Stories from Tuesday, November 21, 2017

We asked Monett Central Park Elementary fourth-grade students what they are thankful for, and here’s how they responded.

Five local superintendents of schools are among the 77 total in southwest Missouri who have signed a letter of concern submitted to Gov. Eric Greitens addressing actions taken regarding the state board of education. John Jungmann, former Monett superintendent and current superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, and Kevin Patterson, superintendent of the Ozark school district, submitted a letter to the Springfield News-Leader concerned about possible proliferation of charter schools in the state and asking Gov. ...

In a turn of events compared to the closing of the post office in Freistatt in 2013, postal officials appeared in Purdy at a town meeting called to coincide with the monthly city council meeting to announce plans to reopen the post office in town. “We, by law, don’t cancel a post office,” said Vee Spikes, real estate specialist and manager for the Great Lakes Region of the U.S. ...

Final steps needed prior to awarding a construction contract for Purdy's $4.6 million sewer project fell into place last week, as aldermen approved purchase of the remaining easements and authorized engineer Allgeier, Martin and Associates to seek bids for buildings the six-mile pipeline to Monett...

  During the Thanksgiving season, parents Elijah and DeeNoel Leon have plenty of reasons to be thankful, but one in particular takes center stage. On Nov. 30, they will celebrate their daughter DeeNorah’s second birthday, and be especially grateful she is with them, because she weighed only 3 pounds, 4 ounces at birth...

Deer season is a time-honored tradition that both new and seasoned hunters look forward to each year, and this year, new requirements had to be put in motion to help keep that tradition in place. On Nov. 12 and 13, opening weekend of firearms season, the Missouri Department of Conservation required hunters in 25 counties to bring in harvested deer to sampling sites to test for chronic wasting disease (CWD). ...

Members of the Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers are offering a reward for information leading to the apprehension of Octavio Richard Ochoa, of Golden. Ochoa is wanted for first degree sodomy or attempted sodomy and second degree child molestation...

Students in Community A at Monett Elementary School celebrated “Friendsgiving” Tuesday by sharing a Thanksgiving meal in a hallway banquet.

Local residents will see a new ride in town, “DARE-ing” students to say “no” to drugs.

Children at the Purdy school district’s new preschool in the former Rainbow Dreams Daycare have been pleased with the space, around double of the old facility, and different playground equipment.

Downtown businesses will host a “Shop Local Christmas Open House” during regular business hours on Saturday, Nov. 25. Participating businesses will be Modern Variety, Find It Again Antiques and Flea Market, Peppers and Company, Monett Historical Society, Luly’s. Fashion Crossroads and Mitzi’s and Pitiful to Posh. For additional information, people may call 354-0058...

The Spring River Valley Conference (SRVC) has a unique rule that they will not release any postseason sports award until the last conference school has finished playing a particular sport. With Lockwood falling in the state semifinal on Saturday, the SRVC was finally able to release the list of its top performers on Monday...

Season-opening games, no matter the sport, are often a bag full of unknowns and learning opportunities. On Monday, the Pierce City girls basketball team (0-1) fell 36-30 to Cassville in a game that was anything but smooth. The Lady Eagles played well in the first half and forced 12 turnovers, taking a 20-20 score into the intermission with the Lady Wildcats...

Junior Lee Daugherity, age 86, of Purdy, Missouri, passed at the home of his granddaughter, Latricia Murdie and her husband James, on Thursday, November 16, 2017, surrounded by close family who all loved him dearly. Mr. Daugherity, son of Arlie and Lillie (Ellis) Daugherity, was born on January 6, 1931, in Iberia, Missouri. He was united in marriage to Patricia Dotson in Oklahoma...

Mary Jane Parson, 84, of Aurora, died Friday, Nov. 17, at her daughter’s home. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora, was held Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

Richard Lee Arnett, 82, of Shell Knob, died Friday, Nov. 17. No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob.

Rita M. Raucstadt, 85, of Seligman, died Sunday, Nov. 19. A memorial service will be held at the family farm in Seligman on Friday, Nov. 24, at 10 a.m. with Jack Betts, Chaplain officiating. Service arrangements and cremation are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

The new telemedicine pilot program offered through the Monett school district is leading the pack of schools utilizing the program when it comes to numbers and use. The program, offered through the CoxHealth System, thanks to a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, was demonstrated by school nurse Kristen Earnest with Tabitha Ferwalt and Allison Call, project coordinator, both from CoxHealth, representing the Access Children’s Healthcare through Telemedicine [ACT Now Project]. ...

Students in Lanetta Gripka’s pre-school class at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Pierce City prepared backpacks Friday afternoon to deliver to For the Kids foster parent organization in Aurora.

Three business leaders offered ideas on visioning and handling colleagues in efforts to move forward at the sixth annual Leadership Summit, hosted by Drury University’s leadership class on Thursday at the Monett City Park Casino. Banker Donna Beckett, Jack Henry and Associates President David Foss and financing innovator Laura Kelly each approached leadership from their personal experience, offering tips on how to succeed by following their discoveries...

Ladies from St. Lawrence prepared and served a meal following the Thanksgiving service, enjoyed by those who attended in the church fellowship hall.

The Care to Learn chapter in Monett, now in its second year, received a jump-start recently with a $15,000 donation from Nadine Cavner, who made a similar gift last year to start the program.

Thanksgiving came early on Friday at the Monett Senior Citizens Center, where a holiday meal with all the trimmings, including pumpkin pie, was served on Friday.

Branches of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library and all government offices will be closed on Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. Many municipal offices are also closed Friday. The Verona City Council has called a special meeting for 7 p.m. today, Nov. 21, to discuss a variance for a mobile home on Miller Ray Road...

Wrestling expectations for the Monett wrestling team are always high. With a stellar youth program, great middle school coaching and a high school program that is second to none, the Cubs seem to always be on the top 10 at the state tournament. Daryl Bradley, Cubs wrestling coach, has a simple motto that he has repeated in public and private conversations — he hates to lose...

Farrell C Vanderpool, 89, of Washburn, died Friday, Nov. 17. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

Lorraine Zelma Shook, 95, of Olathe, Kan., formerly of Miller, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, at her son’s home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, in Miller. Burial will be at the Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery...