Stories from Friday, March 25, 2016

Four days before the filing deadline, all three members of the local delegation to the state legislature remain unopposed. State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, and Reps. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, and Mike Moon, R-Halltown, have all filed for re-election. None of the three have drawn opposition, according to the Missouri Secretary of State's website...

The Monett City Council has approved two demolitions at the recommendation of Building Inspector Wade Ennes. City council members authorized proceeding with demolition of the house at 606 Seventh St. Ennes explained a mortgage company foreclosed on the house, which has been vacant for more than a year. ...

Pierce City is preparing for a busy summer, and a number of activities are planned for area residents. In a unanimous decision by the city's board of aldermen, Jill Kaiser will run the Pierce City Municipal Pool for the first half of the 2016 season, and Brandi Burt will take over management duties for the second half of the season...

Verona FFA students demonstrated many aspects of the agriculture industry through exhibits and contact with farm animals during the annual Food for America program on Wednesday at Verona schools.

The Monett City Park Casino now has a U.S. flag. The flag was donated by the Monett Senior Citizens Center for general use at the popular gathering place. The old casino building had a flag, but one had not returned with the opening of the new facility...

A donation from Monettan Frank Washburn prompted a certificate of appreciation and a medal from the Walter Zeller Fellowship from the Kiwanis Clubs Division 24. Washburn, a past president of the Monett Kiwanis Club and a past Kiwanis lieutenant governor, donated Jack Henry and Associates stock in memory of his late mother, Norma Washburn, to the Kiwanis International's Eliminate project...

The commons room at Scott Tech was filled with displays and exhibits by vendors offering services to help people with physical and developmental challenges.

A rib dinner will be offered by Decatur Lodge No. 400, AF&AM, in Pierce City, from 2 to 7 p.m. on March 26 at the Lodge on Walnut Street in Pierce City. Cox Monett Hospital will offer a free varicose vein screening clinic from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on March 29. Participants may enter through the north/patient registration entrance off Scott Street. To register, people may call 417-269-7444...

Guardedly optimistic is the best way to describe how Michael Calhoun, Monett baseball coach, reacted to his team's unblemished start to the baseball season. The Cubs won their first three games of the spring by a combined score of 35-3 and plated at least 11 runs in each game...

The pearl white teeth of Monett senior John Saunders were easy to spot after he hurled the Cubs (3-0) to an 11-1 win over Pierce City on Tuesday. Saunders (1-0) threw 6 innings, allowed 4 hits, 1 earned run and struck out 8. The game was his first varsity pitching start, and the Cubs' third consecutive win...

The Monett boys track and field team took third place at the Neosho Open House on Tuesday. The meet served as a chance for the Cubs to knock the rust off a long break since last spring. "This was a great opportunity for the boys to compete with some good athletes and see where they stacked up," said Tyler Rickard, Cubs coach. "The windy conditions were not ideal, but the boys didn't let that be an excuse. We still had lots of good marks, and were able to get everyone in an event."...

John R. Keeven, 82, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, March 24, at his home. Services are pending at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of White Funeral Home in Cassville.