Stories from Friday, April 13, 2018

Meeting twice this week, the Verona City Council reorganized and continued wrestling with procedural issues despite a full board. New board members LaDonna Buzard and Sheila Massengill were sworn in inexplicably prior to the meeting on Monday. Mayor Joseph Heck allowed a second swearing in ceremony in front of the audience, producing applause after the oaths were taken...

Stories of personal trauma provided the centerpiece for the community conversation about medical marijuana, held Tuesday at the Monett City Park Casino. The event was organized by New Approach Missouri, one of several political action organizations circulating different petitions to place a vote about medical marijuana on the Nov. 6 ballot...

Monett police are searching for information regarding a vehicle that fled blue lights Thursday evening. George Daoud, Monett Police chief, said Officer Trent Gold responded to a report of a possible impaired driver causing problems in the McDonald’s parking lot on Highway 60. As Gold arrived, the suspects were leaving the area, and Daoud said they began to accelerate before Gold activated his siren...

It’s a case of use it or lose it. Pierce City voters turned down the use tax ballot question at the April 3 polls, a move which, according to City Clerk Julie Johnson, will cost the city approximately $5,600 annually. Pierce City aldermen approved revisiting the question on the August ballot, in hopes that with more information forthcoming, voters will approve the measure a second time around...

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office is hosting an 11-week citizen’s academy in hopes graduates will become partners with the agency to identify problems and create solutions to crime issues that affect Lawrence County residents. The free classes, which begin Tuesday, June 5, give participants an in-depth, educational and hands-on look at what goes on behind the scenes of law enforcement work in the county...

With construction on Monett’s new swimming pool progressing rapidly, the city’s long leaking municipal swimming pool bid goodbye to the community this week as demolition crews moved in on Monday, working through the week to remove the walls, piping, filters and bathhouse...

Three people were arrested Thursday following a traffic stop by the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team and Cassville Police Department. According to a release by the Team, the stop was made at about 6:40 p.m. near Highway 37 and Tudor Road in Cassville. Officers seized 59 hydrocodone pills, six fentanyl patches, 66 diazepam pills, one morphine pill, marijuana and suspected methamphetamine...

Crews from Gerald Perry Tennis in Springfield rehabbed the tennis courts at South Park in Monett this week, continuing work done in the last August at North Park.

It’s “Up, Up and Away” this weekend for the Ozark Festival Orchestra, presenting its Pops in the Park concert of music from superhero films on Sunday at the Monett City Park Casino.

Two people were hurt in a rollover crash involving an SUV at about 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday on Farm Road 1090, between 2220 and 2240, northeast of Monett.

Hobbs-Anderson American Legion Post No. 91, with assistance from Boy Scout Troop No. 38 and Cub Scout Pack No. 140, retired 200 U.S. flags in a formal ceremony on Tuesday at South Park, on the hill near the park entrance.

Members of the lifetime sports class at Monett High School, taught by Ty Goetz, went to the Monett Sportsmen’s League’s trap shooting range this week for hands-on experience with a firearm.

Larry Zebert, left, and Kenny Fenske, right, were sworn in to serve their three-year terms on the Pierce City School Board during a special meeting Wednesday, April 11.

The City of Monett reports a scam going around with individuals calling residents and businesses stating that their utility service is being disconnected if they don’t pay immediately. The scammers are asking the individual to issue the funds on money cards and give them the number to transfer the funds to. City Clerk Lisa Crawford confirmed the city does not do business this way and no one should respond to such threats...

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held on March 23 for Kiddie City, a new play center for children at 509A Dairy St.

John and Adell Bremer of Monett will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 20. The couple was married on April 20, 1968 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freistatt. They have two children: Rachel Maylee and David Bremer, who are married to Eric Maylee and Tricia Bremer. They also have three grandchildren: Abby, Grace and Kyle...

Hospice Compassus will be conducting training for persons interested in becoming non-medical volunteers. The training will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Hospice Compassus office located at 845 Hwy. 60, Suite A, in Monett...

On March 24, third and fourth grade students from Central Park Elementary School in Monett exhibited their innovative designs at the Odyssey of the Mind state contest held at Missouri Science and Technology Institute in Rolla, earning the right to advance beyond state to national competition...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of being safe in their environment as Students of the Week for March 19.

The Purdy school district was well represented at the annual NEO Music Festival on April 4 in Miami, Okla.

Monett and Pierce City students at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin received honors during the 27th annual Glenn D. Dolence Leadership/Service Recognition Assembly, held April 4 at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Emily Brewer, a secondary education major from Monett, and Ashley Burns, a biology, ecology and conservation student from Pierce City, were among the 35 students recognized this year during the awards ceremony. ...

It is often said that a team learns more about itself from a loss than in a win. The Monett baseball team (10-3) tasted both of those aspects this week in games against Aurora and Seneca. On Tuesday, the No. 7 ranked Cubs fell 7-1 to No. 1 ranked Aurora...

There are many different ways to earn a nickname. Sometimes, they are given by your family, but many times, they are earned by actions. Such was the case for Monett senior John Schupbach when then-coach Tyler Rickard dubbed him “Daddy Longlegs” during Schupbach’s freshman track season at Monett...

“Be steady, stay the course and keep fighting” were the words of encouragement Purdy Coach Joshua Hughes kept telling his baseball team through the first three innings of a 1-1 game Wednesday at Verona. The Eagles (8-3) listened, and when the opportunity arose, they did more than just pounce...

Monett tennis improved to 2-1 on the year with a 6-3 win over Clever on Tuesday. “We have had a small taste of winning and like the fruits of our labor,” said Jason Smith, Monett coach. “It’s nice to win, but our team goal is to achieve success with our individual goals on improving our game.”...

The Monett golf team continues to outpace the field this season on area courses. On Thursday, Monett took first at the 17-team tournament at Freemont Hill. Caleb Long finished second with a 74, Clayton Kaiser was third with a 77 and Lane Witt finished ninth with an 82...

A lot of mixed feelings surfaced this week at the sight of the Monett Municipal Swimming Pool under demolition. On Wednesday morning, two days into the project, one father brought his young son with him to sit on a park seat and watch. There’s a hypnotic quality to watching landmark demolitions. It also stops time, knowing there is no instant replay. When it’s gone, it’s gone...

Furlin Garland “Bud” Creason, 86, of Exeter, died Tuesday, April 10. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today (Saturday) April 14, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial with military honors will be at Creason Cemetery in Ridgley.

Terry Lee Brown, 68, of Miller, died Monday, April 9, at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today (Saturday), April 14, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will follow at the Ruckman Cemetery, east of Mt. Vernon...

William Calvin “Bill” Griffis, 86, of Shell Knob, died Tuesday, April 10. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 16, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Shell Knob, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob. Burial with military honors will be at Lake Park Memorial Gardens in Shell Knob...

Donald Jett Kettler, 54, of Cassville, died Sunday, April 8. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 13, at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Butterfield, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Thomas Ray Whaley, 70, of Everton, died Tuesday, April 10, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Saturday, in the funeral home chapel...