Stories from Friday, December 15, 2017

Four people received injuries in a three-vehicle crash on Tuesday, 1.5 miles east of Monett on Highway 60. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash took place at 3:45 p.m. An eastbound 1999 Ford F150, driven by Patrick Elsey, 49, of Mt. Vernon, was stopped for a Monett school bus letting children off in the westbound lane. A 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, driven by Paul Henry, 47, of Aurora, was stopped behind Elsey...

Monett police were on high alert Friday morning in search of an armed robber who held up the Casey's General Store ay 1601 E. Cleveland at approximately 10:09 p.m. on Thursday. According to a statement released by Monett Police, a male subject entered the Casey’s General Store and demanded money. The subject left with an undisclosed amount of cash...

This week during the Monett test of the emergency alert system, call recipients were told this would be the final time for use current system, and that continued notice required registration on the new Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)...

A study in concentration, Arya Lasiter, 7, crafted a Christmas tree of green paper plate segments decorated with colored sequins at the annual Parents as Teachers Make It, Take It event at Central Elementary School in Pierce City Tuesday evening.

Nothing has been normal this week at Berean Christian Academy in rural Monett, following the unexpected death of first and second grade teacher Susan Hall on Monday. Hall, 46, taught at Berean for 12 years. She had a history of problems with blood clots and was found collapsed at home on Sunday. Word reached the school around midday on Monday from Ronnie Howerton, Hall's pastor and father of Principal Wyatt Howerton, that Hall had passed away at a Springfield hospital...

There will be four open seats on the Pierce City Board of Aldermen to be determined at the municipal election on April 3, 2018. Open seats include those of Mayor Allen Stockton; John Archer, ward 1; Joe Portillo, Ward 2; Frank Preston, Ward 3; and Ruth Bozarth, Ward 4...

A Cassville man was injured Wednesday in a wreck at 5:51 a.m. on Farm Road 1110, two miles south of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jody Douglas, 24, of Cassville, was driving a 1990 Ford F150 southbound when his vehicle lost its brakes, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree...

The city of Verona will host its first Christmas parade in around 20 years at 2 p.m. on Saturday, running from the school at the corner of Dora and Second Street through the downtown. The parade has been sanctioned by the city council but organized by a private committee, headed by Police Chief Tim Jones. ...

Despite a current fire ban, Monett Rural Fire District sent two brush trucks to support Pierce City Rural firefighters battle a fire that spread into the timber north of Farm Road 2212 and west of Highway PP around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

In this season of giving, several Pierce City High School students and members of the community rallied to a Community Blood Center of the Ozarks blood drive.

The Monett High School Performing Arts Center was within 20 seats of a complete sell-out on Friday for the concert by the Collingsworth Family.

The Monett Middle School and high school choirs will give their Christmas concert at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. The Ozark Festival Orchestra will present selections from Handel’s “Messiah” with soloists and a community chorus in two performances, at 7 p.m. ...

A road game at Hollister tonight will give the Monett basketball team (3-2) a chance to win its fourth game of the season. At first glance, that may not seem so significant — given the fact the hoops campaign is only two weeks old — but for the Cubs, it means the world after a 2016-2017 season where they only won three games...

For the fifth consecutive year, the Monett basketball team will head to Berryville, Ark., for the ninth annual Cornerstone Bank Holiday Hoops Tournament Dec. 28-30. Monett is the lone Missouri school in the eight-team field that features seven Arkansas schools...

Alexander James Biellier, son of Matthew Tapp and Abagaile Biellier, died at birth on Tuesday, Dec. 5. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, of Mt. Vernon.

David Eugene Gilmore, 64, of Aurora, died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, at his home. A funeral service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, at Destiny Church in Marionville. Burial will follow at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Susan Michelle Hall, 46, of Monett, died Monday, Dec. 11, following a sudden illness. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Berean Christian Academy in Monett. Interment will be at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Monett. Arrangements are entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Eva Lorene Vandergrift, 98, of Mt. Vernon, died Monday, Dec. 11, at the Mt. Vernon Place Care Center. A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon was held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery...

Sheila Ruth Remington, 61, of Golden, died Thursday, Nov. 23. Services with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

A Golden man died Thursday in a wreck at 9:50 p.m. on Highway F, one mile northwest of Eagle Rock. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Dakota Ball, 21, of Golden, was driving a 2007 Toyota Corolla westbound when an eastbound 2005 Chevrolet pickup, being driven by Carter Fletcher, 16, ofd Eagle Rock, crossed the center line and struck Ball's vehicle head-on...