Stories from Tuesday, February 17, 2015

For the first time since its 2010 state championship run, the Purdy girls basketball team earned the No. 1 seed in the Class 2, District 12 tournament. "I think the seed is a testament to how hard our girls worked this season," said Eli Ernst, Purdy coach. "Getting the seed is one thing, but we still have to take care of business."...

For the second time in the last three seasons, the Monett wrestling team claimed the Class 2, District 3 championship. The Cubs were the favorite coming into the tournament with five wrestlers on the team with state wrestling experience. While Monett Coach Daryl Bradley knew his team had the potential to secure the district title, but the Cubs still had to go to perform...

The Monett Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the Monett Museum, 705 E. Broadway. New officers will be elected for the year. Preschool and kindergarten screenings for the Monett schools will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. ...

In addition to the pork chop masala main course, guests at the Valentine's Day dinner at the Pierce City Senior Citizens Center enjoyed by hot and cold hors d'oeuvres as appetizers. Making a selection were Marion Merritt, right, along with Toni Elbert and Jim Case, at rear. Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com...

Emily Johnson, left, and Allison Goodson, right, sang along to "Music from 'Frozen'" at the Ozark Festival Orchestra's Pops in the Park concert on Sunday. More than 250 packed the City Park Casino for a concert of movie music, led by Ozark Festival Orchestra Music Director Todd Borgmann. The concert concluded with an encore of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever." Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com...

Coronation ceremonies for the 2015 basketball homecoming were held between the junior varsity and varsity games at Pierce City High School Friday. Madison O'Hara, middle, senior, daughter of Stacy Harvill and Rick Close, was named the Homecoming Queen. Kole Kelley placed the crown during the coronation ceremony, while Aaron Zabala looked on. Melonie Roberts reporter@monett-times.com...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce is planning a new initiative in the tourism business. According to Jeff Meredith, Chamber executive director, a grant application has been submitted seeking $5,000 in funds for Barry County, an amount the Chamber would match...

Crops grown in Lawrence County have changed dramatically in the past 90 years. In search of ways to reduce erosion, Bill Wiebold, state soybean specialist with University of Missouri Extension who has a doctorate in agronomy from the University of Georgia, took a historical look at what farmers have produced locally...

Digging out the shovels on Monday morning, Terry Trueblood, left, owner of The Shop at Commercial and Elm streets in Pierce City, and Ray Roux, dug out the business parking lot to get their day off to the right start. Overnight snowfall in Monett was estimated at around six inches. Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com...

The first major snowfall of the winter season fell on Monett on Sunday night, leaving motorists ready to scramble dealing with snow covered roads on Monday. With public offices closed for the President's Day federal holiday, much of the daily traffic avoided the weather inconvenience by staying home...

Louise Lena Arnsmeyer, 90, of Monett, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Lacoba Homes in Monett. She was born March 31, 1924, in Willard, the daughter of the late Henry and Bessie (Brashers) Arnsmeyer. She enjoyed a simple, caregiving life, rich in a human quality few possess. ...

A principal has resigned and a new administrative position was created in the Monett School District. Annette Cozort turned in her letter of retirement, effective at the end of the school year in June. Cozort served as principal at Central Park Elementary for the past six years, capping her 31 years as an educator...

The swim of a lifetime, combined with some help with some help from Webb City, allowed Monett to qualify more swimmers to the state championship. Heading into Saturday's SWMO Championship, Monett Swim Coach Dan Janssen's message to his swimmers was simple -- swim your best...