Stories from Saturday, September 3, 2016

No damage was reported in the Monett area following reports of an earthquake registering 5.6 on the Richter scale that was eight miles from Pawnee, Okla., northeast of Oklahoma City. According to the Monett Police Department, the earthquake took place around 7 a.m. on Saturday. No statements were issued by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency...

Changes in judicial laws and policies in Missouri, many resulting from a reexamination of the municipal court system in St. Louis County and the city of Ferguson, began kicking in on Aug. 28. One of those changes affects the number of courts where a person can serve as municipal court judge. ...

In its ongoing effort to improve education opportunities for students, Monett educators are exploring a dual language program. Superintendent Brad Hanson said teaching in more than one language is an approach that fits the district's strategy of enhancing education though building community. ...

Around 75 people gathered at Drury University's Monett campus on Thursday to celebrate the launch of the College Assistance Migrant Program's grant-funded outreach to the Hispanic community Somos, which means "we are" in Spanish. Using the $1.94 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, over five years, Drury will hire three full-time and three part-time staff members to identify, recruit and support students with the greatest need within the local Hispanic population...

The Monett City Council has approved an extension of its contract with Visu-Sewer to continue lining sewer mains in an effort to reduce inflow and infiltration, where stormwater flows through the sanitary sewer system into the wastewater treatment plant and unnecessarily overtaxing the system...

The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation has presented a $500 grant to an innovative program based at Monett Elementary School designed to enhance learning. The grant was presented to Morgan Hastings and Suzanne Sloan, speech-language pathologists. According to Vicki Orr, Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation representative, the creative approach described by Hastings and Sloan in their application caught the foundation's eye. ...

Monett police, firefighters and Barry-Lawrence Ambulance crews rushed to Kelly Creek near Second Street and Front shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday.

A gusty east wind is believed to have contributed to a fire that destroyed a barn on a farm owned by John Kleiboeker on Farm Road 1055, northwest of Freistatt, on Friday afternoon.

Labor Day weekend is among the top three busiest weekends of the year at the region's lakes and rivers, and officials of the Army Corps of Engineers say they expect this year will be no exception. However, they warn visitors to practice good water safety habits to avoid accidents that could result in serious injury or death. ...

With work, family routines and social commitments, many people find it difficult to schedule a minute for a moment of quiet reflection and relaxation. Now, Amanda Baker, owner of The Rose Cottage Salon, located four miles north of Pierce City, offers those needing time to take care of personal beauty needs a moment of respite is a busy world...

Monett Sheet Metal, started in 1952 by Dayton Himebaugh, has been recognized as a dealer for Lennox Equipment for the past 50 years.

Pierce City second-grader Josaline Lombard recently took home five ribbons from the Ozark Empire Fair.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office recently received grants totaling over $17,000 from the Missouri Department of Transportation/Highway Safety Division for fiscal year 2017. The awarded grants will provide overtime pay to enable deputies to work DWI enforcements, hazardous moving violation (HMV) enforcements and other special enforcement items in the coming year...

The Dorcas Ladies Aid of Trinity Lutheran Church met July 7, with Edith Harmon, vice president calling the meeting to order. There were 15 members and one guest present. Aletha Smialek and Susan Stark presented the worship and program. Aletha thanked everyone for selecting her to be one of our delegates to the 24th Biennial LWML Convention held in Cape Girardeau, June 3-5. The theme for the convention was "God's Love Spans the Centuries." Smialek gave the financial report of the convention...

Nicolas Albarez Perez, fail to stop at stoplight, $100 Cody W. Carlson, no proof of insurance, 60 days probation, $24.50 John A. Clapper, following too close/accident, $100 James R. Genzler, no proof of insurance, $24.50, 60 days probation Zachary L. Harris, speeding, $85, no proof of insurance, $175...

MT. VERNON -- Three long passing plays in the first half carried Monett to a 42-28 win over a pesky Mt. Vernon squad on Friday. The Cubs (3-0, 1-0) entered the game facing a Mountaineer team (1-2, 0-1) that had surrendered over 900 yards of rushing in its first two games...

The Eagles are above .500 after blanking visiting Jasper on Friday, 29-0. This was Pierce City's first shutout win in at least two years. Pierce City Head Coach Brad Hocker said that he was pleased with the win, but indicated that it was no more important than any other game...

Monett has tried over the years, by many acts of community involvement, to reduce obstacles to quality living. Many service groups have either started to target specific challenges, such as Barry-Lawrence County Development Center to help preschoolers facing developmental delays, or gravitated around needs. The Kiwanis Club has focused on children, while the Lions Club has worked on vision issues...

The Monett softball team (5-1) won its fifth consecutive game with an 11-1 decision over Cassville (3-3) on Thursday. The Lady Cubs broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third with a four-run surge, highlighted by Cameron Wolf's two-run triple. Monett travels to Lamar on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m...

Pierce City won a three-set volleyball match over Lamar, 23-25, 25-22, 26-25, on Thursday. The Lady Eagles were led by Christine Stellwagen with 16 kills, 25 digs and 1 ace. Kayla Portillo added 26 assists. Jonna Brottlund had 2 block-stuffs and Libbey Strickler finished with 1 ace...

A late three-goal surge by Nixa doomed the Monett soccer team (2-3-1) on Thursday. Both Monett goals were scored by Jason Puente. The Cubs return to action on Tuesday as they host Carl Junction at 4:30 p.m.

The Purdy volleyball team picked up a conference win over Verona on Tuesday, 25-18, 25-4. Carly England recorded 18 digs and 3 aces, and Hallie Henderson dished out 15 assists for Purdy. Nicole Stephenson finished with 7 blocks and 1 ace for Verona. The Lady Eagles won the junior varsity match, 25-11, 25-16...

Dear Editor, Cheers to Ann Saunders and all the people who planned, prepared and participated in the Repurposed Faire last weekend! It is a great addition to Monett's schedule of events. We know it did not all come together without a lot of dedicated time and effort of everyone involved. It is very much appreciated...

Dear Editor, We just got back from Branson and were reading today's paper and saw the rainbow picture. It was so ironic, as we saw this same rainbow down there. We thought it was a beautiful reminder that God is still out there, watching over us. Bob and Valeta Brown...

Shirley Ann Wilson, 91, of Washburn, died Wednesday, Aug. 31. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Washburn Prairie Cemetery, Washburn. Visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m. Tuesday in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Leslie Wayne Burk, 28, of Sarcoxie, died Wednesday, Aug. 31 at his home. A Celebration of Life will be held from 6--8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8 at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.

Austin Michael Anderson, 19, of Butterfield, died Monday, Aug. 29. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Butterfield, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...