Stories from Tuesday, September 29, 2015

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 1935 The city of Monett has signed a new contract with the Empire District Electric Company to run for five years. Empire is taking over some of the city's old equipment and will install some new equipment to suit the new arrangement at the city's power station. The change in automatic switches will eliminate jobs costing the city $3,600 a year...

matter' The United States Postal Service is remaining mum on information regarding discipline of Brenda Wyatt, a Mt. Vernon mail carrier accused of stealing prescription pills and cash from homes on her route. Twana Barber, U.S. Postal Service communications specialist for the western area, said Wyatt, an employee since May 2002, is on unpaid administrative leave from the post office. Barber said Wyatt being on leave will not disrupt mail service for Mt. Vernon customers...

This season, the Monett football team is proving bigger is not always better. On Friday, the Cubs defeated an Aurora squad whose offensive and defensive lines dwarfed that of the Purple and Gold. However, the Cubs out-rushed the Houn' Dawgs, 234-91, and collected 16 first downs. Aurora did record one sack, moving Monett back only one yard, but Cubs Coach Derrek Uhl said that was a case of the quarterback trying to make a play, not pressure by the Aurora defense...

Mary Ellen Lowe, 76, of Cassville, died at 12:05 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Travelers Insurance won the property insurance coverage for the City of Monett for the coming year, beating out OneBeacon, the city's carrier for the past three years. The city received two bids for its business, according to insurance broker Tom McGuire. ...

Two Cassville residents suffered injuries Friday in a wreck at 1:40 p.m on Highway U, four miles east of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Lisa Kalp, 51, of Cassville, was driving a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country van eastbound on Highway U when she attempted to avoid an animal in the roadway, causing her vehicle to run off the roadway, strike a road sign and overturn, landing on its top...

Eli Swope, 2-1/2, enjoyed the festivities at Friday's Library Card Extravaganza, held in front of the Monett Branch Library.

The total eclipse of the "super blood moon" on Sunday night provided a spectacular view for residents in the Monett and southwest Missouri area.

One of the most adorable floats in this year's Applefest Parade was the Marionville Wee Ones Fire Department, featuring toddlers driving fire trucks toward a burning structure.

For the past month, construction crews at WinTech in Monett have labored to remove trees on the south side of the manufacturer's plant on Callan Street and build new parking spaces.

A dance will be held at 7 p.m. on oct. 3 at the Cassville Senior Center, 1111 Fair St. The band Roaring River Sound will perform. Cost is $4. Proceeds benefit the center. For additional information, people may call 417-846-5355. Vietnam Veterans of America No. 1023 will meet at 4 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Angus Branch Steakhouse, on Chapell Drive east of Walmart. For additional information, people may contact pafiscus@yahoo.com...

After a 49-14 loss to Lockwood on Friday, Pierce City Football Coach Brad Hocker said sometimes, players just run into a team that is deeper and more talented. Heading into the game, the Eagles had just 18 healthy players. Lockwood nearly had double that available, with 34...

Football is a game of emotion. As a journalist, and even as a fan, I enjoy seeing the raw expression of a player after making a big tackle or scoring a touchdown. It's organic, pure, exciting and part of the game. However, long-time Seneca football coach Tom Hodge used to tell his Indian football players that it was all right to play with emotion, but to not let your emotion play you...