Stories from Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Prior to the kickoff of every football game, the Cubs lineup in the south end zone and wait for public address announcer Ken Gasper to say "Here come the Cubs." On Saturday, the team was led out onto the field by someone different -- junior team manager Juan Agustin...

With the real estate and agriculture markets on the rise, as well as spikes in sales tax revenues, local experts are optimistic about the future of the local bi-county economy. Jeff Meredith, executive director of the Monett Chamber of Commerce, said the Monett area is going strong, and local industry points to that assessment...

Despite the closing of the Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon on Oct. 31, talks are continuing toward the city of Mt. Vernon acquiring possession of the the 143-acre complex. "We're still moving forward," said Max Springer, Mt. Vernon city administrator. "Nothing is official. Parts of it could happen in the next couple weeks."...

Hundreds of family and friends of Jessica Morgan, Southwest High School senior, attended a candlelight vigil in her remembrance Monday at the school.

After nearly two months of using iPads in the Purdy schools, both students and teachers have found a new comfort level with the devices. Superintendent Steven Chancellor said the school is well on its way to making the additional technology a standard part of the daily routine...

Enrollment for the second year of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is underway. According to Randall Bell, with Bell and Associates in Monett, the representative for the Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance giant, the federal program still has sign-up issues. Because of apparent changes in the way the law works, Bell and his staff expressed reservations over how well the law is working...

After more than 30 years at 102 Dunn St. in Monett, the Juvenile Office for the 39th Judicial Circuit has moved.

The Freistatt Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Freistatt Community Building. For more information, call 235-5967. The annual Jolly Mill Christmas and Open House will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7, at Jolly Mill Park. Refreshments will be provided. Children are invited to bring an ornament for Santa's tree. Santa will be visiting and those planning to attend are invited to bring a camera...

Marco Antonio Aldava, Monett, $10 for a seat belt violation. Joshua Don Bateman, Exeter, $145 for speeding; $10 for a seat belt violation. Penny A. Bingham, Cassville, $10 for a seat belt violation. Kevin M. Burgherr, Monett, two years unsupervised probation, 40 hours community service and interlock ignition device for driving while intoxicated...

Licenses issued at the Lawrence County Courthouse Allen Richard Grove, 51, Monett, to Debra Ann Stallings, 51, Monett, Oct. 26. Jesus Ernesto Sanchez, 25, Halcom, Texas, to Adriana Salas, 23, Monett, Oct. 25. James Andrew Tilley, 28, Aurora, to Allison Lynn Calhoun, 28, Aurora, Oct. 25...

Usually, families on Thanksgiving assemble around a feast, then meander in front of the television and watch an afternoon chocked full of football. In the words of the late comedian Tim Wilson, "Even those family members that have never watched football are 
coaches that day."...

This week, when we all sit down at the dinner table with family and friends -- hopefully with a big bird and enough peas and potatoes to put us in food comas -- we should take a minute to give thanks for what we have. While I'm not a billionaire with a supermodel wife and a beachside house in the Bahamas (well, not yet anyway), I can think of plenty of things for which to be thankful...

Loy Sharon Loy Frederick Sharon, of Mt Vernon, died Nov. 24, at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Mt. Vernon. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial follow at the East View Cemetery in Stotts City...

Jessica R. Morgan, 17, of Washburn, died Sunday, Nov. 23. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, Nov. 29 at Southwest High School Gymnasium, Washburn, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be at Seligman Cemetery, Seligman...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Nov. 23-29, 1934 M.L. Coleman, school superintendent, told the Business and Professional Women's Clubs about changes coming in education. The time is not too distant when the 12-month school will be common. In the modern trend, a room must be flexible, furniture is made to be moved about as needed. ...