Stories from Monday, March 17, 2014

sports@monett-times.com SEARCY, Ark. -- It has become a family tradition for Addy Roller and her father Mike to talk on the phone prior to every Wayne State College Lady Wildcats basketball game. "Dad will call and wish me luck and ask me how things are going," Roller said...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett City Council has scheduled final action on Thursday for a new ordinance establishing endangering the welfare of a child as a city violation. Presently, all cases receive prosecution through the county courts. The change would enable the city prosecutor to bring charges in Municipal Court, where offenders could face fines...

reporter@monett-times.com PIERCE CITY -- Freya Nadermann discovered two weeks before leaving her hometown of Bremen, Germany, that she had been accepted as a foreign exchange student and was headed to Pierce City. That gave her time to jump on the computer and do a little research into what would be her home for the next nine months...

composition@monett-times.com Two people were hurt in a crash on Highway 76 one mile north of Ridgley, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol's report indicates that the use of seat belts may have played a role in how badly each was hurt. The report states that Katrina Perez, 26, of Noel, was driving east when her 1996 Pontiac Grand Am ran off the roadway and overturned, landing on its top...

Public invited to hear bullying speaker at 6 p.m. Editor's note: The following story was published Friday with the wrong date. The correct version appears below. times-news@monett-times.com Monett High School will sponsor a presentation at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 24, at the school gym on school violence and bullying, taken from the journals of Rachel Scott, who was killed on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School...

Gordon Brown, executive director of the Monett Area YMCA, will speak on the 10th anniversary of the Monett Area YMCA at the noon meeting of the Monett Kiwanis Club on March 18 at Happy House restaurant. The Monett Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 for its regular monthly meeting at 705 E. Broadway. For more information, call Doug Hobson at 235-5908...

composition@monett-times.com A Huntsville, Ark., woman was seriously injured Sunday morning in a crash on Highway 37 one mile north of Cassville. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Amber Eskow, 22, was driving south in a 1996 Ford when her vehicle slid across the center line and struck a second vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet truck, driven by Robert Albers, 68, of Garden City...

times-news@monett-times.com Unexpected expenses have raised costs for the Verona R-7 School District this year. Health insurance continues to apply financial pressure on the district. Verona is part of a consortium of other districts buying health insurance together. Superintendent Tony Simmons reported the district last year saw a 10 percent increase in premiums. This year, premiums will jump another 13 to 14 percent...

sports@monett-times.com After a successful season, Monett wrestlers have a high bar for next season. At a recent awards celebration, Monett wrestling coach Daryl Bradley laid out his expectations for next year: Win state. "Our goal is a state title," Bradley said. "The only way we get there is to start right now. I want you to run track, play baseball and stay active. Participate in our summer camps and work on getting better. "...

reporter@monett-times.com After discussing how to manage delinquent sewer accounts with representatives from Empire District Electric, Verona City Clerk Julie Ruscha has presented Verona aldermen a plan to "tighten up" on delinquent account procedures to prevent significant losses to the city...

times-news@monett-times.com When Sarah Thomas went to Cox Monett Hospital's physical therapy center in December 2013, she was hurting. Thomas moved to Monett from Oklahoma last summer and fell on her front steps in early December. He landed on the concrete, fracturing her pelvis and damaging her knee...

Jennifer Nichols, 28, of Monett, died Saturday, March 15. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Monett.

Richard Kessinger, 56, of Pierce City, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday, March 14, at his home. No services are planned. The body has been cremated under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City.

Joseph Lee Williams III, 76, of Mt. Vernon, died at 11:25 a.m. Monday, March 10, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Services will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March 28, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.

Juanita E. Turner, 89, of Wentworth, died at 4:05 a.m. Friday, March 14, at Carthage Health and Rehab Center in Carthage. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 17, at Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City. Burial will follow at Van Buren Cemetery near Wentworth...

Lennis James Harrell, 83, of Rocky Comfort, died Wednesday, March 12, at the Cassville Health Care & Rehab in Cassville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 17, at White Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will follow at Chitwood Cemetery in Wheaton...

composition@monett-times.com A Cassville teenager's evasive action may have avoided a more serious situation as she evaded another vehicle on Route W in Butterfield. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Adriana Franco, 16, of Cassville, was headed east in a 1994 Dodge Dakota when her vehicle swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, traveling off the roadway and striking a mailbox...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com Ukrainian speaker Sergei Shapoval spoke at the Verona School District about his homeland during a recent program. Shapoval, dressed in traditional Ukrainian apparel, spoke about the traditions and culture of his country, gave students a language lesson, demonstrated several musical instruments and led students in a series of dances. ...

By Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com Major events sponsored by the Monett Chamber of Commerce have been scheduled for the coming weeks. The annual joint meeting of the outgoing and incoming boards of directors will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Big Baldy's Barbecue in Monett. President Donna Beckett is expected to name committees to serve for the coming year...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com The wild game feed, an annual offering of the Monett Sportsmen's League, drew a large crowd to the former weather station southeast of Monett, now used for league activities. Stirring the crock pots with rabbit and dumplings and squirrel and dumplings were Heather Grantland, at left, and Shey Snodgrass, at right, while Kathy Eden checked for other dishes, like her Jalapeņo muffins at front left...

reporter@monett-times.com One of the world's leading legumes is seriously underutilized as animal forage locally, according to a specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. "The thing you have to ask is if the ground is in adequate shape, do you have adequate equipment to harvest four times a year and are you willing to fertilize with high doses of fertilizer?" said Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist...