Stories from Saturday, February 4, 2017

Coaches know they have a successful system when, if followed, it leads to their athletes achieving goals they did not believe possible. Derrek Uhl, Monett football coach, watched Wednesday as five of his football players signed national letters of intent to play at the collegiate level. One of those players was offensive lineman Aiden Brown, who committed to Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) in Joplin...

In two public meetings this week, Aurora school superintendent Travis Shaw laid the foundation for switching the biggest school district fully in Lawrence County to a four-day-per-week schedule. Unlike Pierce City, which switched to the four-day schedule in the 2015-2016 school year, Aurora is not looking at making the change due to financial stress. ...

The Verona City Council took action on the heads of the fire and police departments on Tuesday. Aldermen voted to accept the resignation of Dustin Thomas as fire chief. Thomas, who had been promoted from assistant chief in December 2015, gave no specific reason for his resignation, effective Feb. 1, in his letter to the council indicating he wished to continue on the fire department...

With the concrete pad for the old Jumping-Jacks plant along Front Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, in Monett removed for construction of a community pavilion and events center, exposure of some of Monett’s most historic sites provided an irresistible opportunity to city employee A.J. Lee to see what his metal detector would turn up...

Monett School Superintendent Brad Hanson has listened to the discussion about a four-day school week in Aurora with interest, but said it did not change his personal opinion about the scheduling strategy. “I get asked questions about the four-day school week from time to time, especially with our proximity to Pierce City,” Hanson said. “We all know it’s going to be a conversation at a lot of community boards for the future.”...

When the Monett school board meets on Feb. 16, board members will make a final selection for summer building projects, following a review of proposed improvements at the board’s January meeting. Leading into the review, Superintendent Brad Hanson summarized progress on the storm shelter at Central Park Elementary School. ...

Pierce City High School will celebrate homecoming for basketball season with a Hawaiian theme on Feb. 10, following a week of activity leading up to a hoops showdown with Jasper. “Ohana” or “homecoming,” or extended family in the traditional Hawaiian language, is the theme for the week. ...

Crews for the Monett Park Department have been busy for the last two weeks renovating ball field No. 4 at Monett’s North Park.

An 80th birthday celebration open house to honor Larry Wood of Monett will be held from 3:00 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Fellowship Baptist Church 17818 Farm Road 2200 in rural Aurora. Omission of gifts is requested. St. Mary’s Catholic School in Pierce City is having a Mother and Son Dance from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 in the school gym...

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office will be joining efforts with statewide law enforcement on Thursday, Feb. 16, for an aggressive Click It or Ticket enforcement in an effort to get more motorists to buckle up and to save more lives. "Local motorists should be prepared for stepped up Click It or Ticket enforcement," said Sheriff Brad DeLay. "We'll be out there to remind you seat belts can, and do, save lives."...

ST. LOUIS – ApexNetwork Physical Therapy, which operates an office and provides services in Monett, recently received a ranking in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500. Recognized by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise 500 places ApexNetwork Physical Therapy at the 222nd slot for its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate and brand power...

COLUMBIA – Jodi Wright of rural Verona, executive director and secretary/treasurer of the Missouri Holstein Association, has received the Dairy Leadership Award from the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors Foundation. Wright grew up on the award winning Raim dairy farm in Cedaredge, Colorado. ...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates (JHA) has introduced through its Symitar division the availability of Appointment 365, a scheduling tool that enables credit union members to book in-branch appointments remotely. Appointment 365 enables credit union members to unite the mobile and in-branch experience. Appointment 365 is made available through each credit union's website, meaning that even non-members can use it to schedule in-branch account openings, loan applications, and more...

Lonnie and Linda Fulp of Monett will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Feb. 8.

Monett High School has announced students who qualified for the first semester honor roll. The following 94 students earned all A grades to qualify for the A Honor Roll: Seniors: Karsyn Ballay, Alexis Brannon, Ashley Bryand, McKenzie Bucher, Vanessa Cecenas, Natia Compton, Jacob Furry, Cale Harper, Jonathan Hawkins, Deven Kimzey, Emily Krueger, Shelby Kuhnert, Addison McColloch, Shane Pass, John Rausch, Joel Ridenour, Dario Rodriguez, Juan Salas Serrano, Samantha Salas, Cassi Sanford, Sydney Sebastian, Kalene Shanks, Mason Swearingen, Kara Turner and Haley Williams.. ...

Camryn Franke and Ashley Bryand, students at Monett High School, shopped to stock the food pantry recently established at Monett High School.

Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., has recognized 15 bi-county students for academic excellence. The following students were named to the All-A Scholastic Honors first semester honor roll: Aurora: Shannon Simmons; Cassville: Kourtney Gree, Ali Hanson, Skylar Lowe;...

Caroline McKinney, a graduate of Monett High School, and Willow Welters, of Verona, was named to the College of the Ozarks fall 2016 President’s List. To qualify for the President’s List, students must maintain a 4.0 minimum grade point average during the semester and carry at least 15 credit hours...

The following Barry County graduates made the Dean's List at Drury College in Springfield for the fall 2016 semester. To earn a spot on the list, a student must have earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale), while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours...

Monett graduate Brian Hartman was named to the Dean's List at State Technical College in Linn, Missouri, for 2016 fall semester. To be placed on the list, a full-time student must earn a semester grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0 on a 4-point scale...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristics of being hardworking as Students of the Week for Jan. 30.

Students of the Month have been been named for the Scott Regional Technology Center for January.

Cubs of the Month have been named for January at Monett Intermediate School.

Character awards have been recognized for January at Monett Intermediate School.

The following defendants plead guilty or were found guilty of the charge listed. An Alford Plea does not admit guilt but indicates defendant believes there is enough evidence for a conviction, SES is Suspended Execution of Sentence, SIS is Suspended Imposition of Sentence, ITC is Intensive Treatment Center, SATOP is Substance Abuse Traffic Offenders Program, CVCF is Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund, and LERF is Law Enforcement Restitution Fund. ...

For Brody Crawford, Onis Howard, Desmond Hill and Ian Meyer, Thursday marked the final time they would wrestle in front of a home crowd. The quartet of Cubs helped lead their team to a 50-15 victory over Joplin to complete their home varsity careers...

Caleb Hillhouse scored a career-high 35 points to lead the Verona boys basketball team to a win over Golden City 79-46. Scoring for the Wildcats: Hillhouse, 35; Kolton Pinkly, 17; Eddie Gutierrez, 13; Anthony Martinez, 6; Austin Valdez, 4; Levi Paul, 3; and Jere Ruiz-Diaz...

The Monett Soccer Club is now accepting registrations for the spring competitive season. Children born between the years 2002-2008 are welcome to apply. For more information, people may contact the club administrator, Jeff Meredith, by calling 417-489-7919...

The Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League has announced three dates for youth signups. Dates include Feb. 13, from 6-9 p.m.; Feb. 16, from 6-9 p.m.; and Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. All signups will be held at the Monett City Park Casino. Cost is $40 for one child and $35 for additional children...

This week’s discussion about the four-day school week in Aurora seems to resonate a lot of other conversations we’ve heard in other places outside of the education field. Remember the one from the attorney general and the law enforcement community: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”...

Dear Editor: As the only state in the nation without prescription drug monitoring program, Missouri’s nurse practitioners applaud Senator Dave Schatz’s efforts to address the growing problem of opioid addiction. Senate bills 231 and 314, both filed by Sen. Schatz, is a step in the right direction towards providing healthcare providers with the tools needed to ensure that patient safety remains a top priority...

Susan R. (Raines) Shipman, 63, Carthage, born in Monett, died Feb. 1. Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4 at Knell Mortuary, Carthage. Memorial services will follow at 7 p.m.

Lillian M. Krueger, 88, of Ridgedale, formerly of Shell Knob, died Wednesday, Feb. 1. Graveside memorial services will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob.

Kimie T. Gautney, 92, of Jenkins, died Wednesday, Feb. 1. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 at Clio Cemetery in Jenkins, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Monday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...