Stories from Saturday, October 28, 2017

The City of Monett and the Monett school district has entered into a trial arrangement for three months to address the school district’s longstanding hopes of providing internet access to lower income students who may not have online access at home...

Charlene Jane Harrison, 81, of Cassville, died Wednesday, Oct. 25. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Pierce City Mayor Allen Stockton has challenged the narrative of who approached who and when regarding sale of the yellow house by South Park in Pierce City, claiming the city is unaware of any “unfair practices used to coerce or intimidate the seller of the property,” which were previously reported in The Monett Times...

The Monett City Council approved a lease purchase agreement to fund construction of the new $3.1 million aquatic center when the new sales tax, due to make its first payment to the city in November, provides funds to cover the cost. David Martin, from the bonding first of Gilmore and Bell, reported the city’s requests for proposals received six responses. ...

Verona City Council members continued to butt heads over a variety of issues this month, as the running dispute between Aldermen Michael Haynes, Linda Gates and DeDe Hutson appeared hinged on the ongoing effort to fill the vacant seat on the city council, created by the resignation of Brenda Thomas in June...

Jenny Moennig and Robin Rosewicz at Playpower in Monett stirred chili for the annual company chili cook-off contest.

“Making the best better” for generations of Missouri 4-H Club members, the Harry and Loeda Chapman family was designated a Missouri Century 4-H Family. Recognition of the honor was given at Apple Butter Makin Days on Friday, October 13. “It is truly remarkable to have a family with the number of years of involvement the Chapman family has,” said Karla Deaver, 4-H youth development specialist. “We are so fortunate to be able to recognize this family and their impressive contributions to 4-H.”...

Final rehearsals were underway this week for the Ozark Festival Orchestra’s “Salute to America” concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center.

Verona firefighters, classroom teachers, church groups and other organizations passed out candy and treats to costumed children during the Verona Trunk or Treat on Tuesday night.

The Verona City Council will hold a work session with the board of the Aurora Rural Fire District at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, at Verona Station No. 4, at farm roads 2200 and 1165. The town of Stella will host its annual Veterans Stellabration on Saturday, Nov. ...

Shoe Sensation, located on Highway 60 in Monett, has announced a program to collect and donate both military approved socks for active duty personnel stationed overseas as well as casual socks for off duty use and local veterans in need. Through Christmas Eve, Shoe Sensation will offer a 20 percent discount on socks purchased for donation to the Socks for Troops program. ...

Volunteers with the Monett/Purdy Habitat for Humanity affiliate finished the siding last weekend on its 10th house at 119 E. Nellie in Monett.

Winners in the “hotly” contested chili cook-off at PlayPower have been announced.

Visitors to the Monett Museum, 422 E. Broadway in downtown Monett, will be able to view an arrowhead collection and other Native American artifacts collected by Dayton Mackey.

The Monett Museum now has the 1952 restored police car on display on the mezzanine above the Events Center at 418 E. Broadway.

Teachers at Central Park Elementary School in Monett decorated more than 30 pumpkins for an annual school contest.

Seventeen students from Monett Middle School were inducted as new members of the National Junior Honor Society in a ceremony held at the Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 14.  Members were selected due to their high achievements in scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship, and character.  ...

Two students in DECA, the secondary education association of marketing students at the Scott Regional Technology Center, presented their 2017 DECA Event to the Branson Chamber of Commerce and Taney County Agency for Economic Development on Oct. 21. Vanessa Montelongo and Leslie Izaguirre presented their advertising campaign for the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau. ...

The Monett swimming and diving team will be busy at the Class 1 swimming and diving championships, opening Thursday in St. Charles. The season officially ended state-wide on Thursday and the Cubs had six events locked up with automatic qualifiers. What will be settled today are the consideration cut qualifiers that could add one or as many as four Cubs into the state meet...

Every year, softball teams in Missouri dream, plan, aim and work toward one goal in winning a state championship. To achieve a title is the ultimate sign of accomplishment. It is the payoff for all the hard work and the justification to press forward in practice, even when your body screams no more...

In today’s world, “fake news” is a term thrown around far too often — not in reference to actual fake news, but real news that a person doesn’t like. Predictably, that national cop-out is trickling down to the local level. This can be exemplified recently in the case of the yellow house near Pierce City’s South Park, billed an eyesore by the community and purchased by the city for $12,000, partly to remove it and partly to expand the park...

This week, you could start seeing the trees really changing to fall colors in Monett. It looks like we may have quite a colorful season after all. With the temperature snap on Friday, the reality of the season is sinking in. The Ozark Festival Orchestra opens its season on Sunday, and Halloween festivities move into full swing in Monett tonight at the community Trunk or Treat...

Melissa Ann Vermillion passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2017, in Eucha, Oklahoma. She was born on June 3, 1976, in Springfield, Missouri the daughter of William Ray Vermillion and Beverly Ann (Tomlin) Vermillion.  She moved to Pryor in 1991 from Springfield, Missouri.  Melissa was of the Assembly of God faith and loved her Lord.  She enjoyed music and singing.  Melissa especially loved her family and all the time spent with each of them.  She will be so very missed by all who knew and loved her.. ...

Billy R. “Bill” Cox, 76, of Rogers, Ark., died Wednesday, Oct. 25. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at Corinth Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

George Eben Ellis, 83, of Mt. Vernon, died Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin. A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Daniel Patrick Healey, 63, of Mt. Vernon, formerly of Jefferson City, died Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Missouri Veteran’s Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be at a later date at the Resurrection Cemetery in Jefferson City. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Charlene Jane Harrison, 81, of Cassville, died Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Peachwood Manor in Cassville. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Ruby C. (Henson) Miller, 92, of Cassville, died Thursday, Oct. 26, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Fohn Funeral Home. Burial will be at Mineral Springs Cemetery in Cassville...

About 45 people committed time over two days to discuss health strategies for Monett as a community during the Healthy Places for Healthy People workshop meeting, held last week at the Monett Museum. The unusual session, funded by a technical assistance grant from the U.S. ...

At least two people were hurt in a three-vehicle collision around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday on Kyler Street in Monett at the Summit Street intersection. According to Monett police, Jonathan Heckman, 17, of rural Monett, was driving south on Kyler when he came up on traffic slowing for the traffic light at Kyler. ...

In a tight game, it only takes one play for the pendulum of victory to take a decided swing. The Monett soccer team (22-6) found that out Saturday, as the pendulum swung the wrong direction in a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Southern Boone (18-7-2). The Cubs controlled the pace of play, out-shot, out-cornered and out-played the visiting Eagles for much of the game, but Monett failed in one key area — scoring...

PIERCE CITY — For the first time in the new district formula, the Eagles of Pierce City advanced to the championship game with a 42-6 statement win over Ash Grove on Friday. The Eagles (10-0) were determined to make their presence felt and opted to take the ball after winning the opening kickoff...

With cooler temperatures and darkness still at 7 a.m., fewer children have taken advantage of the second Walk to School Week this fall for the Monett school district.

The Monett Rural Fire District will have its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at the fire station No. 1 on County Road in Monett, east of the city’s fire station. Local veterans are invited to attend an assembly in their honor on Nov. 8 at the Monett High School gym. A lunch, open to all area veterans, will be served at 11:30 a.m. in the Scott Regional Technology Center. No reservations are necessary...

Needless to say, there is no love lost between the Monett Cubs (22-5) and Springfield Catholic soccer teams. Over the last six seasons, the two teams have ended each other’s season five times. The Irish are arguably the Cubs’ biggest rival, and both teams force each other to play at a high level...

With the fall sports season in playoff form, regular season awards are being released. The Big 8 All-Conference volleyball team included Monett’s Randi Prock on the Honorable Mention team this year. Prock is the first Lady Cub to earn all-conference honors in two years...

David Houston Biellier, 91, of Mt. Vernon, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Lawrence County Manor, in Mt. Vernon. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial, with full military honors, was at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery...

Fern May Heard, 70, of Miller, died Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Mt. Vernon Place Care Center. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller, with burial to follow at the Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, in the funeral home chapel...

Jeanne Kenneth Henning, 85, of Cassville, died Friday, Oct. 20 at Bentonview Park Health and Rehabilitation in Monett. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Cassville. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Logan David Hileman, son of Trisha (Hileman) Wade, of Pierce City, died on the day of his birth, Oct. 21, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Buchanan Funeral Home. Interment will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Monett...