Stories from Wednesday, April 4, 2018

With 25 percent fewer votes cast than a year ago, incumbents carried the day in the Monett school board race. Two-term incumbent A.J. Bahl led the field with 431 votes (238 in Barry County and 193 in Lawrence County), while former two-term board member Ken Gaspar, who lost his re-election bid by 28 votes a year ago, sailed back into office with 400 votes (203 in Barry and 197 Lawrence)...

The slow, steady drip of post season basketball awards finally concluded with the release of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association All-State lists. Among the rosters of the most talented hoopsters in the state were two natives from Purdy in Layne Skiles and Colt Keeling...

Following one of the most tempestuous years on record for the Verona City Council, incumbent Linda Gates received the smallest number of votes in a field of four, leaving a newcomer and a former incumbent as winners. The election finally filled a council seat vacant since last summer, which proved pivotal in the contentious meetings that followed...

The $2.4 million no tax increase bond issue was approved by voters in the Pierce City school district by a 64-36 margin. Final unofficial results showed 534 votes in favor and 304 votes against. In Lawrence County, 382 (62 percent) were in favor with 231 against (38 percent). In Barry County, 79 (74 percent) were in favor with 28 against (26 percent). In Newton County, 73 (62 percent) were in favor with 45 against (38 percent)...

Only one contest emerged for a city council seat in Pierce City, unlike last year, where vacancies left openings for write-in votes.

n the four-way race for two vacant, at-large school board seats, Larry Zebert and Kenny Fenske took the top two spots in Tuesday's election.

More than 100 people from the local area and neighboring states gathered at the entrance to Paradise Cove Camping Resort on Saturday, protesting for justice to be delivered in the case of three dogs that were shot to death and mutilated near the property...

The daughter of the Aurora man, Thomas Sekscenski, shot dead by an Aurora police officer in McDowell in 2016 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Aurora, Police Chief Richard Witthuhn and former Aurora police officer Weston Welch in federal court...

Monett water department staff and firefighters struggled for most of an hour on Friday to stop the flow of a broken fire hydrant at Fourth and Crest streets. The hydrant, sitting high next to the curb on the northwest corner of Crest and Fourth, was broken by a motorist, Nellie Malone, of Monett, who was pulling a U-Haul trailer. ...

Members of the Pierce City School board accepted a bid from Gator Industrial, of Joplin, to demolish the dilapidated house at 402 Myrtle St. in Pierce City. The district purchased the property in 2014 with plans to clear the home and outbuilding from the lot and utilizing the lot for other needs in the district...

The Monett City Council has approved a mowing contract with a different vendor for the coming year, reappointed board members and adjusted contracts. Every year, the city council bids out its mowing for yards around the public buildings at city hall, the community building and the Justice Center. Gorilla Lawn Care has had the contract for three years. According to City Administrator Dennis Pyle, the city has been "very pleased" with the service received...

More than 150 children ages 1-12 visited Pierce City’s South Park on Saturday afternoon to collect a total of 3,600 treasure-filled eggs left by the Easter Bunny.

At the Monett Branch Library, Sixth and Bond, a special program on Dutch oven cooking with Dr. Larry Quinalty will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on April 11. Sign-up is needed as a limited number can participate. Coloring get-togethers continue at 2 p.m. on Thursday...

The following defendants plead guilty or were found guilty of the charge listed. An Alford Plea does not admit guilt but indicates defendant believes there is enough evidence for a conviction, SES is Suspended Execution of Sentence, SIS is Suspended Imposition of Sentence, ITC is Intensive Treatment Center, SATOP is Substance Abuse Traffic Offenders Program, CVCF is Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund, and LERF is Law Enforcement Restitution Fund. ...

The good news is that Monett has run its record to 6-2 on the baseball season and won the Monett tournament on Saturday with a 6-5 decision over Seneca. Michael Calhoun, Monett coach, will not call it bad news, but the team still has some major flaws to address, especially defensively...

The Girls Night Out meet in Springfield on Thursday serves as the next test for the Lady Cubs track and field team. Monett is fresh off a third place finish at the Carthage meet and feels like it’s are on the verge of something big this season. “I am very proud of the way our team competed with tough weather conditions and a strong field of competitors,” said Kelly George, Monett coach. ...

The Purdy baseball team improved to 3-3 on the season with a 9-2 win over College Heights on Monday. Adam Humphrey earned the win on the mound. He threw 6 innings walked 4 and allowed zero earned runs. Hunter Cook went 3-for-4 at the plate with 4 RBI...

Daryl Bradley, Monett athletic director is asking area business owners to be aware that they may get a call from Royal Publishing wanting local businesses to sponsor advertising for the district baseball or track program. Bradley stated that the advertising is not a Monett school sponsored item and none of the funds go to the athletic programs...

Philip Rand Howell, 77, of Verona, Mo., passed away on Friday evening, March 30, 2018, while at the Aurora Nursing Center in Aurora, Mo. Philip was born on January 10, 1941, in Carthage, Mo., son of the late Charles E. and Ladye Madge (Beckum) Howell. ...

Sylvania Maye Rasmussen, 66, of Washburn, passed away in her home on Monday, April 2, 2018. She was born Aug. 20, 1951, in Seligman, the daughter of Harold Amos Lloyd and Loretta Ellen Bargay. She was married to Rodney Rasmussen April 23, 1994. She was retired from Regal Beloit...

On Good Friday, March 30, 2018, Douglas Lee Stellwagen, 61, of Monett, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior. He was born to Harlan and Annabelle (Spencer) Stellwagen on November 5, 1956 in Monett, Mo. On June 22, 1974, he was united in marriage to Carolyn (Orr)...

Shirley Lois Gaffga, 78, of Shell Knob, died Sunday, April 1. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 6, at First Baptist Church in Shell Knob, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob. Burial will be at Painter Cemetery in Shell Knob...

Ryan E. Helm, 37, of Cassville, died Thursday, March 29, at Cassville Health Care and Rehab. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at the Roaring River State Park CCC Shelter located off of Junction Hwy. F and Hwy. 112. Service and cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Floyd McGary Jr., 61, of Monett, died Saturday, March 31, at his home in Monett. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at the Richland Cemetery in Brinker, Texas. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Robert Lee McMillan, 70, of Monett, died Sunday April 1, at his home in Monett. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 4, from 6-8:00 p.m. at the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Graveside services will be Thursday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at the Bethel Cemetery near Monett...