Stories from Friday, March 3, 2017

Mild weather led to pleasant conditions for the opening of trout season at Roaring River State Park on Wednesday, offering many a chance to make memories with their families at one of Missouri's premier parks. Severe weather overnight, including a hail storm that lasted for around 15 minutes at 1:45 a.m., prompted an evacuation of campers to the Emory Melton Inn until the storm passed. ...

Area residents can now mark their calendars for a night of food, fun and games starting at 5:30 p.m. March 10 at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt. The annual school carnival fundraiser features a dinner, including ham or oven baked chicken, potato casserole, green beans, corn, salad, fruit, rolls, desserts and beverages served from 5:30-7:30 p.m...

Monett school board members took steps in February to size up and proceed on facilities improvements over the summer, which impacted the date of graduation. Superintendent Brad Hanson said the failure of heating and air conditioning units for the high school commons and gym affected the decision to schedule graduation, which is typically set in February. After extended discussion, the board decided to schedule graduation for 8 p.m. on Friday, May 19, a week later than usual...

A Crane woman was injured in a wreck on Wednesday at 4:50 p.m. on Interstate 44 at the 42 mile marker. According to a Missouri State Highway patrol report, Timothy Oetting, 49, of Springfield, was driving a 2017 Ford F150 eastbound and slowed for traffic congestion when his vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, which was being driven by Nathaniel Carnes, 19, of Sarcoxie...

A Marshfield man was injured Wednesday in a wreck at 4:49 p.m. on Interstate 44, two miles west of Mt. Vernon. According to a Missouri State Highway patrol report, Joseph Strong, 39, of Marshfield, was driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix eastbound and slowed for traffic when a 2007 Chevrolet truck, being driven by Nathan Densmore, 38, of Calera, failed to yield and struck Strong’s vehicle in the rear...

Screening for preschool and kindergarten at Monett Elementary School will be offered from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 6 and 8 at the school. Spaces for full and half-day preschool are limited. Screenings are free. Professionals will check motor skills, speech and language skills, concept development, vision and hearing. Screening takes approximately one hour. Reservations may be made by calling 235-3411. Birth certificates and immunization records are needed at screening time...

If was fitting that a game featuring wild point swings and back-and-forth action was heavily influenced by the shortest player on the court. Generously listed at 5-5, Ragan Blinzler stepped in front of Crane’s 5-10 Madison Hicks and drew a charge with 1:26 left in overtime, with the score tied 54-54, to give her team a chance to win...

It was not the ending to the season the Pierce City hoops team envisioned, as the Eagles fell, 65-42, to Crane on Wednesday. “Crane did a great job of coming out and punching us in the mouth from the beginning,” said Matt Street, Pierce City coach. “We just didn’t recover from it. We were not the same team that we’ve been, and we didn’t attack the rim the same way as we had been...

Dale Richard Parrigon, 60, of Pierce City went to be with his Lord in Heaven on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Cox Monett Hospital in Monett, Missouri. He was born on April 24, 1956, in Monett, the son of the late Leo and Joyce (Williams) Parrigon. He was united in marriage on June 7, 1980, in Pierce City to Bonnie Copening; she survives...

Irvin G. Gunter, 77, of Stark City, died Tuesday, Feb. 28. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 3 at McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton. Burial will be at Muncie Chapel Cemetery at Wheaton.

Ruthie Jane Merritt, 79, of Aurora, died Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Aurora Nursing Center. A funeral service was held Thursday, March 2 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial was at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

Scott L. Neal, 63, of Cassville, died Tuesday, Feb. 28. Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 4 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Russell Smith, 44, of Cassville, died Wednesday, March 1. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 5 with services at 3:00 p.m. at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Boyd E. Stogdill, 63, of Washburn, died Tuesday, Feb. 28. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 4 at Roller Cemetery at Washburn, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Darrell Eugene Stout, 93, of Marionville, died Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 4 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora. Burial will be at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Aurora...