Stories from Saturday, February 17, 2018

In the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, local school superintendents concede identifying potential threats can be difficult, but every effort is being made to address concerns that may surface. Suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz has been described as an outsider who had been ostracized and perhaps had no friends following his social media posts. School leaders varied in their assessment of the number of similar students in local schools...

After a prompt response, Freistatt firefighters rescued part of a family from a roof in a structure fire early Tuesday that left minor damage. According to Freistatt Fire Chief Art Mattlage, firefighters received a call at 6:22 a.m. on Tuesday about a fire a half mile north and a half mile east of Freistatt. ...

Monett police will soon be equipped with the drug Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, a new tool to fight drug overdoses that is considered a near miraculous in its effect on subjects. According to Monett Police Chief George Daoud, the U.S. Attorney General in 2016 issued a memorandum calling the opioid epidemic a “public health crisis.” The memorandum called for the use of a prescription medicine called naloxone, also known as Narcan, to prevent overdose deaths...

Aldermen in Pierce City are pondering water and wastewater agreement with their public service superintendent, Alan Frantz, who has formed his own service provider company, Frantz Water Solutions, LLC. Frantz, who has worked for the city for five years, presented aldermen a sample contract, drawn up by City Attorney Darlene Parrigon, and discussed some of the specifics of the proposal...

Monett Street Department crews began demolition work on Wednesday on the Fifth Street bridge over Kelly Creek, with plans to have a new bridge in place by May 1. Dave Dunn, street department assistant superintendent, said the experience gained replacing the bridge over Fourth Street last year prompted city leaders to call for a duplication. ...

The Missouri Cattlemen's Association plans to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda in Jefferson City this year, according to Mike Deering, MCA executive vice president. Deering spoke at the 49th annual Beef Cattlemen's Conference in Monett. At the MCA's state convention, organization leaders identified several targets they plan to work in the coming legislative session. The first, tightening grounds for animal confiscation, is viewed as a property rights issue, Deering said...

With water system improvement efforts more than two years in the making, Pierce City officials are now eyeing a water rate increase to help cover the continuing rising costs of running the city. In August 2016, voters approved a $4.7 million bond issue to replace the city's aging water distribution system. ...

Area farmers and producers might expect problems with their spring crops and forages. "The greatest concern right now is the limited moisture in the soil profile," said Tim Schnakenberg. "We usually go into spring with an abundance of moisture for growing crops and forages. ...

Monett city council members will hold a hearing on an annexation proposal and introduce the budget for fiscal year 2018-2019 at the next council meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 20 at Monett City Hall. Robert and Deborah Heim and Christopher and Linda Lewis have petitioned to have part of the Field of Dreams driving range at Chapell Drive and Business Highway 60 annexed into the city. The owners have requested division of the property into a minor subdivision to allow its sale...

Olyvia Behnke’s pottery students at Monett High School are deeply immersed in their second semester project, making planters emphasizing texture.

Homecoming ceremonies were held on Feb. 9 at Purdy High School. Junior Emma Harkey, daughter of Sam Harkey and Amy Harkey, was crowned queen. Earlier in the day, senior Kole Rea was crowned as Mister Tip-Off.

Art students at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Pierce City have been busy this work making creations for the annual Draw Pierce City contest offered through the Pierce City Arts Council.

The Monett Ministerial Association will begin its annual series of Lenten services and luncheons on Feb. 21. The second service will be held at Chapel of Grace, just south of Highway 60 on Farm Road 1060, west of Monett. Bill Cox will be the speaker. The service will begin at 12:05 p.m., conclude by 12:30, and be followed by a light luncheon provided by the church...

Today will be the final rehearsal for the Ozark Festival Orchestra’s Sunday Young Artists and Soloist Showcase concert at 3 p.m. at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center.

Even more local children will be able to receive health care without leaving the walls of their schools, in the near future, thanks to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant and a match from the Children's Miracle Network...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of learning as Students of the Week for Feb. 12.

The Purdy High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) saw 19 of its members recognized for Top 10 finishes at the annual District Leadership Conference. “We have a very competitive district, so we are very proud of our members,” said Purdy FBLA advisers Ashley Brown and Kay Wright...

Kindergarten to second grade students at Verona Elementary School recognized in January for kindness were, from left: Kenszie Lechner, Lucy Sherwood, Carlos Castro and Ethan Robinson.

COLUMBIA — In an explosive night, the Monett wrestling squad roared in the Mizzou Arena at the Missouri State High School Activities Association state championships. The Cubs entered the evening with four chances to reach individual state championships...

After a 76-20 senior night win over Wheaton on Wednesday, Verona Coach Brad Stewart took a few moments to break down his boys team’s second season in the Class 2, district 11 tournament at Blue Eye. “I think realistically, the top six teams could win the tournament, but you can’t sleep on the seven or eight seed,” Stewart said. “It comes down to our defense. If we play great defense and rebound, that seems to feed our offense.”...

For the Purdy and Pierce City boys and girls basketball teams, the season is now boiled down to a series of one-game playoffs beginning in the Class 2, District 12 tournament. The teams can win and advance, or lose and begin preparation for next year...

The Monett girls basketball team earned a 57-27 win over East Newton on Thursday to improve to 13-7 overall and 3-2 in Big 8 Conference play. The Lady Patriots cut the Monett lead to 15-9 just 30 seconds into the second quarter, and the Lady Cubs responded with a 24-2 run to put the game out of reach...

In what has become and annual tradition, the Purdy girls basketball team secured the Ozark 7 Conference crown on Thursday night with a 45-28 win over Exeter. The Lady Eagles were led in scoring by Layne Skiles, 12; Zoe Brown, 9; Cailyn Spears, 8; Kinsley Mattingly, 6; Hallie Henderson, 5; Bettey Berry, 2 and Emma Harkey, 2...

With a 76-39 win over Exeter, the Purdy boys basketball team improved to 19-6 on the season and finished with a perfect 6-0 record in Ozark 7 Conference play to win its first conference title since 2009. The Eagles were led in scoring by Colt Keeling with 28. Tyler Keeler finished with 13, Hunter Cook had 8, Carl Huglett recorded 6, Joby Young added 4 and Kole Rea, Osiel Aldaba, Jose Sanchez and Scotty Henry recorded 2 each...

The Pierce City girls sent its seniors home happy on Thursday with a 65-60 win to improve to 19-6 overall and 7-2 in Spring River Valley Conference play. The Lady Eagles were led in scoring by Kendyl Hayward with 20. Ragan Blinzler recorded 14, Libby Strickler added 10, Belle Golubski recorded 10, Leslie Jones had 6 and Emily Drollinger put up 5...

The Pierce City boys basketball team won the Spring River Valley Conference title on Thursday with a 64-38 victory over Miller. The Eagles improved to 20-6 on the season and finished 9-1 in the SRVC to win the conference crown. Scoring for Pierce City: Hunter Tindell, 20; Donell Kleiboeker, 10; Trey Sagehorn, 8; Colten O’Hara, 8; Hunter Hatfield, 6; Dallas Kleiboeker, 5; Trenton Kluck, 4; and Aaron Garner 3...

Here we are at another major school shooting, and once again, we grope for a way out of this mess. It’s not much of a stretch to think that most students in this area have a home where there’s a gun. Parents may successfully keep guns locked up, or may manage to teach enough respect for firearms. Proximity does not necessarily lead to a proliferation of shootings...

Dear Editor, I was appalled to learn that President Trump’s proposed budget would cut funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 25 percent.   As a parent living in the Monett area, I know this proposed cut would be bad for our community. ...

Philomena R. Barnes, 93, of Marionville, passed died Sunday, Feb. 11 at Mercy Hospital in Aurora. A funeral service was held Feb. 16, at the Crafton- Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Aurora.

Miranda Nicole Brannon, 38, of Aurora, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, at her home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora. Burial will be at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, in the funeral home chapel...

Albert Elwin Cutter, 89, of Aurora, died Saturday, Feb. 10 at his home. A funeral service was held Feb. 17 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial was at the Mars Hill Cemetery.

Flora D. Carter, 90, of Shell Knob, died Monday, Feb. 12. Graveside services were Friday, Feb. 16, at Painter Cemetery in Shell Knob, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Brandi Lynn Werneburg, 33, of Purdy, died Friday, Feb. 9. Visitation was held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Princeville Township Cemetery in Princeville, Illinois.

Mina Lou (Parks) Wheeler, 96, of Republic, formerly of Marionville, died Tuesday, Feb. 13. A funeral service was held Feb. 17, at the Williams Funeral Home in Marionville. Burial was at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery.