Stories from Thursday, March 6, 2014

times-news@monett-times.com In a year when construction of new homes in the bi-county area held at a historic low level, realtors reported even more sales in 2013 than in the previous two years. According to totals from the Southwest Missouri Board of Realtors, a total of 343 properties sold in the Multi-List territory, which includes Barry and Lawrence counties and extending from Sarcoxie and Granby to Crane. ...

times-news@monett-times.com A third ambulance will be available for calls in Monett and the rest of the Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District two days a week. A pilot program testing the expanded service will begin on Sunday. In January, the two scheduled crews answered 279 calls, an average of nine per day. Jeaniettia Pierce, office manager, said calls seem busier now than even in the summer, though she noted the district had 26 calls on Aug. 7 as a barometer of how busy a day can get...

times-news@monett-times.com Rex Kay has been named the recipient of the Monett Chamber of Commerce's highest honor, the Community Service Award. The honor came on the 50th anniversary of Kay's company, founded by his father, Robert Kay, coming to Monett in 1964...

Special to The Monett Times Local residents can meet the artist and view Becky Golubski's new exhibit "Animals, Places, and Things" at an artist's reception Friday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Arts & Recreation Center. The exhibit will feature the artist's work in oil and pastel and will be on display in the center's gallery Friday through April 1...

Parent nights have been scheduled at Monett High School to explain the new modular scheduling proposal. Sessions will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6 and Monday, March 10 in the high school commons room. The second weekly Lenten service, sponsored by the Monett Ministerial Association, will be held at 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 at the First Christian Church in Monett, Fourth and Wishart. A light lunch will follow the service...

sports@monett-times.com CARL JUNCTION -- After a season that showed flashes of promise, the Cubs campaign ended this week the same way as so many other games -- close, but no cigar. Monett's season concluded Tuesday with a 41-39 loss to the Webb City in the opening round of the Class 4 District 12 tournament...

sports@monett-times.com CARL JUNCTION ­-- Monett came into the 2013-14 season young and inexperienced. Last year, the team was essentially a junior varsity squad playing a varsity schedule, and the results proved it with the Lady Cubs winning only one game...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com The Purdy High School cheerleaders competed on Dec. 15 at the Game Day Varsity Contest in Kansas City. The group qualified for national competition, which was held Feb. 10 and 11 in Orlando, Fla. Pictured, from row from left, are: Randi Lowery, Cassedy Greenway, Angelika Sehrbrock, Kristin Johnson, Briana Granados and Stephanie Gaucin. ...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com There's no substitute for expertise. Retired culinary arts teacher Vicky Fuller found herself back in her old kitchen at the Scott Regional Technology Center recently, giving a hand to her daughter, Betsy Anderson, the new culinary arts instructor, during a lesson on cake decorating. ...

Monett High School speech students placed in meets held Feb. 21 and 22 in Neosho and Reeds Spring. At the Reeds Spring Individual Event, the following students advanced to finals and placed: Elizabeth Hurst, second in prose; Jami Asher, third in poetry; Katelyn Morrison, fourth in poetry; and Taylor Rodriguez, fourth in prose...

Submitted photo Students from the Berean Christian Academy in Monett recently provided musical entertainment for the residents at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Blending their voices for a celebration in sound, from left, were: Brooke Keeling, Chase Jack, Shelby Jack, Noah Cutlers, Taylor Keeling, Connor Anderson, Sarah Baker and Jordan Wyatt...

Submitted photo The Monett High School Pizzazz Poms dance team competed in the Missouri State Dance Championships held on Feb. 15 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. The dance team competed with 15 other teams in the 2A Division and placed third in hip hop and sixth in pom. ...

Michael Silas Creed, 64, of Halltown, died at 2:48 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Services will be held at a later date. Local arrangements under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home of Aurora.

Dale Marvin Erway, 74, of Cassville, died at 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial with military honors will be at Creason Cemetery in Ridgley. There will be no visitation...