Stories from Saturday, August 26, 2017

In a defensive battle, the No. 8 Monett (2-0) football team found a way to grit out a 28-6 win over Logan-Rogersville (1-1) on Friday. Clinging to a precarious 7-0 lead with 2:23 left in the third, the Cubs took over at their own 12. William Murphy took the handoff, picked up a nice block from Cody Thompson, and rumbled 67 yards. ...

PIERCE CITY — In what looked like it would be a slugfest early between No. 8 Pierce City (2-0) and visiting Liberal (0-2), a long touchdown in the final minutes of the first quarter got the Eagles going, scoring 31 unanswered points en route to a 31-6 victory...

The Monett swimming and diving team made the biggest splash in the pool at Joplin on Thursday, defeating host Joplin, Webb City and Nevada. The Cubs amassed 425 points and won five of 12 swimming events. Webb City was second with 342 points, and Nevada was third with 288 points...

As a cost saving measure, Verona School Superintendent Tony Simmons reported he has begun informal exploration into whether a four-day school concept would work for the district, as it has in Pierce City and East Newton. Simmons told school board members he has reservations, but had heard enough to warrant further inquiry. Statistics show discipline problems decrease and attendance, a big factor in school funding, rises with the four-day formula...

Bids for the new Monett aquatic center have come in within expectations, and a contract has been awarded to R.E. Smith Construction for the project. On Monday, Monett City Council members approved a contract that included construction and six additional features totaling $2,879,000 to R.E. Smith, the contractor used most frequently by the Monett school district. Smith was one of seven bidders on the project...

Minneapolis-based Apogee Enterprises, Inc., the new owner of Monett-based EFCO Corporation, has announced a revised profits projection for the coming quarter, in part due to the EFCO acquisition, triggering a stock price dip. "We continue to feel good about the North American non-residential construction markets,” said Joseph F. ...

Dan Head, a volunteer with the MOCHIP Child Identity and Protection Program, fingerprints Viviann Chaj-Rodas, at the Live Well Health and Safety Fair, held at the Monett Area YMCA on Aug. 19.

Pierce City residents will be facing a new question in the November election — whether or not to keep the city’s use tax. “This is a tax imposed on Missouri customers who purchase goods from out-of-state vendors,” said Darlene Parrigon, city attorney...

Summer improvement projects in the Monett school district have reached the punch list stage, but weather continues to affect completion of the final pieces. The biggest outstanding undertaking is at the field house for Burl Fowler Stadium. Superintendent Brad Hanson reported that before classes resumed, construction crews installed new LED lights in the restrooms. At the direction of school board members, the restrooms have undergone a facelift...

Kickball can be a game of strategy or a melee of fun for youngsters.

A new building with additional restrooms for those using facilities at Monett’s North Park arrived this week.

Verona School Superintendent gave school board members a demonstration of the new security camera system installed over the summer, shown on the screen at center giving a view of the parking lot.

Members of the committee overseeing Monett’s Repurposed Faire this weekend helped arrange picnic tables along Front Street Friday morning in advance of the fourth annual event today and Sunday.

A tractor pull will be offered by the Purdy FFA Alumni at 7 p.m. today, Aug. 26 south of Purdy and east of Highway 37. Cost is $10 for adults, free to children 12 and under. Con cessions will be available. Today at the Monett Repurposed Faire, TV personality Jeremy Rabe, “the FYI Guy,” will return from 10 a.m. ...

The Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) will begin offering Vocational Opportunities Inspiring Children in Elementary (VOICE) in Lawrence County this autumn. VOICE is a community action project presenting career opportunities to children in a fun and engaging learning experience...

A total of 43 donors contributed blood to the American Red Cross during a blood drive held on Aug. 14 at the New Site Baptist Church, southwest of Monett. Outstanding achievement marks were reached by three donors. Roger Cusick hit the four-gallon mark. Lena Reavis achieved nine gallons. Paul Renfro reached 24 gallons...

Steve Hess and Southern Salvation, the popular Southern Gospel trio, will appear in concert at 6 p.m. on Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church, 700 Sycamore in Monett.

That Dalton Gang, the popular bluegrass band, will present a free concert at 6:30 p.m. n Sunday, Sept. 10 at Countryside Christian Church, 1200 N. Eisenhower in Monett. The band has released three CDs and has performed at the Starvy Creek Festival in Conway, the Turkey Track Festival in Waldron, Ark. ...

Monett Lions Members recently underwent training for upcoming vision screening in local classrooms.

Veteran Monett Lions Club member Ralph Scott was recently recognized for his 90th birthday by fellow Lions Club members.

The Philip an Margaret Kleiboeker family of rural Stotts City has been named the State Fair Farm Family for Lawrence County at the 59th annual Missouri Farm Family Day on Aug. 14.

A plaque for donating 15 gallons of blood donation to the American Red Cross during blood drives in Monett was recently presented to Dale Gentry.

The 127th annual reunion of the McCullah-Wasson family was held July 30 through Aug. 6 at Finley River, near the Hawkins bridge, five mile south of Nixa at a two-and-a-half acre campsite on part of the Hawkins farm. More than 200 relatives and visitors attended from 13 states: Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and the nation of Mexico. ...

Leading Monett Lions Club in its 71st year is newly installed President Tom Wormington.

Monett native educator Kathy Fertig was recently inducted into Monett Lions Club.

Scott Regional Technology graduate Audria Conn carried her training into national competition over the summer, competing in the 2017 SkillsUSA Championships in Louisville, Ky., in June. Conn, who graduated from Aurora High School in 2017, competed in food service technology. She received a Skill Point Certificate in restaurant service. She also placed fifth in the nation in the restaurant service contest...

It was both a frustrating and encouraging week for the Monett softball team. On one hand, the Lady Cubs (1-2) lost two games, one to Republic, 9-6 on Wednesday, and the other to Webb City, 6-5 on Thursday. On the other hand, Monett had a chance to be undefeated on the season...

Pierce City fans have continued their tailgating tradition this season in front of the Doug Weatherly Fieldhouse.

The debate about Confederate statuary comes close to home if you consider the statue of E.P. Linzee in the Pierce City Cemetery. Critics of Confederate monuments have called for their elimination even in public cemeteries. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said this week that she would have no problem seeing Confederate statues relocated to museums. She pointed out at the town hall meeting in Monett on Tuesday that many such monuments were erected in the 1950s and 1960s in protest of integration...

Freda Jane Wood, 84, of Marionville, died Aug. 24, at her home. A graveside service, under the direction of the Williams Funeral Home, in Marionville, will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.to12 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, in the funeral home chapel...

Elaine Carol Ashley, 93, of Monett, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, at her home. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. Interment will be at McCormick-St. John’s Cemetery, Monett. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...