Stories from Wednesday, November 5, 2014

State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, retained his seat in the State House Tuesday after defeating challenger Vince Jennings, D-Marionville, in the general election. Moon garnered 76 percent (6,407 votes), and Jennings received 24 percent (2,011 votes). The total number of votes in Lawrence County was 8,441, including 23 write-in votes...

Former Lawrence County prosecutor Robert George, R-Aurora, won election to the associate circuit court judge's bench in Tuesday's election. George won 64 percent (5,590 votes), and Randee Stemmons, D-Mt. Vernon, took 26 percent (3,090 votes). It was George's second run at the Division 2 associate judge seat and Stemmons' first run for a county judge's position...

For the third time in four months, bi-county sales tax receipts have bested last year's numbers in double digits. October numbers represented the strongest steady rally generated by the retail market since the end of 2011. Monett's one-percent sales taxes supporting general expenses produced $157,146.25, the best October numbers since 2003. The sum represented a $34,143.17, or 28 percent, higher than last October...

Election officials in Pierce City carefully checked identification when handing out ballots Tuesday at the Pierce City Branch Library. Area residents had a number of issues to decide, from local representatives, to state supreme court justices and several amendments to the Missouri Constitution. ...

A head-on collision on Highway 37 Tuesday afternoon resulted in three people being injured and two being airlifted to Springfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Dennis Cole, 55, of Cassville, was driving a 2000 Chevrolet S10 northbound when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck head-on a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, being driven by Olivia Autrey, 29, of Cassville...

A Stotts City man was injured Monday night in a single-vehicle wreck on Farm Road 2110, two miles west of Stotts City. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Gage Sifferman, 20, of Stotts City, was driving a Kubota RTV 400 west on Farm Road 2110 when his vehicle lost control while attempting to turn on a private drive. Sifferman was ejected from the vehicle as it overturned...

Two people were injured Monday morning in a week on Interstate 44, two miles east of Mt. Vernon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Alyssa Patterson, 18, of Ozark, was driving a 2005 Ford Escape eastbound on the interstate when her vehicle struck a deer, hit a guard rail and overturned...

Voting was light early at Monett's Barry County polling place at the City Park Casino on Tuesday. Mike Wilks watched as the automatic counter pulled in his ballot. Wilks cast the 235th ballot by 9:30 a.m. Election judges, seated from left, were Janice Anderson, Melvin Casper, Jerry Hudson and Betty Brandt, who faced a line of voters 10 deep braving a light rain to cast their ballots. Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com...

It was a night of thrills and chills as students wandered the haunted halls of Pierce City High School for Ghouls in Schools on Friday. Marcus Brown, dressed as Spider-man, spent the evening just hanging around the halls during Pierce City's Ghouls in Schools event Friday. ...

Monett High School will host Spike Wars Volleyball Tournament at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. Grade level co-ed volleyball teams will compete against each other and the winners will play the teachers. This is a fundraising event for the Golden Age Senior Citizen dinner. Cost is $3, no passes or ID's will be accepted...

For the second time in three years, the Monett football team has a chance to claim a district football crown. For the Wolves of Reeds Spring, a district title would be the first under the new eight-team format. Two years ago, it was the Cubs who waltzed into Wolves Stadium and left with a convincing, 35-6 win...

3: The number of Big 8 teams playing for a district title: Monett, Lamar and Carl Junction. 388: The total number of points the Cubs have scored this season. (35.2 per game) 339: The total number of points the Wolves have scored this season. (30.8 per game)...