Stories from Friday, September 22, 2017

LOCKWOOD – In a battle of 5-0 and state-ranked unbeaten football teams, it was the Eagles of Pierce City that ruled the night with a 32-7 win over Lockwood. The game keyed on one key factor – big plays, and Pierce City had more of them. The Tigers made a statement on their opening drive, covering 65 yards in 4:48 with Justin Nuntrip covering the last 44 yards on one carry to edge Lockwood to a 7-0 advantage...

CASSVILLE — Monett struggled to move the ball and struggled even more to make stops in a 21-0 loss to Cassville on the road.  On the Cubs’ second punt of the contest, an errant touch by the Wildcats allowed Monett to scoop up a recovery. However, a 28-yard field goal attempt went wide right, giving the Wildcats the ball back. ...

Mark Allen Neill, 55, of Aurora, died Wednesday Sept. 20, after sustaining injuries in a car accident. Visitation is being held on Saturday Sept. 23, from 4-6 p.m. at the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Family graveside services will follow visitation at the Purdy Cemetery in Purdy...

It’s been two years since Lawrence County’s 911 system started being managed by the Monett dispatch center. With one year left on the contract between the city, the county and the cities of Miller and Mt. Vernon for the service, an alternative appears to be taking shape...

Elderberry production at the Southwest Research Center continues to draw research interest, according to local horticulturalists. Andy Thomas, with the University of Missouri, reported plants at the center have come from all over the U.S. to see how they grow. ...

Confusion about property lines prompted an extended discussion and different interpretations of responsibilities during the September meeting of the city council in Pierce City. Raising the issue was Darin Nama, who owns the house on the southwest corner of Phelps and Pine. ...

Hobbs-Anderson American Legion Post No. 91, with assistance from Boy Scout Troop No. 38, retired 180 U.S. flags in a retirement ceremony at Monett’s South Park on Tuesday.

The Ozark Festival Orchestra has begun weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. for the first concert of the orchestra’s 38th season on Oct. 29.

One of the “farm games” offered for kids during Field Day at the Southwest Research Center was pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe.

The fifth annual Frontier Days celebration will be held Sept 23 and 25, seven miles east of Cassville on Highway 248 to Farm Road 1157 then follow the signs. Demonstrations of old-time skills such as sorghum making, blacksmithing, rope making, Dutch oven cooking and antique machinery is offered. Activities will begin at 10 a.m. both days. Live music is offered both days, plus a cowboy church service on Sunday. For additional information, people may call David Hunt at 417-880-7952...

The Monett cross-country team saw three members medal at a loaded Nixa meet on Tuesday. Those results are encouraging to the runners and the coach, who said she is pushing her team harder as the end of the season nears. “We ran some really good times overall,” said Kelly George, Monett coach. “I was pleased with most of our runners improving their times by over a minute on this course from last season.”...

For the 34th consecutive year, Volleyfest will be played at Southwest High School in Washburn on Saturday. The event features 10 teams from Missouri and Arkansas and starts at 8:30 a.m. on two courts with two pools. The black pool consists of Southwest, Wheaton, Cassville, Berryville (Ark.) and Decatur (Ark.). The red pool is made up of teams from Crane, Diamond, Verona, Huntsville (Ark.) and Gentry (Ark.)...

The Verona volleyball team topped Wheaton 25-13, 23-25, 25-19 on Monday. For the Lady Wildcats, Rita Castillo lead the way with 15 kills, 19 digs and 10 service points. Hailee Wilkinson added 21 digs, 3 kills and 11 service points. Carolina Castillo chipped in 14 assists, 5 digs and 7 service points. Paige Bauer contributed 2 kills, 2 assists and 5 digs...

Harold Schelin recorded his first hole in one on the No. 5 hole at Monett’s Windmill Ridge Golf Course on Monday. Schelin used a gap wedge on the 100-yard hole. The shot was witnessed by J.D. Pilkenton, Jim Wagner and Don Bates.

Verla June Bullard, 94, of Monett, Mo., passed from this life on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, while at Lacoba Homes in Monett, Mo. Verla June Painter was born on a farm in Foosland, Illinois, on June 13, 1923, to Douglas and Lillian Painter, who long preceded her in death. She was the middle of three daughters-Lucille (Gibbens) and Velma (Burrell) who also preceded her in death...

Karla Ingrid (Johnson) Hoyt, 70, passed away on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Born on November 7, 1946, in Sacramento, Calif., she was the daughter of Carl and Audrey Johnson. Karla graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1964. On April 19, 1968, she married Robert Hoyt in Oakland, Calif...

Rosetta Faye Ash, 78, of Berryville, Ark., died Tuesday, Sept. 19. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at Viola Cemetery in Viola, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob.

Hazel Pearl Dixon-Estes, 86, of Miller, died Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin. A funeral service, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller, was held Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Round Grove Baptist Church. Burial was at the church cemetery...

Sharon Lee Moore, 65, of Mt. Vernon, died Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Cox South Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 26, at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at the Covenant Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon...

Ramona Beatrice Wedeking, 94, of Mt. Vernon, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon...