Stories from Saturday, July 23, 2016

The subject of fireworks came up at the Monett City Council meeting this week. This was Monett's first year allowing fireworks to be sold and discharged inside the city limits. Viewed as an experiment, the reasons against the change did not seem to outweigh the support for it...

Florence Helen McAlexander, 90, of Monett, Mo., finished her earthly journey on Thursday morning, July 21, 2016, while at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Florence was born on Dec. 17, 1925, in Greely, Kan., daughter of the late Charles and Ruby (Fitzsimmons) Evey. ...

Pierce City's Christine Stellwagen spikes the ball during summer volleyball activity at Parkview High School.

Friday nights in the fall are sacred events for prep football players and fans. Few other occasions prompt people to paint their bodies in school colors, show up to gridiron cathedrals hours early, then scream at the top of their lungs to push their team on to victory...

Area golfers were treated to a special bonus on Friday, as representatives from the Bridgestone marketing and event golf staff were on hand at The Windmill Ridge Municipal Course in Monett. "Our goal is to help golfers choose a ball that will help them improve their games," said Mike Day, Bridgestone representative. "A golf ball is the only piece of equipment that is used in every shot. However, most golfers will have clubs tailored to their swing and never give the ball a second thought."...

Mark and Natalie Kaiser, of Monett, and Allan and Vicky Strong, of Pierce City, are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Kelsey Jo Kaiser and Cody Allan Strong.

The Missouri State Chapter of P.E.O. Sisterhood hosted its 123rd annual convention, held in Columbia, with more than 330 representatives of chapters across the state in attendance. Glenda Allen, president of the local CN Chapter, attended the event, along with members Jan Rowell, Mary Young and Georgeanna Wormington...

The Rebel's Bluff Troupe's performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "Oklahoma" will be at 7 p.m. today and 3 p.m. tomorrow at the Mt. Vernon Arts and Recreation Center (the MARC), 822 W. Mt. Vernon Blvd. Sunday tickets are nearly sold out. Tickets may be ordered by calling the box office at 417-466-7130 or at the door...

Vacation Bible Schools offer ways for children to enjoy summer fun as well as help their community.

This week, the Monett Pizza Hut restaurant changed from ownership by one restaurant management company to another. People doing support business with the Monett Pizza Hut received a letter this week from Hamman-Hopkins, Darnell, the restaurant's management firm in Lebanon, announcing the company was closing 10 of its Pizza Hut restaurants on July 18. ...

The future of the Lawrence County jail remains a major issue for the county commission, one that prompted a variety of ideas from candidates running for the job of eastern commissioner. "Sheriff Brad DeLay has estimated a new jail would cost $10 million," said incumbent Joe Ruscha of Verona. ...

Reports from officials showed Monett's first year of allowing the sales and discharge of fireworks inside the city limits had a generally positive outcome. Police Chief George Daoud said his office responded to a total of 36 complaints over the fireworks season after the city council voted to allow sales within the city limits from June 20 to July 10...

The Barry County Public Administrator elected on Aug. 2 will have more than 150 clients to maintain, and some of those clients require more attention than others. Many of those under the care of the public administrator suffer from mental or physical disabilities, and whoever is elected must be able to deal with possible behavioral issues that may stem from mental illnesses...

For the 31st year, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian and Waldensian Presbyterian churches in Monett have held a joint Vacation Bible School.

Sending dispatching services to Monett from Lawrence County proved to be one of the more controversial decisions made by Lawrence County commissioners in the past year, and candidates seeking the Republican nomination for eastern commissioner saw improvements and questions over continuing the program with Monett beyond the present three-year contract...

The family of Thomas Wolfe, for whom the VFW Post No. 4207 is named, recently received news regarding the excavation of Wolfe's crash site in Laos, where his plane was shot down 50 years ago. "We received good news at the [Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency] weekend in Washington, D.C.," said Valarie Wolfe, daughter of Air Force Capt. ...