Stories from Saturday, May 10, 2014

reporter@monett-times.com For the first time in its six year history, a Cox Monett Hospital employee has been named Nurse of the Year in the Springfield News-Leader's Salute to Nurses. Kurt Harter, R.N., who has been with CoxHealth for 22 years, started working for the CoxHealth system as a sophomore in high school by mowing the property. He has subsequently worked in housekeeping, the lab, coronary post-anesthesia care unit, and now, as a nurse manager...

With the arrival of more accommodating weather, Monettans have started spring cleaning and the crew from Dierker Construction has returned to work on façades downtown. Mackey Gilmartin cleaned bricks from 415 E. Broadway, one of the buildings where Monett Main Street agreed to remove the metal covering to widen the scope of the historic district. ...

Peggy Clark, 61, of Exeter, died Monday, May 5. Services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Exeter.

Lloyd Branham, 63, of Aurora, died Wednesday, May 7, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Friday May 9, at Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Cremation will follow visitation.

sports@monett-times.com On Wednesday morning six coaches from Seneca, Monett, Carl Junction, Cassville, Seneca and McDonald County assembled at Monett High School to seed the Class 4, District 11 tournament. After an hour of debating the results were released to the public and left some Monettans scratching their heads...

sports@monett-times.com With only three games left on the regular season schedule the Monett Cubs are hitting their stride. "We are starting to peak at the right time," said Michael Calhoun, Monett coach. "The guys are playing some good ball." The Cubs received a huge confidence boost and adrenaline rush when they captured a share of the Big 8 Conference title with an 11-7 win over Seneca...

Clarification: In the story about UMB Bank in the April 30 issue, Eric Reisinger was announced as community bank president for southwest Missouri. In his new role, Reisinger will support the teams in Monett, as well as teams in Joplin and Carthage, providing leadership in commercial banking. Lisa Balmas will continue to be the community bank president in Monett, and Janet Stafford will continue to be the community bank president in Carthage. Both will report to Reisinger...

The third annual Fine Arts Night at Monett High School will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Arts from students of all grades, photographs by students from grades seven to 12, performances by the band and choir, drama students and more are planned. The public is encouraged to attend...

composition@monett-times.com A Cassville man received moderate injuries in a crash on Interstate 44 one mile west of Springfield. According to the Highway Patrol report, James Turner, 55, was headed east in a 2010 Ford Fusion at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, when he failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the roadway and struck the median cable...

composition@monett-times.com A pair of Marionville residents received minor injuries when their truck had an unfortunate meeting with a deer in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 8. According to the Highway Patrol report, Kayla Ayres, 21, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado north of Highway 413, five miles north of Crane at about 6:10 a.m. As the truck came over a hillcrest, a deer ran into its path and the truck struck the deer...

composition@monett-times.com A Stella man was seriously injured when the motorcycle he was driving struck a large truck. According to the Highway Patrol report, William Galvan, 20, was driving a 2006 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle west on Highway 97 five miles west of Purdy at 2:39 p.m. ...

reporter@monett-times.com Pierce City aldermen recently awarded employee pay raises based on employee evaluation reports compiled over the past year. Receiving the highest increase in pay was Alan Frantz, who oversees three departments for the city. Frantz jumps from his current $13 per hour to $15 per hour...

times-news@monett-times.com Scholarships and honors for the Monett High School graduates will be presented at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 12 at the high school commons. Awards will represent both academic achievement and the community commitment to education...

times-news@monett-times.com Graduations for Monett and other area high schools begin this weekend, providing friends and families an opportunity to celebrate the achievement of high school seniors receiving their diplomas. Purdy High School will begin with graduation at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the high school gym. The 51 graduates will hear speeches by valedictorian Kelton Mattingly, son of Jim and Rhonda Mattingly, and salutatorian Megan Schilly, daughter of Rhonda Schilly and Doug Schilly...

Sgt. Jason Pace, a Trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, visited with students at Head Start 1 in Monett about issues such as seat belt usage, stranger danger, gun safety, bicycle safety, school bus safety and drug awareness during a talk featuring "Bumper," the talking Missouri State Highway Patrol car. ...

School officials ask walkers to avoid complex during construction

Eagles open tournament play next week

Health issues, grades nearly derailed Beeson's dream

It's May 1, 1906 -- my mother's birth date. My mother, Marcella May Morris-Hudson, would be 108 years old if she were still alive today. I realize that a major turning point occurred in my life long before I was born. I cherish her story, as sad as it was for so many...

Wallace Donald Watson, 81, of Cassville, died at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. No services are planned. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Cassville.

James Ray "Jim" Rodrock, 80, of Shell Knob, died Wednesday, May 7. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Fohn Funeral Home of Shell Knob. Burial will follow at Painter Cemetery in Shell Knob.

Nancy Karen Perry, 61, of Ozark, formerly of Cassville, died at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, April 26. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 30, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville, under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Cassville.

Ronnie B. Webb, 61, of Pierce City, died at 5:22 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at his home. The body has been cremated under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City, with burial to be at a later date. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the funeral home...

Louise Josephine Ray, 87, of Fairview, died May 8, 2014 at Granby House, following several months of ill health. Louise was born March 17, 1927 in Pioneer, MO and was a lifelong area resident. She worked as a seamstress at Big Smith and La Z Boy Midwest and retired from La Z Boy. She loved to quilt and garden and was a wonderful cook. Louise was a member of St. Canera Catholic Church in Neosho. She married George Curtis Ray in October, 1955 and he preceded her in death on October 7, 1981...

Monett said goodbye to an old friend this week as Peggy Pinnell was laid to rest at the Monett IOOF Cemetery. I had the privilege of knowing Peggy for more than 25 years, and I often turned to her to tap her memory of earlier days in Monett. Anyone who knew Peggy Pinnell well knew she could be blunt and had little hesitation in sharing her views on how things ought to be. She had nothing good to say about the trials of getting old or living with the loss of a loved one...

Report: Crash happened when truck ran off roadway

Stark reshaping life after son's death in military service

101-year-old Dixon reflects on life, love and family

Equipment auctioned, offers taken on Monett building