Stories from Friday, November 24, 2017

Surrounded by her family, friends and coaches, Monett senior Katie Kurima signed the dotted line on Monday, signaling her intentions to play softball at Park University in Kansas City next season. “Park was the perfect distance away from home for me,” Kurima said. “I love the coaches and felt at home.”...

Billy J. Kenney, 90, of Purdy, died Wednesday, Nov. 22 at his home. Services are pending. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.

Ruby A. Kinser, 98, of Jenkins, died Monday, Nov. 20. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Mineral Springs Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Angelynn Alexander Hall was born on January 4, 1924, to Camille Jolly and Luther B. Alexander, of Huntingdon, Tennessee. She graduated from Huntingdon High School and went to Christian College in Columbia, Missouri. For a brief time, she taught high school in Huntingdon, Tennessee, until she enlisted in the Army in the Women’s Army Corps and served as a Corporal in Palm Beach, Florida. ...

Volleyball and hoops fans in Pierce City will notice a significant difference when they attend sporting events in the high school’s gymnasium. A brand new state-of-the-art scoreboard was recently installed at the school, paid for through donations from area businesses and the Pierce City Booster Club...

For the second consecutive year and third time in the last five seasons, the Big 8 Conference advanced two teams to the Show-Me Bowl State Championships. This year, Lamar in Class 2 and Mt. Vernon in Class 3 represent the Big 8. Lamar The Tigers advanced to their seventh consecutive state championship game and currently hold the fourth-longest active winning streak in the nation with 48 consecutive wins...

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, call 354-0058...

Children in Summer Enlow’s kindergarten class and Holly Knight’s first grade class at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt celebrated Thanksgiving this week by dressing as pilgrims and Native Americans, recreating the first Thanksgiving feast.

The Monett Chamber of Commerce opened its Festival of Lights holiday lighting exhibit at Monett’s South Park on Wednesday.

The success and the future of the use of historic tax credits through the state of Missouri was reviewed at a meeting last week in Monett, attended by State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville. The meeting was hosted by Monett Main Street at the Monett Museum’s Events Center. Allen Casey, with Casey Architecture in Springfield, the main designer for the renovation of the Monett museum project, Casey’s colleague Pat Pierce, attended, providing technical expertise on renovations...

Monett city and rural firefighters joined in a mutual aid response to help the Pierce City Fire District tackle a fire at a home in Wentworth at 209 Chestnut, just west of the junction with Highway 37 on Highway J. According to Pierce City Fire Chief Allen Stockton, the homeowners called in the fire at 7:51 p.m. ...

When the family residing in a home now owned by the City of Pierce City failed to find suitable accommodation and relocate by their Nov. 11 deadline, they approached Mayor Allen Stockton with a request. “The kids living by the park asked for an extension,” Stockton said. “I granted them another 30 days. They offered to pay rent, but I didn’t want to do that. But I did give them another 30 days.”...

A Monett man saw his bond revoked recently after allegedly failing a drug test required by the conditions of his bond. Christopher Trobaugh, 29, of Monett, is now being held in the Barry County jail on no bond. He is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child...

With 100 people preregistered and more than 50 arriving as walk-ins, the Pierce City Pilgrim Run 5K and 1-mile run had a record turnout on Thursday morning.

Jennette English, left, and Caroline Hinshaw were two of the volunteers keeping the lines moving, turning out Thanksgiving meals of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, macaroni and cheese and more at the community dinner.

A federal sexual discrimination lawsuit has been filed against the Monett school district, alleging a female Monett student is being subjected to ongoing sexual harassment. According to the filing in the U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, a female student at the district, while riding a Gale Webb Transportation school bus from a sanctioned sporting event, was sexually assaulted by a male student, accused of grabbing the female student's breasts, placing his hand on her leg and touching her genitals, despite her refusal and opposition.. ...