Stories from Tuesday, June 3, 2014

VFW Post No. 4207 Ladies Auxiliary will host a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4 at the Post, located west of Monett on Highway 60. The menu will include an open face barbecue beef sandwich, old fashioned potato salad, baked beans, salad, dessert and beverage for $6.50...

In June, the flowers of spring offer their abundant decoration to the Monett area. Calendar girls Brianna Ortega Salas, left, and her sister, Biridiana Ortega Salas, even matched the blue of the chickory flowers in the yard of John and Georgina Snyder on Maple Street, a showcase for spring floral beauty. ...

times-news@monett-times.com Recent financial decisions positioned the Verona R-7 School District for the coming year. Superintendent Tony Simmons prepared a comparison of pay scales, ranking Verona among 13 to 15 smaller area school districts. For the superintendent's position, Verona was the lowest of 13 districts. Board members voted to raise Simmons' salary for his second year on the job by $3,000, giving him a salary of $79,000 a year...

times-news@monett-times.com The drive for Shoeboxes for Soldiers for shipment by July 4 is now underway. Organizers are requesting Barry and Lawrence County residents to secure large Priority Mail boxes, available for free from the United States Post Office, and fill them with non-perishable supplies...

reporter@monett-times.com A vehicle's failure to stop resulted in a recent chain-reaction crash near Billings. A report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicated that an eastbound 1996 Ford F150, driven by Raymond P. Drake, 89, of Ozark, failed to stop for traffic on Highway 60 about a mile west of Billings and struck a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by Barbara House, 69, of Cassville, from behind. The crash took place at about 12:01 p.m. Friday...

reporter@monett-times.com A Pierce City man sustained serious injuries in a crash over the weekend on Vixen Road, about six miles east of Granby. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report indicated Gary E. Peterson, 53, of Pierce City, was operating a southbound 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which went off the right side of the highway and overturned at about 8:35 a.m. Saturday. The crash took place on Vixen Road, east of Granby. He was wearing safety equipment...

reporter@monett-times.com The Cassville Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are investigating a recent head-on collision on Highway 76, just south of Cassville. According to a Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred at about 2:20 p.m. Friday when the driver of a 2000 Ford F250, Adriana E. Test, 17, and the driver of a 2001 Nissan Sentra, Angela D. Swearingen, 34, collided head-on in the center of the roadway. Both drivers are from Cassville...

sports@monett-times.com Pierce City baseball players gathered the first part of their postseason awards with the official release of the Spring River Valley All-Conference baseball honorees. Bo Vincent, Kole Kelley and Colin Garner received first-team accolades. Kelley and Colton Drollinger picked up second team awards as well, and Mike Vincent carved out a spot on the honorable mention squad...

sports@monett-times.com The first week of June not only signals that the summer is unofficially here, but also means that the dirt track racing is just heating up in the area. "We've been able to get four of our first six races in this season, and that is a big plus for the drivers," said Randy Mooneyham, Monett Speedway owner. "Our cars counts have been steady with more than 100 each race night. I think the sport is coming back."...

Billie Marie Bennett, 79, Monett, formerly of Wichita, Kan., died Friday, May 30, at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett. A memorial visitation will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, at the Heritage Harmony House in Aurora. Graveside memorial services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, Kan. Arrangements are under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Jeanetta Ann Edward, 51, of Cassville, died Friday, May 30, at the Cox Monett Hospital. Services are pending and under the direction of White Funeral Home in Cassville.

Justin Dale Stribling, 33, of Webb City, died May 31, 2014 at his home. Services are planned for 10 a.m., Thursday, June 5, in the Parker Chapel, Joplin. Burial will take place at Ozark Memorial Cemetery, Joplin. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, at the mortuary. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin...

Rana Michele Antle, 46, of Exeter, died at 7:00 a.m. Saturday, May 31. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, at First Baptist Church in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...