Stories from Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Pierce City girls basketball team erased a 30-18 halftime hole to eek out a 57-52 overtime win against Fordland in the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament on Monday. A 20-8 run in the third quarter put the green and gold back into the game. Scoring for Pierce City: Belle Golubski, 13; Bailee Hayward, 12; Christine Stellwagen, 11; Emilee Sooter, 7; Ragan Blinzer and Kayla Portillo, 5 each and Shania Hogan, 4...

A chain reaction, three-vehicle collision in the westbound lane of Highway 60 and Farm Road 1100, east of Monett, resulted in one person being injured. The collision took place shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, when one vehicle, stopped in traffic, was struck in the rear by another, triggering the third collision...

Brad Stewart can be a tough coach to please, not because his is difficult or negative, but because he can see his team's potential and wants them to reach it. A prime example occurred Saturday when his Wildcats rolled to a 63-43 victory over Billings to open the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament...

A Berryville, Ark., man was arrested Monday, for driving while intoxicated and failing to maintain the right half of the roadway, following a wreck on Highway 86, five miles north of Wheaton. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Daniel Pritchett, 48, of Berryville, Ark., was driving a 1995 Geo Tracker northbound on Highway 86 when his vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a pole...

Crews for the Monett Utilities Department have been very visible in recent weeks in the city working on a wide range of projects. According to Utilities Superintendent Skip Schaller, the most well-traveled team may come from Utility Services, the company contracted to maintain the city's water towers. ...

A fourth person has been convicted in the 2011 homicide of Rusty and Rebecca Porter of Willard. Dusty Hicks, 27, of Walnut Grove, a friend a triggerman Tony Friend, entered a guilty plea to two counts of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and felonious restraint in the death of the Porters in April 2011...

The Verona School District made progress recently on the ball field project and pending sidewalk construction. The board hired Fred Tate as the civil engineer for the ball field project, at the recommendation of architect Richard Werner. Tate will prepare the specifications for the dirtwork south of the district's early childhood building. ...

Cubpella, the fifth- and sixth-grade choir from Monett Intermediate School, under the direction of Rachel Murad, wrapped up holiday activities Thursday by performing a range of seasonal selections at the Monett Senior Citizens Center.

A Cassville woman was seriously injured Saturday morning after a wreck on Highway W, two miles west of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Sandra Craig, 44, of Cassville, was driving a 2001 Toyota when her vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree...

Monett employees reaching milestones in their history of work for the city received recognition from city leaders.

Swearing in ceremonies have been scheduled for county officials. Barry County office holders will receive the ceremonial oath at noon on Dec. 29 at the historic Barry County Courthouse. Lawrence County officials will take the oath at 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 at the Lawrence County Courthouse...

_Criminal Cases_ Stephen W. Cartwright, DWI and failure to stop for stop sign, suspended imposition of sentence, probation for two years, perform 40 hours community service, pay $98 arrest cost recoupment and $50 LERF. Weylin Arthur Click, possession of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, suspended imposition of sentence, probation for two years and pay $100 LERF...

The Monett girls basketball team is following a dreadful script. For every step forward, something happens to send the Lady Cubs two steps back. A horrid three-game stretch that resulted in blowout losses to Cassville, Neosho and Carthage was exasperated by a 67-35 loss to Exeter to open the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament on Saturday...

Pierce City Coach Matt Street had two red marks on his forehead after the Eagles 58-51 overtime loss to Miller in the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament on Saturday. The marks were caused by the coach placing his head in his hands as he tried to figure out solutions to help his team score consistently...

The Monett wrestling team took fifth out of 24 teams at the Harrisonville Christmas Tournament on Saturday. Joel Barrientos, 106 pounds, and Kedric Brink, 132 pounds, each took second individually. Ian Meyer, 170 pounds, and Wesley Abramovitz, 182 pounds, each recorded third place honors...

WALNUT GROVE -- The Pierce City boys basketball team fell 58-51 to Miller in the opening round of the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament on Saturday. The Eagles erased an 8-point deficit in the fourth quarter only to be outscored 11-4 in the overtime session...

WALNUT GROVE -- The Verona boys basketball team opened the Walnut Grove Tournament in style with a 63-43 rout of Billings. Billings scored the game's first six points and the watched as Verona countered with a 36-10 run to lead 36-16 at halftime. Scoring for Verona: Cody Musick and Dre Sitton, 20 each; Seth Hilton, 15; Jose Charqueno, 4; and Sergio Estrada and Spencer Shue, 2 apiece...

The Monett swim team took third in the Monett Invitational on Saturday. Joplin won the event with 315 points, and Prep Summit finished second with 280, followed by Monett with 268. The Lady Cubs will be in action on Jan. 3, 2015, at the Kickapoo Invitational...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Dec. 21-27, 1934 It's vacation time for Monett school children. Beginning at 4 o'clock on Dec. 21, all students from the junior college down to first grade were dismissed for a one-week Christmas holiday. School bells won't ring until Dec. 31...

A second-half drought allowed top-ranked Crane to pull away from Purdy, 67-43, in girls basketball action on Monday. Purdy trailed 35-30 at halftime, but was unable to close the gap. Scoring for the Lady Eagles: Desirie Ennes, 16; Sami House, 9; Layne Skiles, 8; Jayse Henderson, 5; Rion Boyd, 3; and Ashton young, 2...

WALNUT GROVE -- Cody Musick exploded for 8 quick points to erase a one-point hole with six minutes left in the game to lead Verona to a 67-54 win over Pleasant Hope on Monday at the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament. Scoring for Verona: Dre Sitton, 22; Cody Musick, 18; Seth hilton, 14; Spencer Shue, 7; Tomas Estrada, 4; and Sergio Estrada, 2...

Charles Edwin Marshall, 82, of Purdy, Mo., went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday morning, Dec. 22, 2014, at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Mo. Charles was born on September 12, 1932, in Purdy, the only son of the late Jesse S. ...