Stories from Friday, May 1, 2015

Dennis L. Bohanan, 67, of Monett, passed away Friday, May 1, at the Aurora Nursing Center in Aurora. Mr. Bohanan, son of Clarence and Oleta (Coatney) Bohanan, was born on September 11, 1947, in Monett. He was united in marriage to Vicki Marvin in Monett on March 11, 1984; she survives. Mr. Bohanan loved going to the casinos; he always knew the best machines to play and came home with winnings. He also enjoyed scuba diving in nearby lakes, and fishing...

The Monett boys track team caught fire on Tuesday and ran away from the 11-team pack at the Cub Relays to take first place with 119 points. Monett took first place in eight events and medaled in every event but two. The Cubs are in action today at Mt. Vernon and are ready to display the fire that led them to a meet win earlier this week...

Backtracking from its earlier decision, the Lawrence County 911 Exploratory Committee voted Wednesday to rescind its previous recommendation, essentially dropping the proposal for the county to contract with the city of Monett for its dispatching services...

Inconsistent weather and coordinating a wide range of subcontractors contributed to a bumpy month for construction on the FEMA projects at two Monett school campuses. Weather delay days ran out at the end of April, reported Superintendent Brad Hanson, putting the two FEMA projects past the agreed upon completion date. No decision has been made about penalizing general contractor R.E. Smith for the extension...

A benefit dinner, concert and silent auction to help Matt and Julie Wages raised $15,118.20 on Saturday. The event packed the fellowship hall at the First United Methodist Church and was attended by Matt Wages, who returned home from hospitalization in Springfield two weeks ago...

Angela Johnson, a special education teacher at Monett High School, was named Teacher of the Month for March.

The next facilities improvement project at Monett High School will focus on upgrading the aging ground source heating and air conditioning system. With costs of over $900,000, the undertaking required special financing approved at the April meeting of the Monett Board of Education...

Three people, including an infant, were injured Wednesday night in a single-vehicle wreck on Route C, seven miles east of Purdy. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jennifer Jereczek, 24, of Cassville, was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero on Route C at about 8:30 p.m. when her vehicle ran off the roadway, overturned down a steep embankment and struck a tree...

As the flowering dogwoods around Monett burst into bloom, springs achieves its zenith.

The Pierce City Senior Citizens Prom will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at the Pierce City High School cafeteria. Fred Lacey and the Matadors will provide the music. The annual event is hosted by the PCHS National Honor Society Chapter. The Monett High School Choir will present its spring concert at 2 p.m. on May 3 at the Monett High School commons...

The Purdy softball team (19-3) earned the overall No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the Class 1, District 10 tournament that opens on Monday. The Lady Eagles are doubly blessed with not only the top seed, but they also serve as the tournament host...

Pierce City High School will welcome the Spring River Valley Conference to Don Keebaugh Stadium for the annual conference track meet today. "We continue to improve each week and are still setting personal records," said Brad Hocker, Pierce City coach. "We will approach our conference meet the same way we have every other meet and aim to do our best."...

Verona Track Coach Brad Stewart showed he still had a trick or two up his sleeves as his Wildcats track team won the Ozark 7 Conference track meet at Thomas Jefferson on Wednesday. The Wildcats totaled 140 points to claim first place. Wheaton finished second with 108, followed by McAuley Catholic, 96; Thomas Jefferson, 94; Purdy, 44; and Southwest, 18...

The Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS) DIRTcar Series opens May with the first of four planned stops in Monett for the season. "We have the best dirt track drivers in the country coming to our track this week," said Randy Mooneyham, Monett Speedway owner. "The Friday night race just adds a little more excitement to this week."...

A six-week speed and agility training class in Pierce City is now taking enrollment for grades three through eight. The cost is $25 and includes a T-shirt. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m at Don Keebaugh Stadium beginning May 19...

The Monett boys basketball team will host a youth camp June 3-5 at the Monett Elementary Gym. The camp is open to boys entering the first through eighth grades. The cost is $25 and includes a T-shirt. For more information, people may contact Jeremy Land at jland@monettschools.org or call 620-870-1954...

The Monett boys tennis team took second in the Monett Tournament on Wednesday. Jairo Rueda took first in the No. 2 singles, and George Fulton finished third in the No. 1 singles. The doubles duo of Alex Ragsdale and Jacob Sperandio finished second overall and the doubles team of Enrique Salas, and Eric Dye took third...

Helen Sophia Neill, 93, of Aurora, died at 11:25 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, at Cox Hospital South in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Aurora. Burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Aurora...

Daralynn Horn, 61, of Monett, died Friday, May 1, at Cox Monett Hospital. Visitation for Daralynn will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 4, at Buchanan Funeral Home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.