Stories from Friday, September 26, 2014

The Monet softball team heads north to the Centralia Tournament on Saturday for another challenge. Challenge is the a word that Monett coach Ty Goetz has used a lot this season to describe what his team has faced, overcome and grown from. "We set goals for every season," Goetz said. "Our goal this year is to make a final four. The only way we do that is to push ourselves to see how good we can be."...

By Jared Lankford sports@monett-times.com There is an old sports adage that a team learns more from a loss than a win. For Monett's soccer team, that reasoning held true earlier this week when the dropped a hard-fought, 2-1 match to No. 1 ranked Springfield Catholic...

The Monett tennis team fell 5-4 to Thomas Jefferson Tuesday. No. 4 singles player Meghan Gains and No. 5 singles player Saloni Patel score victories, 8-4 and 8-3. The duo of Patel and Madison Barnes prevailed in No. 3 doubles, 8-6. Monett returns to action today, hosting Carl Junction at 4:30 p.m...

Monett firefighters responded Wednesday to an anhydrous ammonia leak at EFCO Corporation. EFCO employees smelled an ammonia leak and called for help shortly before 8 p.m. According to Captain Dewayne Irwin, nitrider equipment used to harden dyes on the extrusion line developed an anhydrous ammonia leak...

A two-year lease with Apple Computers has been approved to bring laptops to students at Monett Intermediate School this school year. Principal Peg Bryan explained how she plans to approach individual computers for fifth- and sixth-grade students differently than those in use at the middle and high schools. Computers will go home with students only on an as-needed basis for assignments...

With thousands of banned books out on the market, but not in some schools, Monett Library is celebrating Banned Book Week by placing several titles in a "jail" display and encourage patrons to "bail" them out by checking them out at the desk. Some of the titles in the pokey include "Lady Chatterly's Lover," by D. ...

Relief efforts have been put in place for the Amanda Balmas family in rural Pierce City. The family's home suffered extensive damage in a fire on Monday afternoon. Pierce City Fire District Chief Rick Mercer said he expects the fire marshal will rule the blaze came from undetermined origin. Mercer saw no reason for any other evaluation...

The Monett FFA Chapter will host the Area 11 Ag Olympics for area FFA organizations from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday in the parking lot and field on the northwest side of the Scott Regional Technology Center. Several schools from southwest Missouri will come to compete in a variety of competitions. The chapter that wins the most events will take home the treasured traveling toilet seat trophy...

Volunteers from UMB Bank, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and others worked on Saturday at the Habitat for Humanity House at 111 E. Nellie in Monett. Pictured, from left, are some of the UMB Bank team: Andrew Gilliam, Robin Copeland, Nichole Bentley, Gunnar Pryor and Brett Strong. Work continues at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Anyone is welcome to volunteer. For additional information, people may call Ron Overeem at 235-7710. Contributed photo...

The Monett Elementary School Family Fun Fest will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the school. Activities will include inflatables, carnival games, a dunk tank, face painting and a silent Auction. Heno Head will offer science demonstrations from 5 to 6 p.m...