Stories from Saturday, September 17, 2016

Seventy years ago, Monettans debated an improved flood control plan that would have built a bypass channel for Kelly Creek across the north side of Monett. While that area was not well developed at the time -- there had been little construction started on new homes the year after World War II ended -- people protested the plan as only moving the creek from one part of town to another. ...

Pierce City senior Hannah Argyris acknowledges flower girl Maci Caddell, 5, after being announced as homecoming queen in the high school cafeteria Friday night.

Parking on sidewalks in Freistatt prompted discussion by village trustees, who preferred to find compliance rather than impose an edict for action. Trustee Brenna Schroeder raised the question over property owner who parks his box trailer on the sidewalk paralleling Highway H. Schroeder said the owner lets the trailer sit for months without moving it, and she had no intentions of walking her daughters in the state highway because of the owner's actions...

Field Day at the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center showed a greater interest in promoting pollinators from two presentations offered this year. Beekeepers offered tips on promoting and caring for hives. John Schmidt, with the Southern Missouri Beekeepers of Monett, reported many people visiting the beekeepers asked about the health of hives. ...

How to make farms more energy efficient provided the technology focus at this year's Field Day at the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center near Mt. Vernon. Dan Downing, agricultural engineer with the University of Missouri Extension, showed off the portable solar panel that will produce 45 watts of electricity, ideal to power a solar greenhouse. ...

Breakfast was held to honor Grandparents Day on Friday at the Verona R-7 School District.

2016 Grandparents' Day Celebration at the Purdy schools, held on Sept. 9, drew approximately 170 grandparents.

The Monett Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the Scott Regional Technology Center. Reports will be given on the new location, capitol campaign and other projects. Gene and Mary Evelyn Spivy will speak on their experiences working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Monett. All interested persons are welcome. For additional information, people may call Doug Hobson at 235-5908...

Cox Monett Hospital has two programs and an Auxiliary fundraiser planned for next week. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, the hospital will offer its Feel Better Now class, a six-week session meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. According to Nancy Ridgley, director of community wellness, Feel Better Now is an effective self-management education program for people with chronic health problems. ...

Amanda Rachelle Briggs, possession of a controlled substance, SIS, five years supervised probation, CVCF $46, LERF $200 Jose A. Hernandez, amended to driving with suspended license; DWI; 90 days jail each to run concurrently, SES, two years unsupervised probation, community service 80 hours, CVCF $10, LERF $100, recoupment $117.50, fined $150 each; endangering the welfare of a child-vehicular, fined $300...

AURORA -- The rain and the mucky field conditions at Kelley Field were a perfect foreshadowing of the play during the Cubs' 28-7 win over Aurora on Friday Monett (4-1, 3-1) slogged its way to victory on the legs of running backs Michael Branch and Onis Howard and the size advantage on the offensive line...

PIERCE CITY -- The opening play from scrimmage turned out to be a good indication of the night visiting Miller was in for Friday. Pierce City senior running back Mitchell Copening got the ball rolling for the Eagles, taking a handoff from junior quarterback Gage Brown 80 yards all the way in for the score...

A 25-22, 25-17 setback to Lamar on Thursday reinforced several things to the Monett volleyball team. The biggest lesson learned was the need to fight until the end of matches. "We fought and rallied tonight," said Julie Dalton, Monett coach. "But, we didn't play a complete game. That is the focus for us now in practice. Learning to rally to every ball."...

The Purdy volleyball team improved to 6-2-4 overall and 4-0 in Ozark 7 Conference play with a 25-19, 25-22 win over McAuley Catholic on Thursday. Hallie Henderson led the way with 16 assists. Rion Boyd added 4 aces and 1 block. Carly England recorded 21 digs and Hannah White finished with 7 kills...

Using five rushing touchdowns and one throwing touchdown from Ethan Umfleet, the Monett seventh-grade football team defeated East Newton, 41-6, on Thursday. Ezequiel Cecenes also recorded a 40-yard touchdown run for the Cubs. In two games this week, Umfleet rushed for over 500 yards, ran for 10 touchdowns and threw for another...

The Monett eighth-grade football team used a 55-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Wright to Matthew Bahl to take a quick 6-0 lead on East Newton on Thursday. However, it was the Patriots that finished the game with 22 unanswered points to win, 22-6.

It was a good night for the Monett eighth-grade volleyball teams, as they swept the A and B doubleheader with Cassville on Thursday. The Lady Cubs won the A team match, 25-16, 22-25, 15-4. Abby McCaffrey recorded 4 service aces. Kalysa McGuire contributed 5 aces and 3 kills...

The Monett seventh-grade A and B volleyball teams split matches with Cassville on Thursday. The Lady Cubs A team fell, 25-15, 25-15, while the B team won in three sets, 23-25, 25-13, 25-15. The seventh-grade girls play in the Monett tournament on Saturday, then travel to Aurora on Tuesday...