Stories from Thursday, December 26, 2013

Times Photo by Melonie Roberts It's tough to decide how to spend $50 at Christmas, whether to spend it all on the newest Xbox game, a favorite among kids this year, or to purchase smaller gifts for everyone in the family. Here Brandon Riggs and Austin Meisner ponder their choices under the watchful eye of Patrolman Mike Cooper, with the Monett Police Department, during the annual Shop with a Cop campaign at Walmart. ...

Reports of several vehicle break-ins in the bi-county area were reviewed recently by Members of the Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers. Purses that had been left in the vehicles, at Walmart, the movie theater and area restaurants, were reported stolen. Credit cards taken from the purses were used in unauthorized purchases...

With three snow days already used before Jan. 1, the Monett School Board agreed to adjust the schedule for the school year at the December meeting. Jan. 20, 2014, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was originally scheduled for no classes when teachers would have professional development sessions. Board members agreed to change Jan. 20 into a class day as the first snow day...

The seventh class from the Monett chamber of Commerce's Leadership program recently had graduation ceremonies at the Monett City Park Casino. The program is designed to acquire participants with the dynamics of the Monett community, including its social and governmental operations. ...

Barry County Share Your Christmas, which is organized by the Barry County OACAC Neighborhood Center and Share Your Christmas committee members, will serve 172 families and 436 children this year. "The numbers are up from last year," said Gail Reed, Barry County OACAC director. "We're seeing a lot of new families with young children that I think are just having a hard time making ends meet."...

A clinic for Boys Youth Basketball, second through fifth grades, will be held Jan. 11 at the Monett Middle School gym. Drills and skills testing will be followed by team play. All players or possible coaches should attend the clinic. Practices will be held Jan. 18 and Jan. 25, followed by games on Feb. 1 and Feb. 15. Cost for the clinic is $30. Registration should be made at the central office or high school office by Jan. 10. For more information, contact coach Jeremy Land at 620-870-1954...

Submitted photo EFCO is participating in giving to the community with a donation and toys for the Linn Thornton Christmas Program. Cassie Branch, representative for the Linn Thornton Christmas Program, at left, accepted financial and toy donations from EFCO employees presented by Erika Hernandez, from EFCO human resources support. ...

A Mt. Vernon woman was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash at 6:13 p.m. on Sunday on Highway 76 about five miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2008 Ford F 150, driven by Knowland K. Burbridge, 47, of Cassville, crossed the center line and struck a 2010 Pontiac G6, driven y Lisa J. Fare, 40, of Mt. Vernon, head-on...

"I feel a lot better about where we are right now," said Monett wrestling coach Daryl Bradley after his team's ninth place finish in the Harrisonville Tournament on Dec. 22. The Cubs' positioning in the 24-team field was a little deceiving. An open weight class at 195 pounds and the lighter athletes wrestling up in weight classes took valuable points off the board...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Dec. 26, 1933 As many as 350 guests attended the Junior Chamber of Commerce Christmas dance at the Park Casino. Bob Campbell and the Chieftains, a nine-piece orchestra from Columbia, played. Red and green ceiling lights and tinsel and stars decorated the auditorium...

Times Photo by Melonie Roberts Transformers or Legos? The choices seemed endless for young shoppers during Thursday's annual Shop with a Cop campaign in Monett. Pictured above, Detective Jeff Martinson guides Hadley Meyers through the pricing and decision process as Meyers ponders which Halo games to buy...

After a courageous battle with cancer, Patricia Sue Mozingo, 69, of Monett passed away peacefully on Dec. 19, 2013, at home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Mozingo was born June 9, 1944, in Carthage, the daughter of Frank and Letha Boyer. She was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and a former home health aide. She married Donald Mozingo on April 7, 1978, in Parsons, Kan...

Don Leon Lasswell, age 86, formerly of the Pierce City area, died on at 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, Calif. Funeral services will be announced under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City. Burial will be in Berwick Cemetery, west of Pierce City...

Nadine Martin, age 85, of Monett, formerly of Purdy, died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 in Rocky Comfort Cemetery in Rocky Comfort. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday at McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton...

Landon E. Painter, age 77, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12:54 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A funeral service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 at the Reavisville First Baptist Church with burial at Maple Park Cemetery...

Gatlin Lee Saunders, infant son of Joshua Saunders and Cassandra Pettis, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12:43 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20 at Cox South Hospital. He was born Dec. 19. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 27 at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with burial at the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery...

Frederick Edward Fieker, age 86, of Stotts City, died at 8:25 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, at the Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. A memorial service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28 at the Zion United Church of Christ, near Freistatt. Private burial will follow...

Azella Faye Hedrick, age 75, of Marionville, died at 5:06 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. A graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 27 at the Maple Park Cemetery under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora...

William "Hank" James, age 79, of Monett, died on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at his home. Service arrangements are pending under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home in Monett.

James "Robert" Higgs, age 81, of Monett, formerly of Wheaton, died at 10:50 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 28 at McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton, Missouri. Burial with military honors will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Butterfield...

Timothy Orahood, age 58, of Lamar, formerly of Verona, died at 3:26 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27 at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Lamar, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, of Cassville. No visitation is planned...

Submitted photo Bethany Kae Graham and Nigel Lee Schoon were united in marriage at Creedstown Weddings on Fordland on May 4, officiated by Rev. Donnie Spears. The bride is the daughter of Randy and Maida Graham of Eugene. The groom is the son of Dennis and Roneen Schoon of Monett. ...

Submitted photo David and Laura Cochran celebrated 25 years of marriage on Dec. 17. The couple has five children, Stacy Reavis, Jaime Reavis, Jimmy Reavis, Mark Cochran and Ashley Cochran. They also have five grandchildren.

New DVDs at the Pierce City Branch Li-brary include: Christmas Collector's Set 6 movie pack, Dear Dumb Diary, Despicable Me 2, Dick Figures, Planes, Red 2, and The Smurfs: a Magical Smurf Adventure 2. Easy picture books titles include: "The Berenstain Bears Go Green" by Jan Berenstain; "Dora's Christmas Carol" by Christine Ricci; "Gordon's New View," and "It's True!" by Mercer Mayer; and "We Love Our Dad!" by Jan Berenstain...

Piano students of Ruth Burnside recently participated in the JPTA Sonatina Festival at the Baptist Church in Joplin. Performers pictured above, from left, are: Daniel Salazar and Matthew Heatley. Performers pictured below, from left, are: Lexee Johnson, Chelsea Henderson, Thad Harris and Myka Masters...