Stories from Friday, November 10, 2017

A change in orders is what probably saved former United States Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment member Mark McMillin’s life. “Our job was to go anywhere in the world on a C5A aircraft, hit the ground, and be combat-ready in less than an hour,” he said. ...

Valerie Wolfe was just nine months old when her father, Air Force Capt. Thomas Wolfe, a pilot, was shot down and killed in Laos in 1966. Last year, she initiated a campaign to compel the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to keep its promise to bring her father home...

The Monett School District on Wednesday recognized local veterans in its annual assembly, and this year’s program was highlighted by a story of D-Day and a message impressing the Golden Rule. Toby Bottom, a retired 30-year educator with the Webb City School District and mentor to Monett High School Assistant Principal Stephanie Heman, gave the principal address. ...

Around 50 veterans and their families enjoyed lunch as guests of the Pierce City school district on Thursday.

Volunteers at Crosslines in Monett are gearing up for the organization’s annual Thanksgiving and Christmas food basket distributions. “It’s that time of year, again,” said MaLinda King, administrator. “We need many shelf stable items for our food baskets.”...

The Monett High School FFA dairy judging team, having made the unprecedented achievement of winning the state championship at the 89th Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia in April, achieved the most impressive goal in October. The team captured the national championship at the FFA’s 90th annual FFA Convention and Expo at Indianapolis, Ind...

Tuesday may have seen gloomy skies over Monett, but it wasn’t enough to dim the smile of Justin Marrs.

Workers with the City of Monett’s electrical department are busy getting displays in place for the Festival of Lights, an annual event hosted by the Monett Chamber of Commerce.

Even great dancers have to take their first steps.

The First United Methodist Church, 1600 N. Central in Monett, will offer special services with prayers for healing at 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, Nov. 12. “No gimmicks, no pressure, just asking God to heal whatever hurts,” said Pastor Brian Smith...

The daughters of Ralph and Carol McClurg, of Monett, will host a come-and-go reception to celebrate their parents’ 50th anniversary.  The reception will be held at the Aurora Church of Christ,, 1700 S. Jefferson Ave. in Aurora, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 25. Hosts will be the McClurg daughters: Lori Lalli, of Jenks, Okla.; Lisa McClurg, of Charlotte, NC; and Lana Wilkins, of Lincoln, Neb.   ...

The Mt. Vernon High School Class of 1967 held its 50th class reunion at the Mt. Vernon Arts and Recreation Center (the MARC) on Saturday evening, Oct. 14, over the Apple Butter Makin’ Days festival weekend. Thirty-five classmates, and twenty-five guests, attended the event returning from as far away as California and Virginia. ...

Monett trick-or-treaters joined kids across the nation as they brought their Halloween candy and handwritten letters of gratitude to Monett schools as part of the Candy Give-Back initiative. The Candy Give-Back program collected a total of 163 pounds of candy...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of being responsible as Students of the Week for Nov. 6.

The Wheaton school district announced its Students of the Month recipients for the month of October.

Coaches are often fond of saying it is not the X’s and O’s that win games, but the Jimmys and Joes. They also have been known to say that great players can make any coach look great. With the final post season awards now released, the Monett softball team saw just how stacked a deck they played...

The annual Pilgrim Run 5K and one-mile run will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 23 at the Pierce City City Hall. Proceeds benefit the school backpack food program. Registration forms are available at the Monett Area YMCA, First State Bank in Pierce City or by calling Larry Eden at 417-489-5378...

The fifth annual Mountaineer Turkey Strut 5K run will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 23, beginning in the Mt. Vernon square. Trophies will be given for the top finishers. Cost is $25 per individual and $80 for a family of four. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Emergency Services Fund and Families in Recovery...

I grew up as the son of a World War II veteran. Most of my contemporaries were also the children of the Greatest Generation. It was not remotely unusual for my classmates and I to see veterans or hear something about military service. My generation also had to endure the messy Vietnam War. ...

On Veterans Day, we pause to pay tribute to the men and women who bear the burden of safeguarding our freedom. However, we must ensure our gratitude is extended to all veterans, even those who struggle to cope on the home front. Most veterans return home strengthened by their service and become vital members of the community. ...

Sarah E. (Peterson) Manning, 87, of Monett, Mo., formerly of Camden, Ark., went to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, while at Aurora Nursing Center in Aurora, Mo. Sarah was born on February 5, 1930, in Ouchita, Ark., daughter of the late Joseph Marion and Edith (Williams) Peterson. Growing up in Sparkman, Ark., she graduated with the class of 1947 in Sparkman, where she earned and achieved class valedictorian. Sarah retired from the bank in Camden in the early 1990s...

Ronald Glen Ewing, 60, died Thursday, Nov. 2. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.

Bonnie Lou Rea, 78, of Shell Knob, died Monday, Nov. 6 at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Norma “Gayle” Russell, 80, of Jenkins, died Wednesday, Nov. 8. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Community Faith Church in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Cassville...