Stories from Friday, March 30, 2018

A decrease in the number of meals delivered marked the 2017 service year for Loaves and Fishes, the hot meal delivery program to Monett and surrounding communities. The sum of 5,609 delivered meals represented a drop of 20 percent from 2017, and down 24 percent from 2016. The operation became more expensive as well. Cost per meal rose from $6.34 per meal in the previous year to $7.68 per meal in 2017. Charges to clients remained even at $3.50 per meal...

Monett High School juniors went through a series of preparation workshops and practice testing this week for the ACT college entrance exams, which will be given on Tuesday. Principal David Williams launched a more intense effort this year to bring the district’s test scores up from below the state average. ...

The 10th home built by the Monett/Purdy affiliate of Habitat for Humanity at 119 E. Nellie in Monett received its formal dedication on March 24 as the keys were turned over to new owner Christy Kerns and her family, Kodie Kerns and Kameron Kerns and Sierra Smith...

A reception will be held from 2-4 p.m. on April 6 for Sharon Carter at Bentonview Park Health and Rehabilitation in Monett. Carter will be retiring after 28 years with the facility. “I’ve been in every office in this place,” Carter said. “I like being in the front office where I can see everyone.”...

The spring Walk to School Week in the Monett school district will expand in April to a month-long event, kicking off Tuesday. According to Alex Severs, school district wellness coordinator and director for efforts under the Healthy Schools/Healthy Communities initiative, the walking/biking school bus will be officially engaged for daily trips to school on weekdays, April 3 to April 27. ...

Members of the Lawrence County Tax Board for the Developmentally Disabled approved by acclamation to retain the current slate of officers for the coming year. This include Bill Alexander, of Ash Grove, chairman; Reneé White, of Aurora, vice chair; Martha Pettigrew, of Aurora, secretary; and Patricia Childress, of Miller, treasurer...

Due to changes in state law by the Missouri General Assembly in 2017, voter identification requirements for those going to the polls on April 3 will be different. Lawrence County Clerk Gary Emerson said Missouri now has a new Photo Voter ID law which states identification options for registered Missouri voters to use on Election Day at their polling location...

In conjunction with the designation of downtown Monett as a historic district, Monett Main Street, which led the effort to secure the district's recognition, plans to work with business owners to mark buildings with plaques identifying their historic qualities...

A bridge on Fourth Street in Monett, between Birch and Plum, has been closed by the street department, possibly for as long as two months.

Construction was been completed replacing the sidewalks on both sides of the Fifth Street bridge over Kelly Creek.

With spring bursting to life, April becomes a sea of blossoms.

The Monett Senior Center will host a dance from 7 to 10 p.m. on Monday, April 2 at the Monett City Park Casino. Evelyn Lock and the Outriders Band will provide the music. Participants are encouraged to bring a snack to share. The Monett City Council paid bills totaling $2,001,438.30 on march 20. ...

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District board presented Nick Mercer, representative from District 4 in central Monett for the past three years.

Students from the teacher education strand of the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Professional Studies (GO CAPS) program at Monett High School spoke to the Barry County Retired Teachers organization on March 23.

Cerrina Ridenour, a Pierce City High School student in the Distributive Education Clubs of America organization through Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett, presented information on a suicide awareness campaign to members of the Pierce City School Board at their March meeting...

The Purdy High School business education department was well represented at the annual Crowder College Business Contest on March 28.

There is a saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” and that is just what the sixth grade class at Pierce City MIddle School is trying to do.

Students of the Quarter have been named for the third quarter at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett.

Induction ceremonies were held Tuesday for 49 new members of the National Technical Honor Society at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett.

In 2017, a group was formed to help restore, educate, and advance the game of basketball in the Four-State area. The group, which included several area coaches is called 4-States Basketball Coaches Association or 4SBCA. With a full year of organization under their belt, the group has released its 2018 list of All-Region players...

One Ozark 7 Conference school is primed to take the conference by storm next season if the conference awards are any indication of the school’s hoops talents. The Ozark 7 Conference recently released its list of top athletes on the hardwood, and Verona secured four First Team honors...

With several questions about the team and its ability to rebuild this season, the Monett boys track team put a few issues to rest with a solid fourth-place finish at the 12-team McDonald County Mustang Stampede. “We are really excited about where our athletes are at this early in the season,” said Kyle Wood, Monett coach. ...

It was not the desired result with the Cubs tennis team dropping a 9-0 decision to Thomas Jefferson on Thursday. But Monett did see a silver lining to the situation. “It was a cold day for tennis, and the boys endured their first loss,” said Jason Smith, Monett coach. “We have a lot of positive take aways from the match, but in the end, we lost 0-9...

Pierce City seniors Hunter Tindell, Ragan Blinzler and Belle Golubski will play in the 2018 SWMO Basketball All-Star game on April 8 in Lebanon. Golubski and Blinzler play in the 2 p.m. East-West girls game and Tindell will be featured in the 5:30 p.m. East-West boys game...

Tomorrow is Easter. While the Christian world celebrates resurrection, it comes to us today with images of lilies and bunnies, symbols of renewal. In many ways, it’s more like New Year’s than January 1, because at this time of year, we really see renewal in the flowers bursting from the trees and the lawns turning green again. We are reminded that loss experienced in this life may be remedied in the next, and that indeed, there is something more...

Dennis Lee Beshears, 69, of Monett, passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Dennis was the son of Leroy and Janice Beshears of Monett, born on December 5 1948, in Joplin, Mo. He was a member of the Monett High School graduating Class of 1967. Dennis was united in marriage to Betty Sue Schany in 1972. ...

Dorothy Marie (Roetto) Brown, 90, of Monett, Mo., passed from this life on Thursday morning, March 29, 2018, at her daughter’s home. She is the daughter of Catherine (Witt) and Frank Roetto. Dorothy was born October 21, 1927, in Barry County, Missouri. She has been a life-long resident of Monett. She was a dedicated member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and PCCW...

Buddy Lee Cochran, 70, of Cassville, died Monday, March 26. A celebration of life was held from 1-3:00 p.m. Friday, March 30, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Betty Lou Sveum, 77, of Mt. Vernon, died Friday, March 23, at her home. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon.

Three people were injured Friday in a wreck at 6:35 a.m. on Highway 37 in Purdy. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Miguel Paxtor, 35, of Purdy, was driving a 1992 Honda Civic southbound on Highway 37 when an eastbound 1999 Honda Accord, being driven by Aracely Nunez, 20, of Fairview, failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the Civic in the side...

A Pierce City woman was injured Friday in a wreck at 6:50 a.m. on Farm Road 1040 at Farm Road 2057, three miles south of Monett. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Lauren Balmas, 22, of Pierce City, was driving a 2007 Toyota Corolla southbound when her vehicle swerved to avoid a deer in the road, left the road and struck a tree...