Stories from Monday, December 30, 2013

Due to a recent deal approved by the city of Monett, federal and state funding will go toward expansion of the Monett Regional Airport. Two ordinances authorized money used in the purchase of the Dale Ellis property, previously owned by Robert and Shelly Yonker. Under the State Block Grant agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, federal funds coming through the state provide 90 percent of the cost of the land. The agreement secured $114,413...

Noveta Lynn Thomas, age 47, of Bullhead City, Ariz., formerly of Purdy, died Wednesday, Dec. 18. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 in Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home...

January brings new beginnings. For some, that means a renewed trip to the exercise equipment. January Calendar Girl Shelby Lynn Bennett checked out the now peaceful exercise area at Monett's South Park, fresh with snow, a more common sight in winter...

"It's a little late in the year to be thinking about it, but I've decided to talk with Harold Clanton, our transportation manager, and try to figure out some snow routes," said Pierce City R-6 Superintendent Russ Moreland. "We've already missed so many days and it's not even winter yet."...

David Sater, 29th District state senator from Cassville, announced that he has prefiled Senate Bill 625, which he described as "a common-sense, anti-meth bill" aimed at helping Missouri fight methamphetamine production. The bill, authored by Sater and co-sponsored by Senator Brian Munzlinger, of Williamstown, places reasonable limits on pseudoephedrine sales in order to prevent its illegal diversion into methamphetamine...

In the last legal case stemming from the May 22, 2007 raid by federal agents on the George's Inc. processing plant in Butterfield, the Missouri Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of a mother whose child adopted out of her custody while she faced charges as an illegal immigrant...

An Aurora woman was hurt in a two-car crash on 9:47 a.m. on Highway 60 in Aurora. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Betty Thomas, 77, was driving west in a 2003 Buick LeSabre when she came upon a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria, driven by James Pyle, 29, of Aurora, which was making a U-turn from the westbound into the eastbound lane. Pyle's car struck Thomas's car in the westbound lane...

Area winter farm and horticulture meeting scheduled A number of farm and horticulture meetings have been scheduled in the bi-county area during January by the University of Missouri Extension Service. The Lawrence County Soils and Crops Conference will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 at the SW Center in Mt. Vernon. For more information at 417-466-3102...

Alex Hutchings and Patty Bounous, wellness coordinators for the Monett School District, will speak at the Monett Kiwanis Club's noon meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Happy House restaurant in Monett. The Monett Senior Center will hold its monthly dance on Monday, Jan. 6. Music will be provided by Evelyn Lock and the Outriders Band. Cost is $3 per person. Potluck or snacks are optional...

Eagles rally to outdistance Lead Hill By Cody Thorn and Jared Lankford Though a 4-0 run seems small in the big picture of a basketball game, those points became the catalyst Pierce City needed to crack the win column at the Neosho Holiday Classic on Friday...

A waved off basket, missed free throws and a clutch driving layup doomed the Pierce City Lady Eagles in a 38-37 loss to the McDonald County Lady Mustangs in the opening round of the Neosho Holiday Classic on Thursday. Leading 37-36 with 1:21 remaining in the contest, Pierce City senior Christine Younker loosed a 10-foot jump shot that bounced high in the air and then swished through the net on the way down...

Playing their best game of the season, the Monett Cubs claimed a 74-59 victory over the Gentry (Ark.), Pioneers in the consolation championship of the Berryville Holiday Tournament last Saturday. "We moved the ball well tonight, especially in the second half," said Monett coach Jeremy Land. "We found the open man and got contributions from every player on our roster."...

The Monett school bands recently held their winter concert, playing a wide range of holiday music. Also performing were the separate sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands and the MHS Concert Band. Todd Borgmann, assistant director, directed the younger ensembles...

Fifth and sixth grade students at St. Mary's Catholic School, in Pierce City, performed "A Lamb's Tale" during the annual Christmas program, held on Dec. 3. Script and lyrics for the play were written by Martha Bolton and Dennis Allen.

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

Monett Elementary students named Students of the Week For Dec. 9.

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Dec. 30, 1933 The local business of the Frisco is showing a nice revenue gain, much of which is directly traced to the efforts of the Frisco Employees' Club. Efforts of club members as individuals and the club as a whole brought in 151 definite shipments with a revenue of $450 in November...

Ada R. Nalley, age 58, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Mrs. Nalley daughter of Lloyd and Leona (Coin) Brown was born on July 18, 1955 in Monett, Mo. On Aug. 15, 2004 she was united in marriage to Robert Nalley. Mrs. Nalley worked for Wells Aluminum in Monett for 10 years before retiring. She enjoyed working on needle point, and spending time with her family...

Hildred Irene (Wallace) Knight, age 84, of Aurora, Mo., was called to her heavenly home on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, while at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Mo. Hildred was born on May 31, 1929, in Chandler, Okla., daughter of the late Aude Ola Wallace and Audy Odessa (Hobbs) Wallace...

Sharon Kaye Stevens, age 60, of Purdy, died at 2 a.m. on Dec. 29 at her home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.

Grace May (Edwards) Parker, age 67, of Independence, formerly of Monett, died on Dec. 13. Visitation was held on Dec. 18 at Mocha Jo's Coffee Cafe in Monett. The body was cremated under the direction of Park Lawn Funeral Home in Kansas City.

Pauline Staker, age 96, of Seligman, died on Dec. 24 at Bentonview Park Health and Rehabilitation in Monett. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, at the White Funeral Home, Cassville, Missouri.

Shawn Conrad Byron, age 38, of Purdy, died on Friday, Dec. 20 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville. Interment will be held at the Quaker Cemetery in Cassville...

Ann C. Free, age 76, of Eagle Rock, died at her home on Monday, Dec. 23. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville.

Photographer LaDonna McVay, who operates a studio in Monett, won first place for Senior Image of the Year and Digital Image of the Year from Professional Photographers of the Ozarks. McVay won for a photo of 2013 Monett High School graduate Kurran Blamey for a photo she took during football season. McVay operates LaDonna McVay Photography at 600 1/2 13th Street in Monett...