Stories from Friday, June 30, 2017

Fall high school sports fans will have to wait one extra week before games are played beginning in the 2018-2019 season. Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) voting members, by a 393-97 margin, approved a measure designed to fight back against the heat associated with early August practices and games...

Pierce City School Superintendent Russ Moreland has been busy this summer taking inventory of the district’s facilities and trying to schedule the highest-ranked priorities for replacement or repair while taking into consideration the district’s lean budget...

Tyson Foods, which has a processing plant in Monett, has announced a new program to improve conditions for animals in its system, though animal rights activists have asked for even greater efforts. According to a release from Tyson Foods, as part of its focus on sustainable food production, the company launched a broad, new animal well-being initiative that combines the latest technology with high-touch monitoring and training to improve the care of chickens. ...

The Monett City Council has revised its plans to loosen parking requirements in downtown Monett following public discussion about an ordinance to lift the two-hour time limit on Third, Fourth and Fifth streets between Front and Bond streets, the auxiliary parking to Broadway not directly on the downtown thoroughfare...

Community National Bank hosted the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s Fifth Friday Coffee on Friday.

Meagan Miller, of Pierce City, took home the most coveted prize from the National American Miss contest in Columbia on Saturday — the screen test with the Disney Company. Miller, 14, daughter of John and Rosie Miller of Pierce City, who will be a freshman at Pierce City High School this fall competed in the three-day pageant in the dramatic reading contest, top model runway, casual wear modeling, modeling a production number outfit and a photo shoot, all of which factored into the Disney audition. ...

A prominent Springfield dairy farm played host to 49 youth age 8-18 as part of the Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp. According to Karla Deaver, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Robthom dairy farm has hosted Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp for 22 years, and the 2017 camp was a record-breaking year for attendance. This year's camp was held May 24-26...

Ripplin’ Creek Bluegrass Band entertained guests at this year’s annual Waldensian Ice Cream Social, held Thursday on the church grounds near Monett.

Monett Kiwanis will host a lunch for the new minister at First Methodist. Pastor Brian Smith and his wife will introduce themselves on July 11 at 11:45 a.m. People may meet at Family Room Steakhouse. All Ministers and a church guest are invited to the luncheon. Please bring a business card and welcome the family into the community. Please RSVP by July 10: to Magnoliafl@yahoo.com; Topic: (church name)...

Anna Jean Arnaud and Matthew Glenn Faubion were joined in marriage on May 28 at the Waldensian Church in Monett. The bride is the daughter of Kent and Margaret Arnaud. She is the granddaughter Betty Prier and Victor and Betty Arnaud, all of Monett.  The groom is the son of Ron Faubion and Jeanne Puelma, of Little Rock, Ark. He is the grandson of Pat and Joyce Kennedy, of Atlanta, Texas, and Raul and Elena Puelma, of Vina del Mar, Chile...

Alumni of the Purdy R-2 Class of 1954 met Saturday, June 13, at the Purdy High School commons area to observe their 63rd class reunion. Class photos were taken and a catered luncheon, from Prime Cut of Monett, was served. Rev. Rocky Harris, senior adult pastor at New Site Baptist Church, provided entertainment. Fellowship and a short business meeting followed...

The Monett FFA has been busy since school has been out, pursuing contests and both individual and group activities. On May 30, six officers went to a leadership conference at Crowder College in Neosho. Sam Masri, Blake Wright, Gunnar Bradley, Chet Butterworth, Fernando Salas, and Clayton Dean attended a LEAD conference that taught them how to be leaders. The team discussed possible new activities for the upcoming year and how they expect an officer should behave...

Crowder College, Neosho, announced 644 students that earned recognition on the Spring 2017 Dean’s List. To achieve this honor, students must have completed 12 or more college credit hours courses and earn a 3.5 or higher grade point average. Among those named to the list were the following Barry County graduates:...

Randy Branham recently celebrated 40 years with UMB Bank in Monett.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were formally held for Adrenaline Apparel and Design and the Trunk in its new location at 313 E. Broadway.

A man moved to a small community and was anxious make new acquaintances. Since the tiny community was compact, he went on an evening stroll. Rounding a street corner, he could hear the sounds of cheering, chanting and could see the lights of a baseball diamond...

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League T-ball team sponsored by Four State Dental.

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League Rookie League team sponsored by 3D Corporate Solutions.

In a few days, we will gather at South Park in Monett to celebrate the nation’s birthday. It’s a moment of pride and confidence in the principles and endurance of our republic, of this democracy. This year, as we feel our democratic process stretch and strain its muscles, we need to celebrate more than ever...

Cathryn “Tiny” Newton, 63, of Eagle Rock, died Wednesday, June 28, at her home. Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 1 at White Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.

Jerrel Linn Franks, 66, of Monett, died Friday, June 30. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, with full military honors. Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services...

The Verona school board approved changes to the student handbook for the coming year that focused on conduct issues and improving attendance. Terry Winton, high school principal, planned to return to requiring written excuses from a doctor to excuse student absences, produced within two days. ...

Plans are complete for Monett’s Freedom and Fireworks festivities, planned for Tuesday at Monett’s South Park. According to Jeff Meredith, executive director for the Monett Chamber of Commerce, the celebration will feature many of the popular attractions that have drawn the largest crowds of the year for decades, as well as several new items...

Monett and outlying residents converge on Monett’s South Park on July 4 to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

The city of Monett has received calls recently about its drinking water having an odd taste, but city and lab tests have shown it is still safe to drink. Skip Schaller, superintendent of utilities, said calls started coming in about two weeks ago. “We’ve had about 10 calls total, and the confusing thing to us at first is that they were isolated and spread out,” he said. ...

Less than a mile of hot mix work is expected this summer in the Pierce Special Road District. "We're mainly hitting the bad spots," said Commissioner Don Gripka. Foreman Tom Green said work will focus on 3,900 feet on Farm Road 2240, west of Highway 97; on close to 2,000 feet on Farm Road 2210, west of Highway 37; and approximately 1,000 feet on Farm Road 2210, east of Highway 97...

Next week at the Pierce City Senior Citizens Center, 104 N. Locust, the center will be closed on July 4 for the nation’s birthday. On July 7, the meal will be hot dog or chili dog. Nell’s Nail Care is also offered. Bridge will still be played from 1-3 on July 3...

June 30 will be the final day at work for Joyce Carnes, assistant manager at the Justin Boot outlet store in Monett. Carnes leaves the job after 21 years of service. "The business is not anything like it used to be," Carnes said. She noted that the increase in cattle prices significantly impacted boot production and prices. She noted eel boots are no longer made, and the supply of elephant skin boots "comes and goes." The gold standard for boot production remains those made from Nile crocodile...

CRIMINAL 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 Offender Program, CVCF is Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund, LERF is Law Enforcement Restitution Fund. ...

A new classification system for boys swimming is expected to pay huge dividends for the Monett swimming and Diving team beginning in 2018. By a vote of 291-244 the By-Law 5.1.4 will be amended to adds a new 5.1.15 rule mandating that schools registered for the sport of boys swimming and diving be split into two classes, regardless of the number of registered schools...

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League 8-and-under softball team sponsored by Jack Henry & Associates.

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League Major League team sponsored by Monett Sales and Rentals.

Petronella “Pennie” M. Du Plessis, 78, years 6, months, and 17 days), passed away at 04h05 on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at her home near Monett, Mo. She was born in Springs, South Africa, on December 11, 1938, the daughter of Johan and Nellie Joubert. ...

After a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Harold Heese, 80, of Tucson, Ariz., passed away June 24, 2017, with his family by his side. Harold was born on Jan. 29, 1937, in Robstown, Texas, along with his eight brothers and sisters. Harold had a long 20-year career with United Parcel Service, to then retire to Tucson, Ariz., where he was an avid tennis player and wood craftsmen. Harold enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s sporting events and going on family vacations to La Jolla, Calif...

Martha Louise Roman passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 15, 2017, at the Englewood Meridian Senior Living Center in Englewood, Colorado. Born May 21, 1925, in Monett, Missouri, she was the only child of Helen Frances (Gahring) Millsap and Virgil Lawrence Millsap. ...

David Wayne Edwards, 43, of Pineville, died Tuesday, June 27. Services will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Martha Lee Valle, 92, of Aurora, died Sunday, June 25. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on July 1 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Aurora. Visitation and meal will follow the service at the Heritage Harmony House in Aurora. Arrangements are under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora...

Michael Clifford “Mike” Young, 71, of Cassville, died Sunday, June 25. Services with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 3, at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

A Mt. Vernon woman was injured Thursday in a wreck at 6:39 p.m. on Highway 39, five miles south of Mt. Vernon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Shawn Worley, 36, of Aurora, was driving a 2000 Nissan Altima southbound when his vehicle struck the rear of a 2005, Mercury Grand Marquis, being driven by Connie Maas, 55, of Mt. Vernon. The collision pushed Maas' vehicle into a 2016 Chrysler 200, being driven by Taylor Worm, 20, of Monett, who was attempting a turn...