Stories from Friday, March 17, 2017

The Monett City Council approved several contracts, including authorization for demolition of two houses, during its February meeting. Council members approved two demolitions at the request of the Building Board. The first, at 100 Palmer Drive, 1970s-style FHA home, had been foreclosed upon by Wells Fargo and had fallen intro disrepair...

Local cattlemen are continuing to reach out to fellow ranchers in Oklahoma hard hit by ongoing wildfires, and are seeking donations of hay and farm supplies to replenish what has been destroyed. According to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, as of last week, the Starbuck fire in Beaver and Harper counties burned more than 715,484 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas. Two other fires have burned more than 118,000 additional acres in the state...

Fourth-grade students at Central Park Elementary School in Monett had the opportunity to enjoy various activities at the Monett Area YMCA on Thursday morning.

Progress has been steady on the new baseball and softball fields for Verona High School, which will see use for the first time this weekend. School board members in February approved the purchase of scoreboards for a total of $14,454 from Daktronics, using a hybrid of the two designs submitted for consideration. ...

New board members were elected to the Monett Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the gavel of leadership officially passed during the annual membership meeting held Thursday at the Scott Regional Technology Center. Top vote getters among the slate of candidates running for the board were Ann Saunders, Drury University; Amanda Lee, First State Bank of Purdy; Glenna Kraft, Crown Double K Realty; and Brad Hill, State Farm Insurance. ...

Monett High School art students have a highlight for their year this week, as eight students headed to the Youth Art Month program in Jefferson City. As is customary for Monett students heading to state events, a “tunnel” was offered for them on Wednesday, saluting their achievement to stand with other top performers in the state...

A Goodman man was injured Monday in a wreck at 4:55 p.m. on Highway 37, one mile north of Washburn. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, David Price, 41, of Goodman, was driving a 2000 Honda CRV northbound when his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a driveway...

A Springfield woman was injured in a wreck on Monday at 4:06 p.m. on Interstate 44, five miles west of Stotts City. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Hyunjung Kim's vehicle, a 2015 Audi A4, was disabled in the roadway after being involved in a previous crash. A 2005 Lexus Rx330, being driven by Julie Davis, 37, of Republic, struck the rear of Kim's vehicle, then changed lanes and struck a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500, being driven by Robert Ross, 84, of Harlingen, Texas...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce is seeking vendors for its farmers market, which will open in April at South Park by the tennis courts when produce is available. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to contact the Chamber at 235-7919. Hospice Compassus, Monett, will have a retreat at Hills Creek Lodge on March 17-18. ...

Finding enough innings to utilize his baseball team’s depth is a problem that B.J. Curry, Pierce City coach, is enjoying this spring. The Eagles return all nine starters and 10 lettermen from a team that went 17-10 overall and 7-1 in Spring River Valley Conference play in Curry’s first season as skipper last year...

After a 17-7 campaign a year ago, the Pierce City softball team is ready to take another step forward. The Lady Eagles return seven players from that team and will count on their leadership to carry the squad through the season. “There is more readiness and excitement from the team and more determination from the leaders, so I expect us to be competitive with a stronger offensive line-up,” said Kacy Whitley, Pierce City coach. “Senior leadership on defense is a key factor to wins this season.”...

Anna “Frances” Ryan was born on May 11, 1925, to Frank and JoAnna (Baker) Ryan in the Mineral Springs Community in Barry County Missouri. She left this earthly life on March 14, 2017, at 3:40 a.m. following a short illness. In 1942, she married Johnnie Orbie Graves and to this union was born a daughter Judy Lorraine. Johnnie was killed in the Belgium Bulge shortly after Judy was born...

Henry Keith Henbest, 71, of Cassville, died Wednesday, March 15. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Horner Cemetery at Cassville. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...