Stories from Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Monett High School showed record numbers for its advanced placement and ACT scores in the recently released Annual Performance Review from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Numbers reflected student performance from the 2013-14 school year...

With significant state funding for libraries hanging on withholdings by Governor Jay Nixon, finances for the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library remain uncertain for the 2014-15 fiscal year, which began on July 1. Director Gina Milburn said the $6.6 million withheld by Nixon from library funding translates into $119,000 to the local system, roughly 8 percent of the annual budget...

Monett author T. Jack Lewis may be a Missouri man, but his connection with the Orient is unique enough to have led him to write a series of WWII books focusing on the eastern perspective. "The Tiger's Den: A Novel for American Audiences," the first of a four-part series, is the story of a Japanese pilot during World War II, the exploration of Christianity and Buddhism and the struggles that military men have in fighting a war they don't necessarily believe in...

A new member joined the Freistatt Village Board of Trustees in August when one member resigned and another almost stepped down. Rose Ortwein, who was elected to a second term in April, submitted her resignation. She reported her employer moved her to the night shift, preventing her from attending monthly trustee meetings. Ortwein said she wanted the public to have representation on the five-person board and she felt obliged to step aside...

Thirty-five cancer survivors and caregivers attended the Survivors Dinner for the 19th annual Relay for Life in Monett was held on Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Monett.

Around 400 people turned out on Saturday for the Fifth Annual Country Fun Fair at the Berean Christian Academy, east of Monett.

Ted Hilman, superintendent of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, will speak at the Sept. 9 noon meeting of the Monett Kiwanis Club at Happy House restaurant. The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus will present performances at 5 and 7:30 p.m. today, Sept. 9 at Monett South Park, on the main field east of the Monett Area YMCA...

Tinceoline Ziesman, 92, of Shell Knob, died at 3:32 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, in Trinity Presbyterian Church, in Shell Knob, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, at Northlawn Memory Gardens, in Iowa Falls, Iowa...

Leonissa Catherine Fenske, 96, of Belton, formerly of Pierce City, died Saturday, Sept. 6, at her home in Belton. A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce City, with visitation to follow until 8 p.m...

Patricia O'Brien, 84, of Clever, passed away unexpectedly, Friday night, Sept. 5, 2014, in her home, following a short illness. She was born April 3, 1930 in Chicago, to Patrick and Eva (Pigeon) Nolan. She was united in marriage to Dennis O'Brien, on April 25, 1958, in Wheaton, Ill.. They lived in Wonder Lake, Ill. before moving to Purdy. Dennis passed away Feb. 13, 1981, after which, Patricia moved to Monett...

It wasn't a normal setting for high school football on Saturday in Lamar. The game, originally set to be played Friday night, was delayed due to adverse weather conditions. By the time kickoff arrived, the Cubs had spent three hours riding the bus, part of Friday night cramped in a hot basketball locker room, two hours warming up and still hadn't played a down in a 24-hour window...

All the ingredients are there, it's just finding the right consistency on both side of the ball for the Eagles football team, according to Coach Brad Hocker. The Eagles came up one score short in a 21-14 loss to Jasper Friday, a game that where Pierce City became haunted by a critical turnover at a critical time...

The Monett Middle School boys and girls cross-country team traveled to Neosho on Saturday for the Neosho Border wars. Top ten finishers were: Kelsey Dalton, third in the seventh grade girls race. Maddie Coones won the eighth grade girls division with Cassidy Abermovitz coming in fourth and Kristen Abermovitz finishing sixth. Gavin Carr finished 10th in the eighth grade boys division...