Stories from Friday, August 25, 2017

It is a habit that Monett’s soccer program has not broken for the last four seasons – losing the opening game of the year. On Tuesday, the trend continued with a 4-1 loss to Republic. “I don’t know what it is, but we have struggled in this opening game the last four years,” said Cristobal Villa, Monett coach. “Last year, we lost our first two games of the season before we started clicking.”...

Just one meet into its season, the Monett swimming team is on pace for a historic year. One year after sending their first five swimmer to the state meet, the Cubs are on the verge of state qualifying times in the first meet of the season. “While it is nice to be this close so soon, we know we still have some work to do to make it,” said Dan Janssen, Monett coach. ...

Recounting a wide range of running political headaches, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO, gamely fielded questions for an hour on Tuesday before about 150 people in a town hall meeting, the first of its kind offered at the Monett City Park Casino. “I want to reassure you everybody hasn’t lost their mind in Washington,” McCaskill said, referred to the exchange between political parties as a “partisan food fight.”...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce approved contracts for next year’s July 4 celebration at South Park, deciding on a fireworks strategy and keeping the Mark Chapman Band as headliner. Board members discussed options on fireworks at length prior to approving a contract with A.M. ...

A Monett woman suffered minor injuries after driving her minivan into a pond on the west edge of Verona on Tuesday. According to Verona Police Chief Tim Jones, Rebecca Reavis, 24, of Monett, was driving her 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan east on Farm Road 2220 shortly before 6:30 p.m. ...

Following a long tradition of honoring its military veterans, Pierce City officials and volunteers are now seeking to become a recognized Purple Heart City. The designation recognizes the sacrifice of Purple Heart recipients and their families. The Purple Heart is awarded to those serving in the Armed Forces who are injured or killed by enemy forces while serving in combat...

Libraries are now fun places where children can learn games as well as stories.

Volunteers in the Braille book program operating at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt have been hard at work this week.

A lightning strike on the Monett campus of Jack Henry and Associates on Aug. 17 reportedly damaged six vehicles.

The fourth annual Monett Repurposed Faire will be held Saturday and Sunday on Front Street, between Third and Fifth streets. Around 100 vendors with handcrafted items, antiques and art creations will be on hand, along with food vendors. The faire runs 9 a.m. ...

It is one of the most unique volleyball tournaments in southwest Missouri, and it keeps getting bigger. The annual Verona Invitational Volleyball Tournament has grown to 10 area teams and continues to be unique in the fact that it is hosted at two different schools...

Elaine Carol Ashley, 93, of Monett, Mo., died on August 22, 2017, while at her home. She was born April 23, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minn. Her birth parents were Elmore William Charles and Nileen Averil (Wynn) Steffen. Elaine’s parents divorced when she was 6 years old, and her father married the wonderful woman she knew as Mom. Her name was Anna Marie (Wolf). Elmore and Anna had three children together, making Elaine the second oldest of seven...

Robert Leo Lavigne Sr., 84, of Monett entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, while staying at Bentonview Park Nursing and Rehab. He was born in Skowhegan, Maine, on August 15, 1933, the son of the late Mary Martha Lavigne. He was united in marriage on September 10, 1954, in Augusta, Maine, to Kathleen Rose Bowman; she survives...

Clifford P. Moore, 78, of Springfield, Mo., passed away on Tuesday morning, August 22, 2017, while at Cox-South Medical Center in Springfield. Clifford was born on January 1, 1939, in rural Purdy, Mo., son of the late Charles and Iva Rebecca (Bowman) Moore. ...