Stories from Friday, February 28, 2014

times-news@monett-times.com Sales tax revenue to the bi-county area took a sharp upswing in February. Receipts by city and county governments not only made up all of the ground lost in January, compared to a year ago, but topped the total by $100,000, producing a total very close to the 2008 record for the month...

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com Ray Pineda helped his 4-year-old son, Anthony, navigate the computer game Diego at the Monett Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library on a chilly afternoon. The puzzle game teaches youngsters to match shapes to a picture to complete an image before moving on to the next challenge. Anthony will start pre-school next week...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com Winter will officially come to an end on March 20, and March calendar girl Kelsey Wiseman fit right in with the flowers of the season waiting for the moment in the greenhouse at Kay's Floral Affair and Gardens in Monett. ...

reporter@monett-times.com Students at Pierce City schools don't have to worry too much about making up lost snow days via computer assignments. While some districts are looking into the possibility of developing virtual classes for students to attend in the event of severe weather and school cancellations, Pierce City isn't at a place --...

times-news@monett-times.com With the abundance of school days called off due to winter weather, the Monett School Board agreed to a strategy that would avoid students returning to class after Memorial Day on May 26. Superintendent Brad Hanson reported the district has already made plans to make up nine snow days. If the district misses two more days due to weather, the state would require making up one. Beyond 10 days, the state does not require classes to be made up...

reporter@monett-times.com A marketing and business instructor at Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett has been named January 2014's Teacher of the Month. Anessa Brown has been teaching with the Monett School District since 2001. Before that, she was an adjunct professor at Missouri State University and Ozark Technical Community College in Springfield...

The Monett Jaycees will meet on Monday, March 3 at Angus Branch Steakhouse in Monett. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The Monett School Board hired two teachers at its February meeting. Suzanne Sloan, of Pierce City, was hired as a speech pathologist, a position that has been vacant in the district. ...

reporter@monett-times.com Monett school officials have taken steps to implement an anti-bullying campaign district-wide. The kick-off will begin with age-appropriate presentations of Rachel's Challenge being delivered at the middle school an high school campuses, as well as an open presentation to the public on Monday...

Robert George, an attorney from Aurora, has filed to run for the Lawrence County Associate Circuit Judge Division 2, which will be an open seat. George served as Lawrence County prosecuting attorney for 21 years. In addition to his courtroom experience, George has served with civic organizations in the state and as well as being an adjunct professor for Drury University in the area of law. George was a trial advocacy instructor in Missouri, South Carolina and Arizona...

sports@monett-times.com PURDY -- Pierce City takes on Jasper in tonight's Class 2, District 12 tournament after defeating Purdy, 69-44. Coaches often talk about the need for players to step up in the playoffs to make plays that help their teams win...

sports@monett-times.com There were clear signs of frustration on the faces of the Purdy players as the final seconds slipped off the clock during this week's 69-44 district semifinal loss to Pierce City. The black and gold (18-8) entered the contest winners of nine of their last 10. Wednesday's game plan was simple: block out, rebound and run the floor and for the game's first 16 minutes it looked like the No. 3 seed could shock the No. 2 seed...

Feb. 28, 1934 The Lawrence County Court refused to grant the petition to disincorporate Forest Park, claiming there were not enough petitioners. Forest Park citizens wish to become part of Monett. The popular Byron Fly 10-piece orchestra, of Joplin, rated as one of the best orchestras of this district, was been engaged to play for the Junior Chamber of Commerce's dance on March 2 at the City Park Casino. The orchestra features George Willhoite, of Monett, as pianist...

In the peculiar way of the world, valued treasures often don't get recognized until they are gone. The Gillioz Theatre became far more hallowed as a cultural touchstone for generations of Monettans after the movie palace had disappeared. Likewise, the historical writings of longtime Monett teacher Nellie Mills received little attention in her lifetime, forcing her to self-publish in the 1950s. Those who find copies prize them today...

Howard Eugene Phillips, age 80, of Monett, MO, passed from this life on Wednesday, February 26, 2014, while at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett, following a short illness. Howard was born to Joseph and Fern (Bandy) Phillips on December 14, 1933 in Monett. ...

Christine Marie Pickering, age 55, of Golden, Missouri, passed away in her home on Friday, February 21, 2014. Mrs. Pickering, daughter of Loy and Anna (Harmon) Mason was born on December 23, 1958 in Aurora, Illinois. She was united in marriage to Keith Pickering on April 22, 2005 in Miami, Oklahoma. Mrs. Pickering enjoyed arts and crafts, and being with her family. She never missed a garage sale or a thrift shop. Mrs. Pickering was a friend to many and will be greatly missed...

Clifton O. Journagan, 97, of Aurora, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Missouri Veterans Home. A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at the First Presbyterian Church of Aurora under the direction of Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home of Aurora. Burial with military honors will follow at Maple Park Cemetery...

times-news@monett-times.com One never knows what a camera will see. David and Shirley Henry of Monett like to take photos of severe weather and had their share of photos of the thunderheads that rolled through Monett on May 20, 2013. At the beginning of the year, the Henrys have the film in their camera developed. ...