Stories from Friday, February 12, 2016

The Monett wrestling team had nine of its 13 wrestlers seeded in the top 5 for the Class 2, District 3 tournament that opens today in Bolivar. Cubs earning No. 1 seeds are: Joel Barrientos, 106 pound; Onis Howard, 132 pounds; and Ian Meyer, 182 pounds...

The Verona girls basketball team scored 36 points in the second and third quarters to down Wheaton 63-41 on Tuesday in Ozark 7 Conference play. The effort and intensity displayed by the Lady Wildcats was exactly what Coach Brenton Hyde had been hoping to see out of his squad all season...

The Verona boys basketball team invades Exeter tonight in the hopes of achieving its second conference win and third consecutive victory. "Exeter's record may be lopsided with losses, but they are still a conference opponent, and we are not looking past them," said Brad Stewart, Verona coach. "We only have two games left before districts, and we are going to give our best in each of them."...

Monett Wrestling Coach Daryl Bradley reminded his Cubs before they left for district competition in Bolivar today, "Don't protect what you don't have." "I feel like we have had a great week of preparation," Bradley said. "We've wrestled a tough schedule and been around the top four in every tournament. But, we still have some work to do."...

A trip to the Monett Historical Society's museum offers glimpses into day-to-day life in the community's earlier days.

Local author Paul A. Herd of Monett has completed a new murder mystery novel, "Blood Necklace," set in modern Barry County. A copy has been donated to the Monett Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library. An automotive journalist, Herd has authored over 30 books on classic automobiles, including the successful "Chevelle SS Restoration Guide." "Blood Necklace" is his first novel, written under the pseudonym Thomas S. Mulvaugh...

Marriages Licenses issued at the Lawrence County Courthouse James Alvin Hostetler, 21, Everton, to Jolene Rose Swartzentruber, 19, Miller, Jan. 28. Billy Kane Stephens, 31, Aurora, to Rhiannon Torbett, 33, Aurora, Jan. 30. Alton Eugene Kroff, 19, Miller, to Rosalyn Marie Headings, 18, Everton, Jan. 20...

The Monett Special Road District commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the Monett City Hall conference room. St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the Monett Knights of Columbus will host a fish fry for Lent on Fridays, beginning Feb. 12 and running through March 11. Meals will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. in the parish hall at 405 Seventh St. in Monett. Cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and children 6 to 12, free for younger children...

Lights in the Monett railroad yard peeked through the dusk like tiny stars as the sun set on Tuesday.

A total of 16 vendors provided displays for service information for those attending the Monett Dairy Day and Beef Cattlemen's Conference at the Monett National Guard Armory on Tuesday.

A Reeds man was injured and later arrested after a wreck Wednesday at 1:15 a.m. on Farm Road 1040, eight miles west of Miller. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Sidney Bramlette, 39, of Reeds, was driving a 2000 GMC Sonoma northbound when his vehicle ran off the roadway, struck a fence and overturned several times...

TRhe number of homeless students in the Monett school district dropped by 11 percent compared to a year ago. Assistant Superintendent Mike Evans reported conditions that significantly boosted the number of homeless students in the previous year continue...

Although no injuries occurred, a collision between two vehicles at Fifth and Scott streets around 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the heart of Monett's residential district disabled both vehicles.

Agriculture Economist Scott Brown asked the crowd of around 90 cattlemen attending the annual Beef Cattlemen's Conference at the National Guard Armory in Monett on Tuesday if they were considering risk management strategies. No one raised their hand...

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District board of directors approved returning a third crew to service working a 12-hour shift, which had been dropped in January,. The effort attempts to expand service and limit the number of calls turned over to other ambulances in case both on-duty crews have already received run assignments...

Kathleen Ellis, 92, of Aurora, died at 7:26 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, at her home. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora. Arrangements are under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora...