Stories from Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Larry Dean Muse, 61, of Cassville, died at 8:14 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

A rural Monett teenager has been charged with first-degree burglary and first-degree robbery, stemming from an incident Friday afternoon in Monett. The subject, age 17, is being held on a $75,000 bond. He will be moved to the Lawrence County jail when officers have concluded their interviews, according to Sgt. Kermit Howell, with the Monett Police Department...

Members of the Pierce City School Board received a review of the district's 2014 audit from The CPA Group in Monett, receiving what Superintendent Russ Moreland called a "good audit." Highlights of the audit were explained in a letter to board members, stating in part the auditing firm found no disagreements in financial accounting, reporting or auditing that could be significant to the final report...

Khonley Hensley, dressed as a deer, declined to cross the path of Monett Times News Editor Murray Bishoff, who emceed the Halloween Costume Contest Saturday at Monett City Hall.

Hospice Compassus will offer its first lunch and learn session, to provide community education, from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Monett office. Beth Richardson, director of clinical services, will lead the discussion on "Caring for the Caregiver."...

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library had successful Summer Reading Club in 2015, with increases in overall participation and the number of items read. According to the final report presented to library board members, 1,344 customers signed up to participate, an increase from 1,305 in 2014. Participants included 797 children, 108 teens and 439 adults. They read 21,174 items, an increase of 8,083 over the previous summer...

The First United Methodist Church in Monett will host the fifth annual Turkey Trot at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26 at the church. A free breakfast will be available from the Community Kitchen after the run. Cost is $15 in advance, $20 the day of the race. Volunteers may call the church office at 235-7444...

A cold, rainy night for the Monett football team ended with a thud, as Aurora marched into Burl Fowler Stadium and stole a 25-11 victory on Friday. Monett Coach Derrek Uhl spent several minutes on the 46-degree, rain-soaked field, walking up to each senior player after the game and giving them hugs and thanks for their service...

Five years ago, no one took Monett soccer seriously. The Cubs ran around and played a game. There was little cohesion, despite talent being present. When the season was over, most of the players did not touch a soccer ball, except for the occasional pick-up game, until the fall practice session began...

For 30 years, Royals fans like me have watched as others have celebrated their team's baseball championship performances. I applauded every time the Cardinals won a World Series, but always had hollowness inside, being forced to settle being the bridesmaid and never getting to be the bride...

Donald Munson, 55, of Golden, died Oct. 31, at Cox Hospital South in Springfield. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.

Barbara Jean Rubison, 76, of Mt. Vernon, died at 9:40 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Cox Hospital South in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will follow at the Wade Chapel Cemetery near Republic...