Stories from Saturday, November 22, 2014

Dear Editor: I wish to thank the Asociaci--n Latina Imagen for sponsoring a Thanksgiving dinner for Senior Citizens. We were served a delicious turkey meal with all the trimmings and every person in attendance received a gift card. I really appreciate the Asociaci--n Latina Imagen for all the good work they do in the Monett community...

Wednesday will mark the beginning of the season for Monett's Festival of Lights at South Park. This week the downtown banners changed to "Merry Christmas." After that, the holiday season gets into full swing. There's no other time of year like it. Monett has a parade (hooray!), churches host festive programs, stores decorate their windows, special music floats daily downtown...

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has announced the inaugural group of Elite 11 honorees. Among its numbers are Monett alumni Dennis Heim and Kelly Curbow, and Pierce City football Coach Brad Hocker. The 11 individuals will be honored at the Hall's Sports Enthusiasts Football Kick-Off Luncheon on Dec. 4...

It was a hot July after afternoon, and the temperature on athletic trainer Amanda Stokes' cell phone registered 96 degrees as the Monett football team concluded its summer team camp. The Cubs huddled around their coach Chad Depee as he addressed his squad. Depee told his players that if they would commit themselves to each other, the program and their coaches, this year could be special...

David Lee Bee from Sherri Lynn Bee. Kara J. Cain from Robert L. Cain. Tiffani L. Mallett from Leland S. Mallett. Petitioner's maiden name, Tiffani L. Smith is restored. Alicia A. Hagewood from William D. Nieburg. Kara J. Cain from Robert L. Cain...

Six seventh and eighth grade students from Monett Middle School and Principal Jonathan Apostol explained their participation in the Expanding Your Horizons program at the November meeting of the Monett Board of Education.

Over the past year, the faculty, staff, and administration at Monett Intermediate School have been transforming how to report student "grades" so that they truly reflect the skill level of each student.

Officials at Monett High School have announced theStudents of the Month for October.

Monett Elementary selected the following responsible students to be named Student of the Week for November 17.

Southwest Missouri hay producers will have an opportunity to attend a regional school Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 in Cassville to learn how to improve their hay making skills. This program is offered by the Barry County Extension Service in cooperation with the Cassville High School agriculture department...

Eighth grade students from Marionville, Billings, Cassville, Exeter and Pierce City High schools visited the Scott Regional Technology Center (Scott Tech) to explore career options. Students received a briefing on the various fields of study offered at Scott Tech and the kind of career available through successful completion of coursework...

Purdy High School presented the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" on Nov. 14 and 15.

Purdy High School's student body recently selected its Mister and Miss Merry Christmas candidates.

What happens when a pump on a fountain is left running while temperatures take a plunge into the deep freeze?

The Monett Rural Fire District board will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25 in the County Road rural fire station at the Monett Industrial Park. The city council in Pierce City will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 24 to discuss employee health insurance, changes to the city's code book and the wastewater plant...

Rehearsals are continuing at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays for a community Christmas vespers service that will be held at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Monett.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office will be joining efforts with statewide law enforcement on Nov. 24 for an aggressive "Click It or Ticket" mobilization to get more motorists to buckle up -- aiming to save more lives. Despite evidence proving the benefits of wearing a seat belt, nearly one-in-four Missouri motorists are still not making it click. In 2013, 62 percent of individuals killed in crashes in Missouri were unrestrained...

Guests at the Golden Age Dinner at Monett High School enjoyed a turkey dinner, certificates for outstanding achievement and bingo, for which many prizes were awarded.

Sales tax receipts in November showed unexpected gains. For the fourth time in the last five months, taxes collected in the bi-county area have topped totals from a year ago. The Monett area, however, proved to be the exception to this pattern. Monett's two sales taxes for general expenses, totaling 1 percent, generated $140,145.45 in November, down $4,510.69 from a year ago. Receipts from Monett's four taxes fell $8,145.91 under a year ago...

The mother of an 18-year-old autistic man facing charges of attempted statutory sodomy and attempted statutory rape was granted guardianship in a hearing on Friday morning. Wendy Cairus, mother of 18-year-old Monett man Tyler Cairus, was granted guardianship by Associate Circuit Judge Robert Foulke, and with with blessing of Tyler's guardian ad-litem, Sarah Weber...

A proposal is now on the table to merge the Lawrence County and Monett 911 emergency dispatching services and operate out of the Monett Justice Center. A letter of intent from the Lawrence County Commission, signed Oct. 22, was submitted as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments...

We will be posting in game updates and photos here during the semifinal game. Check back.