Stories from Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Keith Shumaker, 79, of Golden, died at 1:50 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Cassville First Baptist Church in Cassville. Burial will be in Viney Creek Cemetery in Golden. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

After several years of minimal housing construction in Monett, the combination of an April hail storm and more accommodating banking led to an unexpectedly good year for construction in Monett in 2015. Building Inspector Wade Ennes reported issuing permits totaling $16,181,745.50. Of that, $6,165,184.90 went into residential projects and $10,016,560.60 was added to Monett's commercial and industrial base...

Monett school board members took steps toward their next building improvements in January. After leading a walk-through in the district's various campuses in December, Superintendent Brad Hanson asked the board to organize their thoughts about the needs noted. Small and medium projects came to mind that will likely paid for through the annual building fund, where the board can place 7 percent of its general fund each year...

February is the month of Love.

A Hillsboro man died Saturday night in a wreck at 11:20 p.m. on Highway 96, nine miles northwest of Mt. Vernon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Richard Ashley, 50, of Hillsboro, was driving a 2006 Nissan Titan eastbound when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck head-on a 2014 International conventional tractor trailer, being driven by Hugh Ester, 60, of Coldwater, Miss. ...

A new preschool teacher and a substitute high school counselor will join the staff at the Verona school district following recent school board action. Board members accepted the resignation of Lisa Braden as the preschool teacher, effective Jan. 18, due to what she described in a letter as circumstances beyond her control. Superintendent Tony Simmons said he will likely hire a substitute to fill out the rest of the year in the post...

A total of 33 teams with 290 players from 10 states gathered for the Saturday and Sunday tournament at Kickin' Paintball, west of Monett.

Once a month, students at Central Park Elementary School in Monett receive a visit from Marti Pittman, the Trunk Lady, from the Southwest Center.

The Monett R-1 School District has scheduled make-up for the missed day of school on Jan. 20 on Feb. 16. The missed day on Jan. 21 will be held Feb. 15. Friday, Feb. 12 will remain a February break day. The Monett Ministerial Association will again sponsor Lenten Services this year with a half-hour service starting at noon followed by a light lunch. The first session will be on Feb. 10 at Chapel of Grace, 1153 Farm Road 1060, with Bill Vincent, pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, speaking...

Regular-season basketball games at Monett High School do not get much bigger than the one slated for tonight, according to Cubs Coach Jeremy Land. Monett welcomes Webb City to town for a 7 p.m. tilt. On the line is a potential No. 2 seed and coveted first-round bye in the Class 4, District 12 tournament...

The Monett wrestling team opens a second consecutive week of grinding duals tonight against district foe Bolivar on the road at 6 p.m. "They are good at the 106, 138 and 170 weight classes," said Daryl Bradley, Monett coach. "We can't overlook them. With Bolivar being a district opponent, we have to be ready to show up and be impressive."...

The atmosphere was electric at Cassville High School's Tip-Off game Friday night, as the student sections from Pierce City and Cassville kept the level of excitement high.

Nancy Lee Naas, 75, died Jan. 30, at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark. Memorial services were held Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Holiday Island Community Church in Holiday Island, Ark. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of White Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville...

Delores Arlene Hall, 82, of Cassville, died at 4:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be in Pierce City Cemetery in Pierce City. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

Edna Bell Stockton, 78, of Shell Knob, died at 8:21 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.