Stories from Saturday, February 6, 2016

Thursday night witnessed the return of an all-too-familiar pattern for the Monett girls basketball team. An unhealthy dose of turnovers, combined with poor shooting and inability to limit second-chance points led to a 67-31 loss to Mt. Vernon. The problems are not a new situation for the Lady Cubs. Excessive turnovers have been a systemic problem for five years. Rebounding and poor shot selection issues have been greatly magnified the last three seasons...

Acting on legal advice, the Freistatt Village Board of Trustees settled on replacement of the roof on the Freistatt Community Building, but sent a strongly-worded message to the home office of the firm represented by the local vendor who completed the work...

John Long, right, received his bowl dinner to support Cub Scout Pack No. 140, with his ham and beans poured on top of his corn bread.

Take-offs and landings at the Monett Regional Airport during weekday business hours fell by 2 percent in 2015, despite a spike fuel sales. Year-end totals showed a continuing trend of more business flights and less non-business flights as overall sums stay relatively steady...

Purdy High School will celebrate homecoming on Friday, as part of the basketball contest between the Eagles and McAuley Catholic. The celebration will conclude a week of activities and the crowning of royalty. The theme for homecoming is "Under the Big Top." Students will participate in a wide variety of theme-related activities during the week, including special dress-up days. They will be encouraged to wear vintage Purdy gear, circus colors and special homecoming T-shirts...

The Verona school board decided to hold graduation on May 6, despite recent snow calling for make-up days. Principal Terry Winton recommended sticking to the earliest weekend date in May, as he had initially hoped. "My thought is if we haven't taught them what they need to know by May, we've missed the boat," Winton said...

The Ozark Festival Orchestra will continue its 36th season with its annual pops concert at 3 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. The theme for the concert will be, "Broadway Hit Parade: Music from 'Wicked,' 'Les Miserables,' 'West Side Story,' 'Chicago,' 'Fiddler on the Roof,' 'My Fair Lady' and 'Phantom of the Opera.'"...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce will host a regional career fair from 1 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Monett City Park Casino. For more information, people may call 235-7919. "The Baseball Show," the first play of the Monett Artists Guild, will be presented at 7 p.m. today and 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center...

Monett-based Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. has announced results for the company's second quarter, ending on Dec. 31, 2015. Revenue for the quarter increased 7 percent, gross profit increased 9 percent, and net income increased 10 percent compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2015...

Staffers at UMB Bank, located at 500 Broadway in Monett, are accepting gently used and new coats of all sizes throughout the month of February.

Dennis Burge, of Monett, has completed publication of "The Pilgrim's Plan for Optimal Health," a motivational book outlining his personal weight loss journey which began in 2012.

Winners of St. Mary's Catholic School's annual Spelling Bee are pictured.

Catholic Schools Week 2016 was celebrated Sunday, Jan. 31 through Saturday, Feb. 6, at St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett. During Catholic Schools Week, students enjoy special dress-up days and activities that show school spirit and faith. Catholic Schools Week kicked off on Sunday with a 10 a.m. Mass and chili/soup lunch. Student work was displayed in the St. Lawrence Parish Hall. Pajama Day was Monday, with everyone stylin' their awesome pajamas...

Monett Middle School band teacher Todd Borgmann received the Outstanding Young Music Educator for 2016 by the Missouri Music Educators Association at the educators' annual meeting in Tan-Tar-A.

Monett Wrestling Coach Daryl Bradley got what he wanted Thursday night -- a win over Joplin. The Cubs handed the Eagles a 42-33 defeat and finished the regular season 9-4 in dual matches. "It was a good night," Bradley said. "I felt like we handled our business and it led to the win."...

The Monett summer Legion Baseball tryouts will be on March 5 at Monett North Park Field 6, beginning at 3 p.m. Tryouts are open to any young man in grades 8-12. For more information, people may contact Michael Calhoun at 417-440-0519 or email mcalhoun@monettschools.org...

It seemed sad this week to watch the clubhouse for what used to be the Monett Municipal Golf Course disappear without a tear or a second thought. Granted, it wasn't much of a building. Revamped from a retired railroad roadhouse structure, the building was rather flimsy and the city was probably more than fortunate that the tornado that blew through very close by on May 13, 2010, didn't take it apart...