Stories from Friday, February 19, 2016

Marjorie F. Randall, 94, of Monett, died Thursday, Feb. 18, while at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Buchanan Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until service time Tuesday. A private internment will be held at Oakdale Cemetery in Monett...

The Verona girls basketball team earned the No. 3 seed in the Class 1, District 5 tournament in Willard. Walnut Grove solidified the No. 1 seed and Golden City the No. 2. Verona slid into the No. 3, followed by Fair Play in the No. 4 spot. Sheldon and Dadeville claimed the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds, respectively, and Thomas Jefferson and Everton were seeded No. 7 and No. 8, respectively...

The Verona boys basketball team enters the Class 1, District 5, win-or-go-home tournament on Saturday with a chip on its shoulder. The No. 4 Wildcats face No. 5 Everton in an 8 p.m. tipoff at Willard High School. "I've challenged the boys to show me that the level we have played at the last few games wasn't a fluke," said Brad Stewart, Verona coach. "We understand that we can't win a district title on Saturday, but we can ensure that we won't get a chance to play for one with a loss."...

The Monett wrestling team advanced five wrestlers to today's quarterfinal round at the state tournament in Columbia. "It was a good first day," said Daryl Bradley, Monett coach. "We got some pins and the boys put in the work. Onis [Howard] had a big win over a former state placer, and it was exciting to see that. I was proud of Bryce [Logan]. He lost a heartbreaker, but bounced back with a win on the backside. We got some rest [Thursday night] to get ready for day two."...

Rebel's Bluff Troupe will present the small town comedy, "Leona, Love Thy Neighbor, Too," written by Gary Ray Stapp, on Feb. 19-21 at the Mt. Vernon Arts and Recreation Center, 822 W. Mt. Vernon Blvd. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday...

A Golden man was injured and arrested after a wreck on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on Highway 86, two miles west of Golden. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Larissa Harlan, 43, of Golden, was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger eastbound when his vehicle traveled off the roadway, struck a driveway, overturned onto the driver's side, then came to rest on its wheels...

Vocal soloist Robin Braun, center, who sang in the Ozark Festival Orchestra's production of "Messiah" in December, rehearsed with the orchestra for its "Broadway Hit Parade" concert that will be given at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center...

Patrons of the Monett Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library are taking up knitting as a way to read, socialize and create unique handmade items.

A man from Miller has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for shooting a firearm at a crop dusting plane in 2014. David Leroy Dickenson, 39, of Miller, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Feb. 16 to six years and six months in federal prison without parole...

Volunteer "jailbirds" raised $13,757 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in the annual lock-up fundraiser held in Monett on Feb. 9. Community members agreed to be held in a makeshift jail and to make phone calls to raised pledges for their "bail" to help in the fight against neuromuscular diseases. The event was hosted by the Distributive Education Chapters of America (DECA) at the Scott Regional Technology Center...

Wednesday was "Which Witch Is Which?" Day as part of Monett High School's "A Night In Oz" Rose homecoming theme. Students and teachers alike found a "twin" and dressed the same.

After consulting with local fire districts and departments, the Monett-Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency has issued a burn warning for Lawrence County. Individuals should not burn in open ground areas due to extreme fire risks as a result of a lack of moisture and high winds locally...

A disaster recovery center run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened on Thursday in Monett and will remain open through Saturday. The office is located at the new FEMA storm shelter at County Road and Hickory in Monett. The large FEMA mobile disaster center is located in the shelter parking lot. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday...

Bill Galane Jones, 86, of Shell Knob, died at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Lake Park Memorial Gardens, Shell Knob. Arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob...

Rexford "Rex" L. Crumpler, 88, died at his home, surrounded by family, Feb. 17. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at White Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery East of Cassville...

Patrick Joseph McCaffrey, 51, of Springfield, passed away at 11:10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at home surrounded by his family. Patrick was born March 30, 1964, in Monett, the son of Gerald and Joan (Hensley) McCaffrey. Patrick was a 1982 graduate of Monett High School. He attended Southwest Missouri State before beginning a successful career in the apparel and footwear business, with his real passion in the shoe business following in his father's footsteps...

The Monett High School Pizzazz Poms dance team performed their poms routine at the Monett High School pep assembly today before heading off to state competition at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City on Saturday. According to Coach Tamara Stadter, the Poms will present two routines in Class 2A on Saturday afternoon. The Monett girls, who go to state each year, will face compete against 20 other teams for honors. A total of 100 dance teams from across the state will appear in the state contest...

Monett senior Juan Agustin netted the first varsity points of his career Friday in the Cubs' homecoming game against East Newton...