Stories from Monday, March 10, 2014

Officers launch manhunt

John Charles Jones, 63, of Aurora, died at 10:19 p.m. Monday, March 3, at his mother's home. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, with burial at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

Services for Marvin Wayne Lowery, 95, of Temple, Texas, will be 2 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2014 at Canyon Creek Baptist Church in Temple with Pastor Trey Turner and Pastor Ronnie Hood officiating. Burial will follow at Salado Cemetery in Salado, Texas...

Contributed photos Two Barry County women have again taken the top prizes at the 10th annual Chocolate Lovers' Festival, held on Feb. 15 at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Ark. Sherry Tucker, of SHERRYcakes, and Jenny Thomas, of J&S Bakery, both of Exeter, entered the professional cake decorating competition of the baking contests held during the event. ...

Local youth mentor, John Anderson, of Monett, has received the prestigious Silver Beaver Award from the Ozark Trails Council, Boys Scouts of America, during the council's annual recognition dinner in Springfield. Anderson is the owner of John A. Anderson Telecom Services of Monett. He is currently a committee member with Troop #976, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Monett...

sports@monett-times.com The Spring River Valley Conference, consisting of Pierce City, Miller, Greenfield, Lockwood, McAuley, Liberal, Sarcoxie, Jasper, and Diamond release their all-conference basketball honors last week. Results are as follows: Boys...

sports@monett-times.com Numerous local athletes have been named to the Class 2, District 12 tournament all-district boys and girls teams. The district consisted of Pierce City, Purdy, Greenfield, Wheaton, College Heights, McAuley, Miller and Jasper high schools...

Contributed photo Verona Elementary School recently completed its Dr. Seuss week. Members of Kelley McCaffrey's second grade class show their spirit with Principal Jeannie Abeln and Superintendent Tony Simmons.

times-news@monett-times.com Ukrainian speaker Sergei Shapoval will address the Verona School District on Thursday as part of a program available through Cultural Kaleidoscope. Shapoval will speak to six groups of students throughout the school day in one-hour sessions...

The Pierce City Friends of the Library will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 29 at the library. Anyone who wants to become a member or volunteer to help with book sales is invited to attend. Discussion will focus on the first book sale planned for the last weekend in April. Books are being collected for the sale and may be dropped off at Bookmarks, 100 Commercial St. in Pierce City. For more information, people may call Polly McCrillis at 417-669-5146...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com Residents at 801 Tenth Street in Monett responded appropriately when their house recently began filling up with smoke. They called 911 and left the house. Firefighters determined a faulty electrical cord overheated and began smoking which was easily extinguished. Fire Chief Tom Jones said faulty extension cords are a major cause of structure fires and residents should take precautions to make sure cords are not overloaded...

times-news@monett-times.com Monett firefighters had a lighter year in 2013, making 1,186 runs, averaging out to 3-1/4 runs per day. The total is down 50 from 2012 and represents the first drop in three years, falling below 2010 levels. The amount of property destroyed by fires in 2013 totaled$70,950 -- the lowest amount since 2001...

times-news@monett-times.com A controversial ordinance about use of public streets is one of three ordinances scheduled for consideration this month by the Monett City Council. Mayor Jim Orr introduced an ordinance on "interference with traffic flow," citing a difference between the latest version and one from two years ago that was never brought to a vote. The ordinance would ban public solicitation in streets that create an obstruction with motor vehicles...

composition@monett-times.com A Shell Knob man was killed this weekend in a crash on Highway 465 two miles north of Branson. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Donald Anderson, 66, was headed south at 11:10 p.m. Friday when his 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche ran off the road, struck two bushes and overturned. The police report states that...

times-news@monett-times.com Construction in Monett, based on building permits issued in 2013, managed to hold nearly even with the previous year. Building inspector Wade Ennes said the slow pace is likely to continue, though totals look closer to 1993 numbers than those prior to the economic downturn...

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com Representatives of the First Christian Church of Monett presented a check in the amount of $16,000 to Ozarks Food Harvest of Springfield to help fund the Monett Elementary, Central Park Elementary and Monett Intermediate School weekend food program. ...