Stories from Saturday, March 10, 2018

Terry Alan Suttles, 48, of Springfield, died Saturday, March 3. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, was held March 7, at the Leann Cemetery, south of Aurora.

Jerry Lester Burton, 65, of Monett, died Wednesday March 7, while staying at Bentonview Park Health and Rehab in Monett. Memorial services will be held at a later date and will be announced when completed. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Edward Lee Brown, 88, of Marionville, died Monday, March 5, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The funeral service was held Thursday, March 8, in the Williams Funeral Home chapel. Burial was at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery.

Annabelle Mae Albertin, 87, of Goshen, Ark., died Wednesday, March 7. Graveside services were held Monday, March 12, at Edgewood Cemetery in Chillicothe, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Gaylon Henderson, 83, of Monett, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett, following a lengthy illness. Gaylon was born on June 15, 1934, in Barry County, Mo, son of the late Aubrey and Mildred (Boyd) Henderson. Growing up in Purdy, Gaylon graduated from Purdy High School with the class of 1952. ...

Elizabeth (Betty) Caine, of Wylie, Texas, passed away Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Founders Plaza Nursing Center in Wylie at the age of 99. She was a long-time Monett resident before moving to Wylie 10 years ago. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Monett, and sang in the church choir and taught Sunday school. She taught kindergarten in the Mt. Vernon school system for 18 years...

Jesse Howard Cooper, 92, was born Dec. 28, 1925, in Walnut Grove, Miss., and died March 9, 2018, in Monett, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Rose; a son, Jesse Daniel Cooper; and a daughter, Pricilla Ann Jackson; several stepchildren; many grandchildren; and nieces and nephews...

Tuesday was a bad day for the Purdy Fire District. That was the assessment of Chief Nick Mercer, recalling two simultaneous fires. Most of the district’s resources redeployed from a remote fire on railroad property, a ways from town, to battle the fire at the John and Linda Keckler home, east of town. The fire had advanced too far by the time firefighters arrived, and the house was a total loss...

On March 21, 1938, Monett secured its first Big 8 Conference championship basketball title. The title, as declared by H.B. Ryon, Monett coach, said it was the first championship of its kind in Monett school history. Monett scored 267 points and allowed only 172 in conference play. That season, the Cubs dispatched Aurora, Neosho, Carthage, Nevada, Lamar, Webb City and Mt. Vernon to earn the accolade...

With the small school basketball season concluded, the slow and steady drip of postseason awards has begun. For the Spring River Valley Conference, the time has arrived to name its best boys basketball players. Pierce City secured a total of five spots on the list, including Hunter Tindell being named Player of the Year and Matt Street garnering Co-Conference Coach of the Year accolades...

Despite the season being over for the Pierce City girls basketball team, there is still reason to smile. That reason in due in large part the the release of the Spring River Valley All-Conference teams. Pierce City landed three players on the squad’s all First Team selections, in Kendyl Hayward, Ragan Blinzler and Belle Golubski...

Bi-county students were recognized for academic achievement at the University of Arkansas for reaching the Chancellor's List and the Dean's List for the fall semester. Full-time students who earn a 4.0 grade point average during a semester are named to the Chancellor’s list. Students who earn a grade point average between 3.75 and 4.0 are named to the Dean’s List of their respective college...

Monett High School advanced four individuals from the speech program and the one-act play ensemble to state competition following the district speech and debate tournament last weekend. State qualifiers included: Alyssa Kelley, first place in dramatic interpretation and in humorous interpretation; Connor Henry, second place in prose; and the duet acting team of Leo Amador and Joe Bricker, second place...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of learning as Students of the Week for March 5.

The Monett High School Pizzazz Poms brought back a fifth place trophy and a fifth place individual medal for competition at state held on Feb. 23 and 24 at the Family Arena in St. Charles. The team advanced to state after competing in the Sugar Bears Invitational at Missouri STate University on Feb. 17. The squad received second place for the pom routine and third place for their mix routine. ...

Music students from the Berean Christian Academy in Monett competed in Central Methodist University's Music Fest on March 2, taking home several first place honors. "It was their first ever competition," said Theresa Borgmann, music teacher. "The band students took solos and ensembles, and the high school choir competed as a group. This was a huge deal for the school, because each event received either a 1 or 2 rating."...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates announced its Jack Henry Banking division had more than 100 banks selecting JHA Online Financial Management powered by Geezeo to enhance their digital services. JHA Online Financial Management integrates the Geezeo platform with transaction data from Jack Henry and Associates' core systems. This presents a seamless user experience through NetTeller Online Banking, goDough mobile banking, and Banno digital banking solutions...

Hobbs-Anderson American Legion Post No. 91 hosted a fundraising chili and soup dinner at the Legion Home in Monett for the Joplin Comfort Dog Ministry offered through Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School in Joplin.

Monett FFA dairy judging team member Blake Wright recently presented an informative program for Monett Lions. Wright and his fellow team members have been nationally successful in dairy judging and have earned the privilege of representing the U.S. in international competition slated for Ireland during this summer. ...

Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren, center, was the guest speaker at the Feb. 23 meeting of Barry County Retired Teachers.

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and their team from the History Channel's show "American Pickers" will return to Missouri to film episodes of the hit series in the area, and are seeking possible collections to feature in the show. "American Pickers" is a documentary series exploring the world of antique "picking." The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. ...

Melba Fleming, a lifelong resident of Monett, will celebrate her 95th birthday on March 13. She was married to the late Chesteen Fleming, and they had two children, one of whom survives. Her family includes daughter Janie Painter and her husband, Bob; two grandchildren and four great grandchildren...

The Monett Ministerial Association continues its annual series of Lenten services and luncheons on March 14 at the First Baptist Church on South Highway 37. Jimmie Copley from Chapel of Grace 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...

Six Monett High School students received a tunnel send-off on Friday as they headed to state with other qualifiers from DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) at the Scott Regional Technology Center.

Representatives from 11 of the 14 school districts sending students to the Scott Regional Technology Center attended a dinner and tour of the facility.

The Monett Community Teachers Association will host a forum for the candidates seeking the two open seats on the Monett Board of Education at 6 p.m. on March 20 at the Monett City Park Casino. "This will be the first time in almost 20 years since the CTA has done a forum," said Misty Calhoun, CTA president. "We thought now would be a good time to bring it back."...

Area lawmakers will provide a update on legislative sessions in both Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., at the Monett Chamber of Commerce's annual winter Eggs and Issues, slated for 8 a.m. on Friday at the Monett City Park Casino. Reservations for the event are due by Monday and may be made by calling the Chamber office at 417-235-7919. A complimentary breakfast will be available for those attending...

The Monett Times saw a change in leadership on Thursday, as former Marketing Director Lisa Craft was promoted to General Manager of the publication. Craft has been with the newspaper since 1989. She has held multiple positions throughout her time, including office manager, news reporter, editor, marketing director and publisher...

Marney Nowland, the self-described “Mighty Mathman,” reached a milestone this year by teaching for 50 years professionally. The Monett educator, now teaching at Berean Christian Academy in rural Monett, marked the occasion with a formal signing ceremony for next school year. This was his 50th contract signing in Monett, carrying him into his 51st year of teaching...

Gale Huffmaster received the Monett Chamber of Commerce's top honor, the Community Service Award, at the Chamber's annual membership meeting on Thursday at the Scott Regional Technology Center. The board for Monett Main Street was also honored with the Pride and Progress Award for downtown improvements, including establishing the Downtown Monett Historic District and the new park and pavilion on Front Street...

For years, Monett High School has seen its ACT college entrance exam scores come in below the state average. This year, a major effort has been launched to change that. On March 27-29, juniors at the school will not attend regular class, but will undergo a three-day boot camp on how to take the ACT. This follows the Monett Board of Education’s decision to fund having all juniors take the test...

A magical basketball run came to an end on Friday as Purdy fell in the third place game to Mid-Buchanan, 83-63. The same problems that haunted the Eagles (24-8) in the semifinal loss to Hayti resurfaced against the Dragons — missed shots and an opponent that could not miss...

Trooper loves making new friends wherever he goes. The Golden Retriever is part of a pet therapy pilot program at Cox Monett Hospital and proudly wears his volunteer badge as he goes from room to room seeking out patients that may just want to give him some good ear rubs...