Stories from Wednesday, December 7, 2016

The Purdy school district showed gains this year in the Annual Performance Review (APR) issued by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), recovering most of the drop seen between 2014 and 2015. The district scored 108 points out of 140 in the report, which summarizes student scores from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests given in the spring. ...

Sales tax revenue to bi-county cities and counties took their sharpest drop since July in totals received in November. Not since 2010 have totals in November dipped so much compared to the previous year. Monett led the trend, receiving $119,452.99 on its two sales taxes paying general expenses, a drop of $24,717.18, or 17 percent. The sum placed the general fund fiscal year tally at $1,268,565.20, down $17,514.10 from last year's pace...

Participants at the Monett Senior Center's Cowboy Christmas dance gathered together in a line dance to kick off their evening at the Monett City Park Casino.

A handbook for coaches in the Purdy school district, a framework for evaluating the extracurricular athletic program, has been adopted by the Purdy school board as proposed by Alan Spencer, who is serving a one-year stint as the district's athletic director, coming out of retirement after many years at the Monett district...

The family of Linn Thornton and his supporters have begun work on this year's toy drive for the holiday season and preparations for the community Christmas dinner. This will be the 39th year that Linn Thornton or members of his family and community supporters have undertaken a toy drive to help families who might not be able to have a holiday celebration for the children. ...

Preparations are coming together for Monett's annual Christmas parade, which will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, heading west on Broadway through Monett's downtown. According to Jeff Meredith, executive director for the Monett Chamber of Commerce, 80 different entries, some with more than one vehicle or participants in a marching unit, have signed up to be judged in the parade by Tuesday morning...

Holiday royalty has been selected at Monett High School.

The Monett Senior Center will host a fundraising paddle party/quarter auction on Dec. 8 at the Monett Senior Center, 405 Dairy St. Doors will open at 6 pm and auction starts promptly at 6:30 with the early bird special drawing. Paddles will be one for $3 or four for $10. Come with your quarters for a fun night out and support your local senior center. All proceeds will go towards operating and maintenance expenses on the Monett Senior Center building...

Playing softball on the collegiate level has always been a goal for Monett senior Haley Williams, and that goal became a reality when the Lady Cubs standout signed a national letter of intent with Park University in Kansas City. "When I went up to Park [to visit], it just kind of clicked," Williams said. "It felt like it was where I belonged. I have always loved the game and playing with the girls, and to get to do that in college is an awesome feeling."...

Don't let the smile of Monett's wrestling coach Daryl Bradley fool you. Behind Bradley's grin is a grappler's focus, as his Cubs are poised for a breakout season on the mat despite having a young squad. Monett returns five state qualifiers this year in Joel Barrientos, 106 pounds; Angel Rabadan, 120 pounds; Onis Howard, 132 pounds; Ian Meyer, 182 pounds; and Angel Villalta, 220 pounds...

Emily Inin Burnett was a beautiful and accomplished young woman, beloved by her family and friends for her genuine personality, her wit, and her drive to help those who needed it most. Emily died suddenly Wednesday, November 23, 2016, in Petaluma, Calif., from complications of cystic fibrosis; she was 32. ...

Marlein Kay Eckhoff, 72, of DeLeon Springs, Fla., passed away Nov. 29, 2016, at her residence. She was born in Springfield, Mo., and was a pet groomer. Marlein loved animals and enjoyed dirt track late model car racing. She was married at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Knob Noster, Mo...

Muriel Lee (Campbell) Brunner, 77, of Shell Knob, died Saturday, Dec. 3. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at High Prairie Cemetery in Altoona, Kan., under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob. Visitation will be held from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Shell Knob...

Charles "Chuck" T. DeHart Jr., 87, of Mt. Vernon, died Dec. 3, at his home. No public service is scheduled. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of White Funeral Home & Crematory, Cassville.

Gerald Arlen Morris, 84, of Greenfield, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, in his home. No services are planned at this time. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller.