning jackpot lotto tickets, the Monett Lady Cubs basketball team eked out a 25-24 road win over Cassville on Dec. 12. Monett freshman Emily Krueger buried a 19-foot jump shot from the left wing with 13 seconds left in the game and the Lady Cubs' defense held on to secure the win...