Stories from Thursday, March 13, 2014

times-news@monett-times.com A total of 44 donors gave blood to the American Red Cross during a blood drive on Feb. 17 at the First Baptist Church in Monett. William Vincent was recognized for reaching six gallons of blood donations. Donors each received T-shirts. Schreiber Foods donated cheese and Ramey Supermarket donated soda pop as refreshments...

Air Force Airman Tyler W. Jones graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. ...

Contributed photo Danny Towers has retired after 22 years working at the Monett Area Workshop. Mica Plummer, Workshop director, said Towers "will be missed by employees and staff alike." A cake was made in Towers' honor and presented during a party held to mark the occasion...

MT. VERNON ---- Back in 1964, Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston for the World Heavyweight championship, the first Ford Mustang came off the assembly line, the 24th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, the Beatles made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show and Eldon Cole began his career with University of Missouri Extension...

Jack Lewis, 48, of Aurora, died at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, at his home. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora with burial at Spring River Cemetery in Verona.

Billy Harrington, 71, of Jenkins, died Sunday, March 9, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 14, at White Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will follow at Clio Cemetery in Jenkins. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home...

Contributed photo Monett graduate Cris Renteria recently took third place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lamoni, Iowa. Renteria, now at Central Methodist University in Fayette, finished the 5,000-meter run with a third place time of 15:58.57 and helped the Eagles take third place in the championship...

sports@monett-times.com The Big 8 Conference has released it all-conference honorees this week and Monett's Logan Coones made the cut. Coones, a sophomore, was named to the honorable mention team. He led the purple and gold this season in scoring (391 points, 15.6 points per game)...

The Monett Sportsmen's League will hold a Wild Game Feed at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 13 at the league's complex, the former weather station on Farm Road 1090. OACAC Head Start is accepting applications for enrollment beginning in September. Families who meet income guidelines and whose children ar age 3 or 4 before Aug. 1 are eligible. For information, people may call 235-3911...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett Chamber of Commerce will bring its Business Showcase back for a second consecutive year on April 5 at the Monett City Park Casino. Held last fall for the first time in 20 years, the event -- focusing on locally made products and business opportunities -- will be held in conjunction with two other activities...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett Chamber of Commerce has received the contract to continue service as the fee agent to run the local license office for the Missouri Department of Revenue. The contract was awarded this month after bidding opened last fall...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com The siding from more buildings downtown came off this week, courtesy of Monett Main Street. Shown above, absence of siding revealed two windows at 415 E. Broadway, owned by Olen and Berneice Morris. "The Westco building at 311 E. ...

reporter@monett-times.com This past winter hit some area cattlemen hard, causing losses in calving and herd health as cattle struggled with self-preservation in the severe cold temperatures. "Some mamas abandoned their calves at birth," said Dr. John Harper, D.V.M. with the Animal Clinic of Monett. "They were in self-preservation mode. They just didn't have what it took to survive and take care of their calves."...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett Police Department plans to begin enforcing parking regulations on Broadway. Police Chief Tim Schweder said officers will initially speak to business operators. Officers will mark the presence of vehicles with chalk and issue warnings in the near future. The focus will be from Second to Sixth streets on Broadway only. The parking limit, according to ordinance, is two hours...