Stories from Saturday, December 16, 2017

Identity theft in Pierce City is on the rise, and hitting closer to home for some more than others. Pierce City Police Chief Mike Abramovitz said so far this year, the department has received six reports of suspected identity theft, even though most credit agencies are using safeguards to prevent such activity...

Changes are coming to the Monett Festival of Lights next year that will affect the future of the holiday project and the cost of its support. A meeting was held this week by City Administrator Dennis Pyle and Chamber of Commerce leaders about the Chamber’s holiday display at South Park. According to Pyle, the event now represents 70 displays, some of which are mounted in close proximity to each other. Two of the displays are now exhibited downtown...

Some people take Christmas more seriously than others, especially when it comes to decorating. For Tim Gripka, who lives at 1301 Eighth St. in Monett with his wife, Marian, Christmas is an opportunity to literally shine. “My wife always calls me ‘Chevy Chase,’” Gripka said, referring to the actor’s character Clark Griswold as the unstoppable Christmas light home decorator in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” “He got emotional about it. ...

The antics of St. Mary’s Catholic pre-school students brought smiles to the faces of family members and friends attending the annual Christmas program at the school’s multipurpose room Wednesday evening.

After a three-year fight to set her record straight and make medical marijuana available to sick children, the Missouri State Board of Nursing dropped charges of “moral turpitude” against registered nurse turned medicinal marijuana advocate Dolores Halbin...

Construction crews poured the concrete deck for the new railroad bridge over Business Highway 60, east of Monett, on Wednesday as the $3.1 million project moved rapidly toward completion.

Monett public works crews closed in on completing their annual leaf collection Tuesday, moving from the Southern Heights subdivision to the west city limits on Eisenhower.

Children attending the Small Wonders Preschool at the First United Methodist Church in Monett contributed to the Christmas tree at the Monett Museum.

The Ozark Festival Orchestra will present selections from Handel’s “Messiah” with soloists and a community chorus in two performances, at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 16, at the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church in Cassville, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, free to children high school age and under...

Hobbs-Anderson American Legion Post No. 91 has named Nicholas Szcenski as Legionnaire of the Year.

The third annual Silver Bell Tea, a fundraiser for the Alliance of Churches Food Pantry, was held Dec. 5 at Shell Knob's Central Community United Methodist Church. Guests attending the sell-out event were greeted with a cup of hot cider as they strolled among the 12 decorated tables, reflecting the Christmas season...

A clash of cultures came to Barry County as Gunter Methodist Church presented its Christmas play, "Twas the Clash Before Christmas," written by Karen Jones. A cast of 13 adults and youth told the story of what happens when a country boy moves to the big city, marries, and loses himself to the lures of material things and misplaced values. All is remedied when his country family piles into and onto their truck for a surprise Christmas visit to the big city...

About 80 students with Pierce City School District received new shoes Wednesday in an effort coordinated by Tomas Saaf, chief operations officer with Lowry and Associates Physical Therapy in Monett, Mark McMillin, of Monett, and his long-time friend, Donnie Bonuchi of Shoes from the Heart, a charitable organization based out of Macon...

Rachel Murad’s Monet Intermediate School Singers and students in her Ukulele Club made a whirlwind tour of Monett on Wednesday.

Monett High School held its Christmas assembly on Wednesday

A delegation of Purdy High School Business Media students competed in the annual Missouri Southern State University Media Showcase, held on the MSSU campus on Dec. 7. According to sponsor Ashley Brown, the group returned with many accolades. Two students claimed first place honors: Maddie Renkoski, first place in feature photography for "Counting for a Cure," and Antonio Rodriguez, in sports photography for "Strip the Leather."...

Two Pierce City High School band students have been selected to the Missouri All-State Band, an elite ensemble compromised of 109 students across the state. Jessica Spencer and Karina Thompson were among 1,400 hopefuls that auditioned for the honor earlier this month at Hickman High School in Columbia, and were among the 109 students chosen to participate in the top state band...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of being responsible as Students of the Week for Dec. 11.

The Purdy High School Spanish Club hosted the Ozarks Hispanic Studies League Competition at Purdy High School, on Saturday, Dec. 2. Purdy students and dance partners Emma Montoya and Chris Montoya placed fourth in Advanced Latin Dance, and Faith Montoya and her partner, Austin Gibson, placed fourth in Beginners Latin Dance. The Purdy Culture Bowl team placed fifth...

State Representative Mike Moon came to Verona Elementary School to present Shannon Cooper and Abbigail Rodenberg’s third grade class with the American Flag.

Heading into Thursday’s showdown with Mt. Vernon, the Monett girls basketball team (3-3) had an opportunity to make a statement and show the Lady Cubs were ready to be a serious contender in the Big 8 Conference race. Four quarters later, red-faced and frustrated, coaches and players filed out of the locker room after a 61-24 loss to the Lady Mountaineers...

A passing grade in the form of two dual wins was earned by the Monett wrestling team on Thursday with a 39-31 victory over Pleasant Hill and 40-30 decision over Bolivar. Results for the Pleasant Hill dual is as follows. Monett wrestlers are listed first...

Dreams are conjured easily at this time of year, mostly fanciful dreams, images of what Santa might bring, what could be under the right conditions. Monettans have had dreams like that, and made them happen. But dreams are funny vaporous things that can take shape or disappear in a blink of an eye. While we can reach out and touch them, we need to size up those dreams as they shift in front of us...

Jeffery “J.L.” Buck, 60, of Shell Knob, died Monday, Dec. 11. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the First Baptist Church in Shell Knob. Service arrangements and cremation are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Virgil Allen Beck, 46, Seligman, died Wednesday Dec. 13, at Cassville Health Care and Rehab. Service arrangements and cremation are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.