Stories from Saturday, April 16, 2016

The Monett Kiwanis Club will launch a brave experiment this weekend. One of the longest running not-so-funny jokes about Monett is that there's just not that much to do after hours. The Kiwanians are helping to remedy that by importing The Show from Cassville this weekend for the Ozarks Showcase at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. There will be two shows, at 7 p.m. tonight and 3 p.m. Sunday...

Monett eighth grader Cye Bouchard elevates to get more distance during the triple jump event of the Monett Middle School track meet on Thursday.

The Monett girls track and field team heads to Cassville on Tuesday less than a week after seeing its toughest competition of the sesason at Nixa. The young Lady Cubs finished 10th in the 11-team Nixa Relays, but Coach Kelly George was proud of the way her team fought and competed...

The Monett boys track and field team heads to Cassville on Tuesday on the heels of a ninth-place showing in the 11-team Nixa Relays on Tuesday. "Coming in, we knew it was going to be a tough meet," said Tyler Rickard, Monett coach. "We were facing some really good teams that have a lot of quality athletes. The biggest point that I took away was that our guys weren't intimidated by the competition. Regardless of how we placed, we competed very well."...

Fans that attend Purdy softball games are often not sure if they are at an athletic contest or cheerleading camp. The Lady Eagles, whether in the field or at-bat, are always chattering and picking each other up. "That's what high school girls softball is all about," said Lori Videmschek, Purdy coach. "The looser and sillier these girls are, the better they seem to play."...

Steve and Rhonda Sperandio, of Monett, announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Shanan Sperandio to Josh Heitschmidt, son of Dean Heitschmidt, of Mt. Vernon, and Mona Heitschmidt, of Scott, Kan.

Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt recognized the third quarter Students of the Month after a recent chapel service.

The Ozarks Showcase, a music revue with performs from The Show in Cassville, led by Greg Beck, plus more local acts, will offer a night of entertainment at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door...

Customers and passersby became alarmed Friday morning when a swarm of honey bees gathered in front of Bruner Pharmacy in downtown Monett, apparently concentrating around a queen on one vehicle.

Several parents attended the 2016 Draw Pierce artists' reception, held Tuesday at the Pierce City Branch Library.

David Jones will take the reins as Pierce City School Board president for the third year. Jones was nominated for the position at the recent reorganizational meeting held at the high school. Greg Drollinger, starting his third year as a board member, was named vice president, while Bryan Stellwagen, also starting his third year of service, was named board treasurer...

The Ozark Festival Orchestra will conclude its 36th season with its annual Young Artists concert at 3 p.m. on April 24 at the Monett High School Performing 
Arts Center. Three Young Artists will join the orchestra in concerto movements and vocal selections. The concert is underwritten by the Barry-Lawrence Area United Fund, expanding opportunities for young people in the bi-county area...

The Freistatt Village Board of Trustees recently opted against pursuing a major water project to the Agronomy Center on Highway H, and agreed to increase insurance coverage for its buildings within the village. Mayor Mike Ortwein said he had been approached by Doug Arnett, manager of the Freistatt Farmers Exchange, about the possibility of extending a city water main to the Exchange's Agronomy Center on Highway H...

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library has launched a 90-day trial pairing the Monett and Pierce City branches with joint personnel. The resignation of Pam Glassco, the Pierce City Branch supervisor, became effective on March 17, offering an opportunity to use the same supervisor for both the Monett and Pierce City branches...

The Monett Sportsmen's League served turkey, either marinated, smoked or fried; trout, pheasant; squirrel and dumplings; deer sausage; and many side dishes at its annual Wild Game Feed on Thursday at the club's complex at the old weather station, southeast of Monett...

With the new fiscal year beginning for the city of Monett on April 1, the Monett City Council has approved several appointments to city boards. On the Planning and Zoning Commission, Gale Huffmaster was named to a two-year term and Randall Click to a three-year term. Also serving on the board are Mike Wallace, Max Easley and Jeff Carr...

The Monett school district has submitted its application for the fourth and fifth years of funding through the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), anticipating the successful conclusion of Monett as a pilot project for the organization. According to Alex Severs, wellness coordinator for the school district, notification of approval should come by Aug. ...