Stories from Tuesday, March 10, 2015

On Friday, an annual tradition at Monett High School brought students and staff to the hardwood with the playing of the March Madness Basketball Tournament. The event, sponsored by the Student Council, was played for fun and bragging rights, but most of all, to help a unique group of athletes enjoy the competition that occurs at the Special Olympics Field Day in October...

The Monett R-1 School District will not hold classes for students on Friday, March 13, for spring break. However, classes will be held Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 for snow make-up days. Both were originally scheduled as "no school" days...

A downtown business received damage on Saturday from a passing motorist.

A Battlefield man suffered serious injuries Saturday evening in a wreck south of Halltown at Highway 174 and Highway O in Lawrence County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Michael Todd, 53, of Mt. Vernon, was driving a 2000 Honda CRV westbound at about 5:30 p.m. when a 2006 Honda Civic, being driven by Nathaniel Stokes, 20, of Battlefield, allegedly ran a stop sign while traveling northbound and struck Todd's CRV broadside...

The Southwest Missouri Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited is slated to take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday at St. Mary's Activity Center in Pierce City. The goal of the event is to provide education, habitat conservation and preserve the hunting tradition for its members and the community...

Guests both young and old, including 15-month-old Adalee Gray, enjoyed a spaghetti dinner fundraiser Saturday evening to benefit cadet enrichment at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett.

The Monett Chamber of Commerce has completed preparations for its annual membership meeting on Thursday at the Scott Regional Technology Center. The event is, historically, the biggest social gathering of Monett business leaders of the year. "Driving the Vision of Monett" will be the theme of the banquet. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber office, at 200 E. Broadway, until noon on Wednesday...

Public meetings to launch the City of Monett's long-range transportation improvement planning process will begin next week. The Monett City Council will hold a work session at 10 a.m. on Thursday to meet with representatives of TranSystems, the civil engineering firm that will gather public input and shape the plan...

Grayson Kirk Gaddy, 40, of Mt. Vernon, Mo., passed away at 8:40 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2015, at his residence after a sudden illness. Grayson was born November 4, 1974, in Springfield, Mo., the son of Joe and Edith (Bracht) Gaddy. Grayson was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church at Freistatt, where he was baptized as in infant and confirmed on April 23, 1989. He attended Trinity Lutheran School and was a 1993 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School...

EIGHTY YEAR AGO March 8-14, 1935 A meeting was held on March 12 to take steps to have Federal Highway 60 finished from Springfield to Afton, Okla. The highway is the shortest route from coast to coast. At present, Highway 60 has little permanent finish from Republic. From Monett to Granby it is of gravel construction which is quickly worn out by the immense amount of travel and requires a great amount of maintenance...

Wanda Colleen Henson, 82, of Exeter, died Monday, March 9. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 13, at Mineral Springs Cemetery, Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Stanley Joe King, 68, of Springfield, Mo., passed away March 2, 2015, following a short illness. Stanley was born September 17, 1946, to Burl and Edna King in Stella, Mo. He attended school in Purdy, Mo., where he graduated in 1964. On Jan. 15, 1966, he married Linda Cochran in Pierce City, Mo...

The Monett Youth Wrestling Club held its 29h annual Monett Tournament recently at Monett High School. This year's event drew more than 450 participants from Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. Wrestlers competed in five different divisions based on weight and age. Results for Monett wrestlers are as follows:...

The Freistatt Village Board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, to discuss cleaning bids and employee payment. The meeting will be held at the Freistatt Community Building Preschool screening for the Purdy R-2 School District will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 at the Preschool Building. Children who are ages 3 and 4 before August 1 will be screened in language, motor and concept skills. ...