Stories from Saturday, October 21, 2017

Laurence Lafawn Hopkins, Sr., 67, of Shell Knob, died Tuesday, Oct. 17. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob.

Tommy Dewayne Marshall, 48, of Cassville, died Wednesday, Oct. 18. Services will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Dear Editor: The officers and members of Monett Council No. 1075 of the Knights of Columbus would like to sincerely thank the residents of Monett and the immediate surrounding area for their generous contributions to our recently concluded annual "Tootsie Roll Drive" to raise funds to help support our citizens with mental disabilities...

Dear Editor: I want to say thank you for publishing the stories about people in recovery. I work with people who are struggling with addiction or in recovery from addiction. I was a drug addict for 26 years of my life. On Sept. 25, I was four years clean. So, it makes me happy to see stories about people who have or are trying to overcome addiction...

One of the thrills in going to state competition is having a bombastic send-off from your contemporaries. The Monett High School softball team got that on Thursday. It was surely a thrill to dance across the high school commons with the band playing the school fight song, as well as hearing the cheers from their friends. ...

Principal Cherie Austin has named students who have been outstanding representatives of the character education focus of the month: responsibility.

Principal Cherie Austin has announced Cubs of the Month at Monett Intermediate School.

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristics of being polite and respectful as Students of the Week for Oct. 16.

Applications are being accepted for the Head Start program runs by the Ozark Area Community Action Committee (OACAC). For sessions beginning in August, parents may sign to have children attend sessions. head Start is a high quality preschool/childcare program for young children. Head Start provides medical and dental care, meals, bus transportation to half-day centers and a learning experience. Transportation assistance is available for families meeting income requirements...

Shoppers were given the convenient opportunity recently to take part in on-site preventative and diagnostic services as part of the Wellness Day coordinated by Walmart, with help form the Monett Lions Club. With one quick stop, shoppers could have blood pressure checked, body mass index (BMI) calculated, blood glucose level determined, as well as, receive a flu shot and vision screening. ...

Once again, the Monett Lions Club will team up with the Monett Times to present Monett's traditional Halloween Costume Contest from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Monett Intermediate/Middle School FEMA shelter/cafeteria at Ninth and Cleveland...

Wilma (Thomas) Easley celebrated her 105th birthday on Oct. 15 with her family.

Members of the Mt. Vernon Community Theater are in final rehearsals for "Tribute," a play by Bernard Slade. "Tribute" is the story of Scottie Templeton, a charming, irresponsible fellow. A sometime Broadway press agent and former scriptwriter, he's everyone's friend, nobody's hero and a great womanizer who's managed to live more than 50 years without taking anything seriously, including love, marriage and fatherhood. Life's been one continuous gag...

Brad Hodson, executive vice president of Missouri Southern State University, was one of the dignitaries from the school attending an MSSU alumni gathering on Thursday at the Monett Museum Events Center.

The Barry County Retired Teachers and School Personnel will meet on Friday, October 27, at the Monett Historical Society Museum. Snacks will be at 10 a.m. with the meeting at 10:30. Jeanne Ann Camp will be our tour guide. All retired teachers and school personnel are invited to attend...

Offering blood, “the gift of life,” is something Tina McGlothlin of Verona does regularly during local Red Cross blood drives.

Dinner was served to around 400 people on Thursday as Monett Masonic Lodge No. 129, AF and AM, cooked up barbecued chicken both lunch and dinner, served at the Lodge on 13th Street.

Every morning, students at Pierce City Central Elementary School do the Phonics Dance, a run through the alphabet linking each letter with specific sounds, words and gestures.

Monett police were unsuccessful recently in attempting to stop a subject in a high speed chase that wound through Monett from Barry County. Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe reported that Purdy officers joined a pursuit on Sept. 29 of a red Dodge that went through Purdy at 72 miles per hour being pursued by Barry County officers. ...

The Monett schools offered a cheering send-off for the high school softball team Thursday afternoon as the squad headed off to state competition.

It’s time for area ghouls, gremlins, princesses and superheroes to costume up for the annual Monett Community Trunk or Treat, to be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, on the grounds of the Monett Area YMCA. “This is an event that brings the community together in a positive and memorable way,” said Gordon Brown, executive director of the Monett Area YMCA. “This type of event helps bond the community and creates a lasting childhood memory.”...

With one of the more flood prone road districts in the area, the Verona Benefit Special Road District leaders made major progress this year repairing damage that took place over the last two years, leaving funds down and several major projects out of reach...

Monett Police Chief George Daoud has issued a warning to residents in response to a recurrence of an ongoing telephone scam and counterfeiting. “Telephone scams are still occurring resulting in local victims,” said Daoud. “We would like to remind the public if they are suspicious of a request for money, such as someone calling them stating that a family member, like a grandchild, is in custody in Mexico and they are asked to send money, to first attempt to contact said family member...

A surprising answer to the border question between the Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District and the Mercy ambulance service out of Aurora has led to a old solution, along with a discussion of how to better handle more distant borders. A fatal wreck at Farm Road 1140 and Highway 60 on Aug. 10 prompted a probe by Barry-Lawrence officials about why the Mercy ambulances were called when the Barry-Lawrence ambulances could have possibly reached the site faster...

Monett claims first state softball championship, 4-1

A parade down Broadway awaited the Monett softball team after winning the Class 3 state championship Saturday.

VIDEO: The collection of how the State Champion Lady Cubs softball team wrapped up their day...