Stories from Friday, October 23, 2015

Drury University reached a milestone in Monett on Wednesday, when Glen and Sharon Garrett donated the former First United Methodist Church building at Fourth and Cale streets to the educational institution. Drury has used the education wing of the church as its Monett campus since 2011, having offered classes in Monett since 2007. The addition of the church's main auditorium, basement and additional classrooms at the rear brought the Drury campus to 23,000 square feet...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce has taken steps to establish its own 501(c)3 education foundation for the purpose of funding promotional and public programs. According to Jeff Meredith, executive director for the Chamber, recent projects, such as workforce development, the Agriculture Academy for high school students, billboards and the tourism initiative with other Barry County Chambers, provide new venues for promotion...

Flares of red leaves have emerged as autumn colors settle into the Monett area.

A Mt. Vernon woman was injured and then arrested in a wreck at 6:45 p.m. on Highway 360, three miles west of Springfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Brenda Eaton, age unknown, of Mt. Vernon, was driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla westbound when her vehicle struck the rear of a 2005 Ford Escape, being driven by Lacie Cordova, 33, of Mt. Vernon...

Mike Farquhar, the first president of EFCO Corporation in Monett under the ownership of Pella, sees growing interest in housing and remodeling in southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas as a strong foundation for his new business venture. Farquhar left EFCO to start Farquhar Enterprises LLC, which launched Pella Products of Arkansas and Missouri, an authorized Pella distributor for southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. ...

A public hearing has scheduled for 1 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Monett City Park Casino over establishing a community improvement district (CID) for an outlot in front of the Lowe's store in Monett. Jared Enterprises Inc. has requested the public hearing. The company previously operated as CRW Properties in attempting to market the outlots...

Final rehearsals are being held this week for the Ozark Festival Orchestra's opening concert of the 36th season at 3 p.m. Sunday at the new Monett High School Performing Arts Center.

Crews for APAC Missouri, working on the night shift, came through Monett on Highway 60 on Monday repairing soft spots on the paving project that extended from Granby to Monett.

A Shell Knob man was injured in a wreck Thursday at 11:04 a.m. on Highway 39, four miles south of Shell Knob. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report,Shawn Hornung, 50, of Mission, Kan., was driving a 1998 BMW northbound when his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a fence...

A Shell Knob woman was injured in a wreck Thursday at 9:55 a.m. on Highway 112, five miles south of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Kathleen Stonis, 80, of Shell Knob, was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz northbound when her vehicle ran off the roadway, struck a tree and overturned...

For the fourth consecutive year and fifth time in school history, the Monett soccer team won the Class 2, District 12 tournament, earning a 4-1 win over College Heights Thursday. The Cubs were on fire from the opening kickoff, putting three shots on goal in the first 10 minutes. The Cougars withstood the early surge, but managed just one shot on goal in the first half...

According to Google Maps, it is 33.8 miles from Purdy High School to Miller High School. However, both teams are forced to travel 170 miles to Winona High School to face each other in the Class 1 sectional volleyball playoffs on Saturday. The Lady Eagles and Lady Cardinals met twice during the regular season at the Verona and Sparta tournaments. They played four pool play matches, with Purdy take three of the four...

An Aurora woman died Thursday night in a wreck at 10:15 p.m. on Interstate 44, five miles west of Mt. Vernon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Velta Williams, 62, of Aurora, was driving a 1998 Lincoln Continental westbound when her vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment...

Doris Fay McBride, 81, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12:53 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Oak Lawn Cemetery in West Plains...