Stories from Wednesday, February 21, 2018

COLUMBIA – With the eye of the entire state upon them, the Monett wrestling squad brought home three individual titles on Saturday night. The Cubs had four opportunities on the evening against stiff competition. Cubs fans did not have to wait long for results, as the first four matches of the evening featured a purple and gold grappler. As an added bonus, Monett was able to wrestle on a newly-purchased Monett mat that was on display for the tournament...

It was not the complete outcome that Matthew Bahl wanted, falling 6-0 in the state championship match at the state tournament in Columbia on Saturday, but one in which the freshman had the right frame of mind. “I think I learned I need to get stronger in the offseason,” Bahl said. “Getting second in state isn’t too bad for a freshman, I don’t think.”...

The Monett swimming and diving team wrapped up another successful season with two Honorable Mention All-State accolades on Friday. The team finished 29th out of 60, with Glendale winning the team title. The 200 Medley Relay team of Kelli Sangston, Aspen Lynn, Sara Drewianka and Carly Jenkins, plus Sangston in the 100 Backstoke, earned the hardware for their efforts...

An offensive blitz moved an early lead to a late blowout as the Pierce City girls basketball team rolled to a 76-33 win over Thomas Jefferson on Monday. Ragan Blinzler led the way with 18 points. Belle Golubski and Kendyl Hayward finished with 17 each. Libby Strickler recorded 9 points. Leslie Jones finished with 8...

In what Cassville Athletic Director Doug Martin hopes will be the bulk of the sports hires this year, the district has made big changes for the 2018-2019 school year. The biggest comes in a change in the leadership of the Lady Wildcats softball team...

A huge fourth quarter turned a 35-35 game into a 65-60 victory for the Verona boys over School of the Ozarks in the district quarterfinal. The win was the first Class 2 district playoff win in program history (1-1 all-time). The Wildcats sunk 18 free throws in the final eight minutes to secure the victory...

Hershel William Worm, age 82, of Freistatt, Missouri, left this life for eternal life with his Savior on February 20, 2018, peacefully with his family at his side. He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie (Bremer) of 60 years and three children: Andy and his wife, Jill of Monett, Mary Worm of Springfield, and Sara Ticknor and her husband, Matt of Monett, 9 grandchildren: Jeremy, Brittany, Blake, Taylor, Drew, and Averie Worm, and Kailee, Parker, and Isaac Ticknor, and 4 great-grandchildren: Kennedy, Sawyer, Kaleb, and Wyatt, and many other family members and friends.. ...

A 13 percent increase in referrals in 2017 boosted the number of cases handled by the Juvenile Office for the 39th Judicial Circuit, making up half of the 24 percent drop in referrals between 2015 and 2016. Chief Juvenile Officer Jill Braden said overall the case load handled by her staff remained fairly constant, though there were several notable shifts in the types of cases handled...

Purdy aldermen moved closer to a new ordinance on fences and purchase of equipment to enhance the city’s snow removal ability. An incident last year where one neighbor blocked access to another neighbor’s fence prompted police intervention. To clarify fence standards. Mayor Bo Prock unveiled a new ordinance to address the gap of clarity over fence use. Included were the following definitions and requirements:...

Can a city restrict a landlord from getting water? That’s the question at issue in Freistatt, where landlord Randy Davidson is challenging a longstanding practice by the village board of trustees. Davidson has been asking the village for water for a new tenant in a trailer he purchased as a rental property. Davidson owns a number of rental properties in Freistatt, but this is his first trailer, and therein lies the problem...

Enforcing Purdy's ordinances on animals and property maintenance prompted extended discussion in the city recently. Mayor Bo Prock filed a complaint against the dogs of his neighbor, Brittany Lassiter, that led to a hearing to open the meeting. Prock sat in the audience while members of the city council served as a panel, charged with making a recommendation in the matter to the municipal judge. Lassiter was represented by Cassville Attorney David Cole...

Law enforcement officials are investigating a spate of local crimes that have crossed city boundaries and county lines. Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe reported several thousand dollars worth of DeWalt tools, along with a generator and laser rotary tool, were stolen from the R.E. Smith Construction had been taken from the site of the FEMA project at the school. Newton County authorities contacted Lowe and identified several Purdy suspects that were involved in a similar incident in that county...

In the wake of the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in which 17 students were killed and approximately 14 others wounded, law enforcement officials attending the monthly meeting of Barry-Lawrence Crime Stoppers reviewed what they knew of the situation...

In the dead of Missouri winter, members of a local family pluck lemons, oranges and grapefruits from trees in their greenhouse. Lee Allphin and son, Jim, enjoy the steady supply of flavorful fruits and vegetables from their orchard, garden and greenhouse, said Robert Balek, a horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension...

The Barry-Lawrence County Regional Library Board revised a program policy that would allow authors and presenters, with the director's approval, to sell their books and materials at the library. Previously, the library system did not allow authors or presenters to sell their books and materials at its branches...

The Pierce City Senior Center was decked out with Valentines and Teddy bears for the annual Valentine’s dinner, rescheduled for Feb. 17.

The Monett Historical Society hosted its first Sweetheart Dinner in honor of Valentine’s Day on Feb. 17 in the Events Center of the Monett Museum.

The Ozark Festival Orchestra’s Youth Artists and Soloist Showcase concert on Sunday at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center shined a spotlight on 12-year-old Silas Garrett of Webster Groves as this year’s Young Artist, selected from a larger number of candidates in recent years...

As the Anderson-based women’s trio Triology sang at the Wheaton Historical Society’s Valentines dinner on Saturday, many in the audience shook maracas and other percussive sound makers to accompany the music.

A rainy President’s Day saw visitors hanging out at the Monett Area YMCA.

Barry County Retired Teachers will meet at 10 a.m. on Feb. 23 at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Highway H in Monett. Barry County Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren will be the guest speaker. The SilverTeens Senior Singles group will meet for supper at 6 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Big Baldy’s Bac-Woods Bar-Bar-Q, 814 E. Highway 60 in Monett. For additional information, people may call 417-393-9212...

It was not the ending to the season Purdy had hoped for in a 56-53 district quarterfinal loss to College Heights. Purdy trailed by 18 in the third quarter and twice closed the gap to 3 points, but missed two 3-pointers as time expired. Emmy Collin went off for the Lady Cougars, scoring 36 points...

The Monett girls could not overcome a early hole and fell 58-46 to Cassville on Monday in hoops action. Alyssa Williams led the way for Monett with 21 points. Katie Schmidt and Kaesha George recorded 10 points each. Jordann Pugh and Abby Patton added 2 points each and Abby Kranz finished with 1...

Dorothy A. Fare, 86, of Purdy, Missouri, went to be with her husband in Heaven on Monday February 19, 2018, while staying at Oak Pointe assisted living in Monett. She was born in Monett, Missouri, on February 8, 1932, the daughter of the late Frank and Mildred (Bowman) Bennett. She was united in marriage at Roaring River in Cassville on August 21, 1950 to Frankie Joe Fare; he preceded her in death on August 12, 2017...

Milan Wayne Rutherford, 91, of Wichita, Kansas, (formerly of Monett) went to be with his Lord in Heaven on Sunday, February 18, 2018. He was born in Stotts City, Missouri, on November 29, 1926, the son of the late Jessie Harry and Bessie (Scott) Rutherford. He was united in marriage to Betty Ann Leedy on August 19, 1950, in Wichita, Kansas; she survives...

The following schools will dismiss early today due to possible inclement weather: • Shell Knob — 1 p.m. • Verona — 1:15 p.m. • Cassville — 1:30 p.m., all events for tonight cancelled • Exeter — 1:30 p.m. • Southwest — 1:30 p.m. • Pierce City — 2 p.m...

Marjorie "Ann" Breeden, 86, died Friday, Feb. 16, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cassville. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Roselawn Cemetery in Seagoville, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Donna L. Smith, 57, of Cassville, died Saturday, Feb. 17, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Visitation will be held from noon until service time Saturday. Arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...