Stories from Tuesday, December 8, 2015

EIGHTY YEARS AGO Dec. 6-12, 1935 In Monett now are some accurate case records that look like they offer wonderful opportunities to persons who want to help Santa Claus a bit. The Kiwanis Club work among the underprivileged children has been going on a long time. ...

Unlike the Major League Baseball team wearing the same mascot name, the basketball Cubs of Monett have won a championship, and they needed less than 100 years to accomplish the feat. On Saturday, No. 3 seed Monett topped fellow Big 8 Conference foe and No. 1 seed McDonald County, 57-54, to win the 69th annual Carthage Invitational Tournament...

Health insurance for employees of the City of Monett will cost more in the coming year, but due to changes in some options, the cost dropped significantly to within the city's budgeted range. City Administrator Dennis Pyle said the city asked for bids for group health insurance and received only one, from CoxHealth Systems, the current carrier. Cox proposed a 15 percent increase that would push the city's cost up by $140,000...

The city of Monett's employees and leaders struggled to come to terms with the sudden death of Aaron Burdett, foreman of the Monett Electric Department, who died Friday at age 57. Burdett had worked for the city for 27 years. He served as foreman of the electric department since November 1996. ...

Construction projects at the Verona school district have moved forward this week. Paul Crews Construction of Pierce City has started work inserting a hole in the wall on the north side of the gym, behind the scoring bench. Superintendent Tony Simmons said the plan to expand the concession area also includes opening a wall to an old classroom that can now serve as an observation area for games...

Santa Claus visited with hundreds of children on Friday and Saturday at Jolly Mill, southwest of Monett, for the annual Christmas Open House at the historic park.

An Arkansas man died Saturday in a wreck at 12:45 p.m. on Highway 97, four miles north of Stotts City. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Lloyd Blankenship, 71, of Siloam Springs, Ark., was driving a 1999 GMC pickup northbound when his vehicle ran off the roadway, struck an embankment, became airborne and struck the ground...

Visitors at the Christmas Open House at Jolly Mill Park on Friday and Saturday saw many more cookies offered as refreshments than in past years.

Cox Monett Hospital Auxiliary will hold a "Stuff a Critter" sales from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the hospital. More than 50 stuffable plush animals will be available for purchase, starting at $15. Clothing and accessories will be offered as well. Proceeds will benefit the hospitals fund to purchase flat screen TVs for all patient rooms...

Pierce City basketball will embark on a voyage Thursday, going where no Eagles basketball team has gone before. Fresh off a third-place finish in the Pierce City Invitational on Saturday, the Eagles open play in the inaugural Battle at the Ridge tournament hosted by Pea Ridge (Ark.)...

Max Williams, 69, of Monett, died at 3:44 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Arnhart Cemetery, Purdy, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

Mary Margarete Tennison was born Jan. 16, 1934, and passed peacefully to her heavenly reward at 12:30 a.m. December 7. She married James R. Tennison on February 2, 1952, and he survives. To this union were born three daughters, Linda Redshaw, of Purdy, Mary (John) Tyhurst, of Kingwood, Texas, Darlene Champion, of Monett, and one son Kenneth Lee Tennison. Other survivors include 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and a host of friends...

Evarene Joanne Williams, 83, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Mt. Vernon Place Care Center. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Salem Cemetery, northwest of Mt. Vernon. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Virginia Lea "Ginger" Baldwin, 62, of Purdy, died at 2:09 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 at Clay Hill Cemetery in Aurora. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Jerry Allan Bacon, 70, of Mt. died at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the First Christian Church in Mt. Vernon. Burial will follow at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery...