Stories from Saturday, December 3, 2016

Dear Editor: As a Christian, a Missouri resident for 20 years and a white educated female who voted for Donald Trump, I take issue with what Vance Halfaker expressed in his letter printed in The Monett Times on Nov. 19. I find it distressing he believes a majority of local citizens are ignorant and racist because we voted for Trump. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Just like the pundits got it wrong, Mr. Halfaker fails to understand why so many voters chose Trump...

Dear Editor: Since returning back home to the Barry/Lawrence County area, we would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Monett Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and the city of Monett for the wonderful Festival of Lights display at the Monett City Park...

Two zoning changes proposed to the Monett City Council received approval when neither generated any comment in opposition. The Monett City Council approved rezoning the house to the north of Crosslines at Sixth and East Cleveland Ave. for commercial use. According to a zoning map, property facing Cleveland on both sides is zoned for commercial use, one lot deep on the south side and seven lots deep on the north...

Students from third through sixth grades presented holiday music and skits as part of the Purdy Elementary School Christmas program.

Greg Brandsma, detective with the Monett Police Department, recently requested and received a $50 donation from Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers board members for the upcoming Shop with a Cop program, which benefits underprivileged children in the Barry and Lawrence County areas...

Pierce City will host its annual Christmas parade on Dec. 10, with the festivities kicking off at 5:30 p.m. Grand marshals for this year's event are military veterans Harold Merritt and Gary Gunter. Merritt, a 1946 graduate of Pierce City High School, was on active duty during the Korean War and has spent more than 35 years with the 203rd combat engineer battalion of the Missouri Army National Guard in Pierce City...

Executive board members with the Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers recently interviewed Sarah Pfitzner, a special investigator with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, who expressed an interest in serving as chairman of Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers...

The Harold Bell Wright Museum in Pierce City will have extended hours starting April 15, 2017. Board members have opted to open the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the third Saturday of each month, as well as hosting several special occasion events, such as a visit from the Easter Bunny and decorating for various holidays throughout the year...

The Cassville Christmas parade runs at 6 p.m. today downtown. The Berean Christian Academy in Monett will hold its Christmas program at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the gym, two miles east of Monett off Highway 60. Band and choir will perform. The First Presbyterian Church, 4 E. College St. in Aurora, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in a special rededication service at 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 4. A dinner will follow the service. Former members unable to attend are encouraged to submit a special memory...

Five members of the Monett High School Concert Band have been selected for All-District honors following fall auditions. Four students won acceptance into the All-District Band. Senior Jesus Rodriguez was named first chair for the tuba section, as was senior Jacob Furry in the trumpet section. Junior Bailey Preston claimed the sixth chair in the flute section. Trumpeter Brian Agans, a junior, won the third chair in the trumpet section and first chair in the All-District Jazz Band...

Twenty students were recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society from Monett Middle School. Students took the oath of induction in a ceremony at the school's new cafeteria. DeAnn Crawford is the new chapter advisor, taking over for Susie Kinlock, which is the new high school NHS sponsor...

Character education medal winners for the month of November have been announced at Purdy Elementary School.

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of being respectful as Students of the Week for Oct. 24.

The University of Missouri Extension will be hosting a Holiday Food Preservation seminar on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Grace Independent Methodist Church in Monett. The focus of the educational program is to provide instruction on how to make Christmas gifts at home...

The awards season for fall sports is in full swing, as this year's football season is in the books. For Pierce City, the awards were numerous on the All-District, Spring River Valley All-Conference and Southwest Missouri coaches Association All-Region teams...

One of the biggest strengths of the Pierce City basketball team is also its biggest obstacle early on in the season -- depth. On Thursday, the Eagles (2-1) dropped a 71-58 decision to Crane in the semifinal of the Pierce City Invitational. "I give all the credit to Crane for doing what they needed to in order to win this game," said Matt Street, Pierce City coach. ...

There's something oddly foreboding about going into a place you've seen a thousand times but never entered. Then, going in, you find it filled with familiar Monett purple, and you think you're home. That's how I felt last Saturday walking into Plaster Stadium in Springfield for Monett's championship football game. ...

Dear Editor: Monett is blessed with many opportunities to enjoy the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, with the Chamber of Commerce and others working hard to promote Monett. The annual Festival of Flavors, showcasing talented area food vendors, is a fun evening with lots of good food and time to visit with friends. If you missed it this year, mark your calendars for 2017...

Tyler R. Clark, 74, of Exeter, died Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield No public service is planned. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of White Funeral Home & Crematory, Cassville.