Stories from Friday, December 23, 2016

Terry Douglas Luker, 81 of Monett, passed away Dec. 20, surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by his sister, Sue and Buddy Southerland, of Plant City, Fla; a daughter, Yvonne and John Bowman; Pamela Luker and two others; grandchildren, Wayne and Laurel Hall, and others; great- grandchildren, Timothy and Scott Yates, and with 11 others; and three great-great-grandchildren...

Terry Douglas Luker, 81 of Monett, passed away Dec. 20, surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by his sister, Sue and Buddy Southerland, of Plant City, Fla; a daughter, Yvonne and John Bowman; Pamela Luker and two others; grandchildren, Wayne and Laurel Hall, and others; great- grandchildren, Timothy and Scott Yates, and with 11 others; and three great-great-grandchildren...

Donald Lee Mozingo, 81, of Monett, entered into eternal rest on Friday, December 16, 2016, while at Cox Monett Hospital in Monett, Missouri. He was born in Parsons, Kansas, on May 25, 1935, the son of the late Harvey and Ethel (Walker) Mozingo. He was united in marriage on April 7, 1978, in Parsons to Patricia Boyer; she precedes him in death...

David (Dave) Franklin Saunders, 84, of Monett, MO passed away on December 14, 2016. Dave was born in Maumee, Ohio, on March 22, 1932. He graduated from Harrod High School in 1950. Following high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and served in the Nuclear Task Force 4925 Test Group "Atomic" from 1951-1955. ...

Helen Ruth Avritt, 87, of Aurora, formerly of Lake Isabella, Calif., and Lebanon, Ky., died Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Ozark Methodist Manor in Marionville. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, will held on Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Ryder Cemetery in Lebanon, Ky...

Larry Leon Elsey, 74, of Aurora, died Saturday, Dec.17 at his home. No services are planned at this time. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora.

Concepcion Fernandez-Surratt, 49, of Granby, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at the Cox South Hospital in Springfield. A funeral mass, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, was held on Thursday, Dec. 22 at the St. Suzanne Catholic Church in Mt. Vernon. Burial was at Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico...

There was no need to ask Brad Stewart, Verona basketball coach, his thoughts about a 62-41 loss to Fair Play on Wednesday to open the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament. Stewart watched his team slug through the game, committing 24 turnovers and missing over a dozen point-blank shots. He could be heard consistently reminding his players that they were late on defensive assignments, leading to easy transition baskets for the Hornets...

A 4:30 p.m. tipoff with Sparta today awaits the Pierce City basketball team in the quarterfinal round of the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament. "They are a good team with guards that complement each other well," said Matt Street, Pierce City coach, about the Spartans. "Our goal will be to speed them up and play faster than they are used to playing."...

The final result may have been a loss, but a recent meet did the Monett wrestling team a lot of good, according to coach Daryl Bradley. On Tuesday, the Cubs dropped their first dual of the season, a 38-34 decision to Branson. Monett helped the Pirates' cause with three open weight classes and 18 free points...

The Linn Thornton Community Christmas dinner in Monett will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 24, a different day this year for the first time, at the First United Methodist Church, 1600 N. Central. Shut-ins who cannot attend who would like to have a meal may call 417-489-2614 on Saturday morning...

Lighted clouds against a colorful sunset contributed to a dramatic sky painting on Wednesday.

Countryside Christian Church in Monett held its annual Living Nativity presentation on Tuesday, after being forced to cancel both weekend performances.

Monett firefighters moved quickly on Tuesday in response to an SUV that burst into flames in front of the Price Cutter store at 2150 E. Cleveland.

Preparations are underway in full force for the Linn Thornton Memorial Christmas dinner, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 1600 North Central in Monett. This is the first time in 32 years that the dinner will not be held on Christmas day...

Two Purdy men have been charged after members of the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET) served search warrants at homes on Highway C and on 4th Street. According to an ODET press release, task force members, along with the Barry County SWAT Team, served a warrant at 402 E. Hwy. C in Purdy, where they arrested David Saville, 56, of Purdy, and charged him with distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia...

A Monett man has been charged with two felonies after allegedly cutting another man with a razor knife at Cox Monett Hospital on Tuesday. Carroll "Joey" Trump Jr., 34, of Monett, is charged with second-degree assault and armed criminal action. According to a probable cause statement filed by Officer Robert Kauffman, with the Monett Police Department, Trump went to Cox Monett before noon and approached his estranged wife, Kilie Trump, who was at the hospital with the two's child. ...

On Tuesday, classes at Trinity Lutheran School in celebrated Christmas with parties in their classrooms before the year-end break.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of a 1991 white Dodge 3500 truck with a Deweze bed from an auction in rural Aurora. Lawrence County Det. Melinda McElroy told members of the Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers the incident occurred at the Weatherly auction Nov. ...

Enrollment is likely to increase in Crowder College satellite campus at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett following a proposal to close its class offerings at the Mt. Vernon Arts and Recreation Center (the MARC). Review of Crowder's regional centers in Mt. ...

A Monett woman is facing two felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly throwing drugs and paraphernalia from her vehicle during a traffic stop. Justine McCaffrey, 29, of Monett, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia...