Stories from Friday, February 17, 2017

Lester Ray Antle, 83, of Exeter, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at First Baptist Church in Cassville. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Exeter.

COLUMBIA – Four Monett wrestlers will take their shots at 2017 Missouri State Wrestling Tournament titles in the next 24 hours. The Cubs advanced five of their seven wrestlers into the final day of competition on Saturday, with four competing for state titles and one for potentially third place...

It would not be a shock if several Big 8 Conference football coaches attend Monett’s graduation ceremony in May. Those coaches would attend to make sure that Michael Branch crosses that stage and is officially done with high school football. For the last three years, Branch has terrorized the conference on both side of the ball. ...

Health officials in Barry and Lawrence counties are fielding concerns about influenza and other seasonal ailments circulating in the area. “There’s a lot of influenza going around,” said Janella Spencer, administrator for the Lawrence County Health Department. “Health officials are not giving us any strain, so we don’t know what’s specifically causing the problem...

Members of the Harold Bell Wright/Pierce City Museum board adopted an event calendar for 2017, featuring celebrations of notable historic residents, events, groups and businesses. Members plan to have work days to develop timely exhibits celebrating historic Pierce City natives' birthdays, which will outline their contributions to the community, state and nation...

The Monett High School Reader’s Theatre and the drama department’s one-act play have entered competition at Crowder College in Neosho and will give performances before the Monett crowd this coming week. This year’s Reader’s Theater show, “The Way Home” by Constance Alexander, directed by Chelsea Wagner, offers a series of interviews, conducted by the playwright, with two women from western Kentucky who were fighting cancer...

Monett firefighters responded quickly to a fire at 1009 N. Central Ave. around 11:15 a.m. on Thursday.

The Monett City Council will address raising trash collection rates at the monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Monett City Hall, a day later than usual, delayed because of President’s Day on Monday. Council members will hear public comment on a proposal to raise sanitation collection charges by $1 per month. ...

Monett firefighters responded around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday to a three-vehicle collision on Highway 60 at Farm Road 1100, one mile east of Monett.

Pianist Jason Terry, a native of Purdy who teaches at Indiana University, practiced this week with the Ozark Festival Orchestra.

Community volunteers arrived on Thursday at the Scott Regional Technology Center to participate in the 2017 Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-Up fundraiser.

Cox Monett Hospital will offer a Love Your Heart Screening from 8 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 21 in Conference Room A. Labs to measure cholesterol, kidney and thyroid function will be offered for $40, in addition to a stroke and cardiac assessment. A breakfast is also available. Space is limited. People are asked to register by calling 417-354-1448...

For the Wheaton girls basketball team, the season comes down to series of one-game playoffs beginning Saturday in Willard with the Class 1, District 5 tournament. Action begins on Saturday with No. 1 seed Walnut Grove and No. 8 seed Everton tipping off at 9:30 a.m., followed by No. 4 seed Exeter and No. 5 seed Golden City at 11 a.m...

A tall mountain faces the Wheaton boys basketball team as they enter the Class 1, District 5 tournament on Saturday. Exeter, the No. 8 seed, faces No. 1 seed and No. 2 state-ranked Walnut Grove at 12:30 p.m. at Willard. No. 7 Wheaton entertains No. 2 seed Greenfield at 6:30 p.m...

The basketball season is rapidly coming to a conclusion. Beginning Monday, the Purdy and Pierce City boys and girls basketball teams will travel to Sarcoxie for district playoff action. On the girls side, Purdy claimed the No. 1 seed, followed by No. 2 Pierce City, No. 3 Sarcoxie, No. 4 McAuley, No. 5 College Heights, No. 6 Jasper, No. 7 Southwest and No. 8 Thomas Jefferson...

Monett High School swimmer Kelli Sangston, center, received the applause of her fellow students as she walked the “tunnel” of applauding Cubs Thursday morning on her way to state competition in St. Peters.

John F. (Jack) McCaffrey, 81, of Monett, MO, passed from this life peacefully on Monday afternoon, February 13, 2017, at his residence. Jack was born on August 29, 1935, in Philadelphia, Penn., son of the late Joseph A. and Mary (Lynch) McCaffrey. Jack was a Monett resident since 1952. ...

Josiah David Patterson, 27, of Nixa, Mo., passed away suddenly on Monday, February 13, 2017. Josiah was born on December 24, 1989 in Brumley, Mo., son of Everett and Jeannie (Supulver) Patterson. Growing up in Monett, Josiah enjoyed playing soccer and football. ...

Mary Jane Douglas, 71, of Seligman, died Saturday, Feb., 11 at Mercy Hospital Cassville. A private family burial will be held at a later date at New Salem Cemetery in Seligman. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Lucy Naomi Fenske, 87, of Pierce City, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at First Baptist Church in Pierce City. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Pierce City...

James C. Talkington, 35, of Pierce City, died Sunday, Feb. 12 at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City. Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Shoal Creek Revival Church, located on Highway 60 east of Pierce City. The body will be cremated following the service...