Stories from Saturday, June 14, 2014

In 1998, Anthony Aust graduated from Pierce City High School. He had been a standout offensive and defensive lineman for the Eagles, starting since his freshman season and collected numerous all-conference and all-district awards. Football had been a passion of his as long as he could remember and the dream of playing college football was within his reach...

Actions by the Missouri General Assembly during the 2014 session had mixed results for the Monett R-1 School District. Superintendent Brad Hanson said his most immediate concern arose from Gov. Jay Nixon announcing he would withhold money from education due to a revenue shortfall. Nixon withheld an additional $22 million after, he said, the legislature failed to appropriate enough funds to make up for a shortfall in revenue from gambling and lottery sources...

Work that started in January 2013 has nearly reached completion, as the Monett City Code has undergone its first codification since 1992. Sullivan Publications reviewed the ordinance book, guided city officials through deletions and updates, then added new language from current state law to tighten the language...

Father's Day may seem like a simple, though generally low key, recognition in most households. Like a lot of dads, the day celebrates a presence that may not seem nearly as active in the home as moms. But take Dad out of the picture, and the household becomes very different...

Camp limited to first 40 applicants; application deadline is Friday The Missouri Department of Conservation will be offering its first Discover Nature Girls Camp in the Southwest Region at YMCA Camp Wakonda in Lawrence County. This free three-day, two-night girls' camp is aimed at introducing girls ages 11-15 to different outdoors skills in a supportive learning environment. The camp will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5,...

A Monday night seminar will focus on "livable streets" in Monett. The session will be held 6 p.m. at the Monett Chamber of Commerce conference room. It is a joint effort between the Missouri Foundation for Health grant initiative in Monett and PedNet, a national coalition to create a comprehensive active transportation network that promotes healthy lifestyles...

Two Aurora residents were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 60, about two miles west of Billings. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report indicates a 2007 Mercury, driven by Michael E. Mayhue, 59, of Aurora, crossed the center line and struck a 2013 Western Star semi-truck, operated by Adam J. Chamernik, in the side at at about 3:10 p.m. Thursday...

Summer Reading Club at the Barry-Lawrence Reginal Library next week will feature a program on imaginative inventions feature a program by Kara Fletcher on LEGO Fun at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jun3 17 at the Monett Branch; Marty Hahne presenting "The Science of Music" at 9:30 a.m. ...

To put things in perspective, the recent odor siege and wipeout of the bacteria at Monett's waste treatment plant was no minor incident. Never before has a substance entered the city facility and killed all of the biological treatment organisms. Pete Rauch, the former utilities superintendent, said no previous incident ever completely wiped out the plant before. ...

Gene Harris, 69, of Miller, died Tuesday, June 10, at his home. Graveside services will be held at 12 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, at the Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery in Springfield, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home.

Johannes Maraines "John" Claas, 79, of Mt. Vernon, died at 11:55 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A private family service will be conducted at a later date. Local arrangements have been conducted by the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home...

George A. Masia, Jr., age 88, of Cassville, died Wednesday, June 11, 2014. Memorial services with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19, at Cassville United Methodist Church. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Monett High School recently announced the seniors Chase Brennan and Kelsey Wiseman were named top male and female Athletes of the Year. Wiseman was a three-sport athlete for Monet (softball, basketball and track), but was most noted as a softball standout starting as a freshman...

Pierce City youth football camp for grades 3-8 is slated for July 14-15 from 6-8 p.m. Signup sheets are available at Pierce City High School. A parent or guardian permission is included in the signup sheet. The fourth annual Doug Weatherly Memorial Scholarship Run will be held in September to reduce scheduling conflicts with other year-end school activities in May...