Stories from Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The 2014-15 Family Care Chiropractic Rookie League baseball team.

The 2014-15 Regal Athletic Minor League baseball team.

The fireworks will begin a couple of days early this year, as the Monett Speedway is kicking off the holiday season on Thursday night. The Midwest Auto Racing Series is slated to invade the three-eights-of-a-mile dirt track for the ninth annual John Kuntz Memorial...

Three Monett baseball players were named to the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4 All-State team. Cameron Witt, Jordan Hall and Kyle McCallister were included among the states best. Witt, a junior, was named to the first team outfield squad...

Freedom Arena, located midway between Mount Vernon and Aurora on Highway 39, will host Jackpot Team Roping at 6 p.m. on July 12 and July 26, with Pick 1 Draw 2, No. 11, No Cap with 8 incentive, plus 5D Barrel Race Saddle Series on July 2, 9 and 16. Exhibitions start at 6 p.m. and the Jackpot is at 8 p.m. The Ranch Rodeo will be held at 7 p.m. on July 18...

The Mark Chapman Band hit the stage at the annual Tal Wooten Memorial Music Festival, held at Jolly Mill Park Saturday evening.

The Lawrence County Assessor has mailed out change of assessment notices, and taxpayers may have questions concerning these changes in assessment figures. If taxpayers want to challenge a change in assessed valuation, they should request appointments with the Board of Equalization before July 6. Requests can be made by calling the county clerk's office at 417-466-2638...

State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, filed a bill in March that, had it passed, would have prevented county recorders from issuing same-sex marriage licenses following Friday's ruling by the Supreme Court. Moon said the Missouri state constitution defines marriage as one man and one woman, and he believes everyone in the state should follow the constitution, regardless of the federal government...

The 135th Army Band performed Saturday in front of a crowd of about 100 people gathered at UMB Bank in downtown Monett.

A wide range of activities sponsored by the Monett Chamber of Commerce are planned for the coming months. Plans have been set for the annual Fourth of July celebration at Monett's South Park. Brad Anderson is the official chairman for the event. Activities will begin at 11 a.m. ...

Lawrence County Recorder Pam Robertson said even though her computer program only has bride and groom designations, she will still be issuing same-sex marriage licenses to anyone who applies for them. "We were issued a notice from the Recorders Association [of Missouri] that we are supposed to issue them to anyone who applies, so we are on board," she said...

Arthur D. Van Amber, 73, of Pierce City, died Saturday, June 27, at his home in Monett. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday July 6, at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Springfield...

Dorthy Jean Park, 81, of Wheaton, died Sunday, June 28. Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Wheaton Southern Baptist Church in Wheaton. Cremation arrangements are under direction of McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton.

Terry Wade DeGraffenreid, 65, of Cassville, died at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 2, at the Family Life Center in Cassville under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Cassville. Burial will be in Rocky Comfort Cemetery in Rocky Comfort...

On a sunny day in Southern California, September 30th, 1944, the blonde, curly-headed spitfire who would later become my mother, Linda Ann Ross West, came into this world body and spirit. On a calm cloudy morning in southwest Missouri, June 27, 2015, with her family at her side, her spirit peacefully left this world...

Sue Ann Bunnell, age 71, of Purdy, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the Lacoba Home in Monett. Mrs. Bunnell, daughter of Herbert and Ruby (Keeling) Dodson, was born on August 20, 1943, in Purdy, Missouri. She was a Purdy High School graduate of 1961, and on October 27, 1961, she was united in marriage to Carol Launce Bunnell at the First Baptist Church in Purdy. ...

An Aurora man suffered serious injuries Tuesday evening in a wreck at 6:40 p.m. on Farm Road 2240, one mile southwest of Aurora. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, John Milke, 58, of Aurora, was driving a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 truck westbound on Farm Road 2240 when his vehicle left the roadway, struck a fence and overturned...