Stories from Friday, August 14, 2015

For the 12th time in the last 18 years, and the first time since 2012, the Monett WaterThrashers were crowned the Tri-State Conference "A" meet champions. The Monett girls finished fifth overall with 202 points and the boys were first with 296 points...

The football season unofficially starts tonight across Missouri with the annual jamborees getting underway. Pierce City will make the trip north to Stockton, where they join the host city, Lamar and Nevada. "Were excited for the opportunity to hit someone else," said Brad Hocker, Pierce City coach. "We view it as a chance to line up and see how we can compete."...

The second stop on the annual Twilight Tour, hosted by University of Missouri Extension, was the Corn Maize in Verona, an agri-tourism venture to support the GRIP Home and its programs.

A Washburn man suffered moderate injuries and was arrested Tuesday after a wreck at 10:45 a.m. on Highway 76, four miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Orren Walker, 42, of Washburn, was driving a 1992 Chevrolet S10 eastbound on Highway 76 when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree...

Jack Prim, chairman and chief executive officer of Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates, has been selected to receive the 2015 Missourian Award, given for outstanding contributions to business in the state. Prim and fellow recipients will be honored at a banquet Saturday at Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa and Convention Center in Branson...

Margaret Elizabeth Martin Clevenger Shoults, 91, of Stockton, formerly of Purdy, went to be with her Lord in Heaven Tuesday Aug. 11, while staying at the Ozark Methodist Manor in Marionville. She was born in Princeton, Kan., on Dec. 5, 1923, the daughter of the late Clarence and Grace (Thorpe) Martin. ...

Kevin Eugene Stafford, 32, of Mt. Vernon, died at 7:05 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at his home. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Mt. Vernon Christian Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Shirley Ann Farwell Chaney, 89, of Cassville, died at 12:58 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Cassville United Methodist Church, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Cassville...

Henry Vogt, 90, of Springfield, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Magnolia Square Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Dec. 11, 1924, at Marshall. He was a 43-year resident of the Monett-Pierce City area, retiring from Wells Aluminum in 1990. He moved to Springfield in 2013 when the City of Monett purchased his rural home for acreage for the airport expansion...

Donna Jean Anderson, 82, of Aurora, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, at her home. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora with burial to follow at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Minnie "Pauline" Staub, 88, of Purdy, died at 6:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14. No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

The Monett/Purdy Habitat for Humanity affiliate board will meet at 5 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the First Christian Church, Fourth and Wishart in Monett. School opens Monday at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt and Berean Christian Academy in Monett. The Ozark Christian Writers Guild will meet at 1 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the First Baptist Church, Highway 37 in Monett. Tammy Schell will serve as moderator. For additional information, people may call Marty Frost at 235-7209...

Attendance on the first day of school in the Monett area showed general higher numbers than one year ago. Monett, Purdy, Pierce City and Verona reported smooth openings as students returned to class on Tuesday and Wednesday. Despite a number of facility changes, schools in Monett opened without problems on Wednesday...

The Monett City Council passed two ordinances, one funding land acquisition at the Monett Regional Airport and another revising its agreement with Lawrence County for pre-disaster services at Monett City Hall. Federal and state funds were secured in two ordinances to pay for land purchased from Steve and Melonie Chapman. In May, the city agreed to pay $625,000 for 142.84 acres on Farm Road 1132, south of Farm Road 2010...

Acting on three tips, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office located, seized and destroyed 3,010 marijuana plants on Wednesday, which had a street value of about $2.5 million. Brad DeLay, Lawrence County sheriff, said the plants, in varous stages of growing and some as high as 10 feet, were spread throughout a 5-acre tract and deputies located them at about midnight Tuesday...