Stories from Wednesday, August 8, 2018

In one of the tightest races of the August primary, educator Bob Senninger of Freistatt topped Mt. Vernon businessman Tom Sallee for the Republican nomination for presiding commissioner of Lawrence County.

Facing a female candidate in a primary election for the second time, incumbent 157th District State Representative Mike Moon of Ash Grove handily won his party's primary vote on Tuesday. Moon had 3,861 or nearly 70 percent of the vote to the 1,688 votes or 30 percent for first-time candidate Karen Echols of Verona.

Danielle Still won all but one precinct on Tuesday to win the Barry County recorder of deeds race with 59 percent of the total vote.

Outgoing Barry County Clerk Gary Youngblood said he did not have much time to campaign, but that did not stop him from earning a landslide victory in the election for Barry County presiding commissioner.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is continuing to review public comment on the $11.5 million in improvements on Highway 37, south of Purdy, especially on the changes proposed at Butterfield. The intersection at Highway W has been crash prone for years and has proven difficult to solve. ...

Verona City Council members plan to meet at 5 p.m. on Friday to work through issues that have defied resolution during regular monthly meetings. On the special meeting's agenda, aldermen placed setting limits for the duties of a building inspector. Specifically, they leaned toward limiting an inspector to making decisions on new construction and limiting his role in repairs to the room(s) in question, rather than granting power to order changes to an entire house...

The 60th annual Wheaton BBQ kicks off at 11 a.m. on Aug. 25 with the Wheaton Street Machines Show and Shine Car Event, and the Spud McCracken Memorial Horseshoe Tournament. Food service begins at 11:30 a.m. with the fire department's traditional barbecue chicken half, baked potato, baked beans, bread and a beverage, available at a cost of $6 for adults and $3 for children. ...

Scores of students arrived at Monett Elementary School on Saturday morning to pick up school supplies from the annual drive hosted by Crosslines.

Monday morning, employees with Fun Time Shows, out of Doniphan, were hard at work setting up rides for this year’s Howdy Neighbor Days festival.

The 15th annual Stotts City Truck and Tractor Pull will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31 on the rodeo grounds south of stouts City on Highway 97. The patient parking lot outside the Cox Monett emergency department (off Euclid Street) will be closed starting Tuesday, August 7 through Thursday, August 9 (weather permitting) for a complete parking lot replacement project. ...

Janice Varner, Barry County collector, will host the annual Barry County land tax sale on Monday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at the courthouse in Cassville. Anyone interested in purchasing delinquent properties at the land sale needs to come into the collector’s office prior to 10 a.m. ...

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. If no charge is listed, it's an infraction. SES is Suspended Execution of Sentence, SIS is Suspended Imposition of Sentence, ITC is Intensive Treatment Center, CVCF is Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund, and LERF is Law Enforcement Restitution Fund. ...

It was a magical ride in 2017 for the Pierce City football team that took them all the way to the district championship game. The Eagles, 11-1, used a deadly combination of size and skill to decimate opponents in a season to remember. “We made a lot of strides last year and [this year] should have outstanding upperclassmen leadership with a mixture of talented underclassmen,” said Brad Hocker, Pierce City coach. ...

Most schools are still a few days away from officially starting classes, but for its student athletes, preparations and practices are already underway. While some students are just breaking in their back-to-school clothing, varsity sports programs are already announcing tournament action...

Robert Lewis Dryden, 84, of Northbrook, Ill., (former resident of Bellevue, Wash.) died Monday, August 6, 2018, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A graduate of Wichita State University, Bob was a marketing executive for IBM for 25 years. ...

Benny Ray Henderson, 81, of Monett, entered into eternal rest on Friday, August 3, 2018, while at Bentonview Park Health and Rehab in Monett. He was born on April 27, 1937, in Loma Linda, California, son of the late Ralph and Imogene (Mullins) Henderson. He was united in marriage on May 4, 1956, to Betty Craker; she survives...

James M. Bryant, Sr., 81, of Cassville, died Friday, Aug. 3. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

George Alexander Knox, 96, of Mt. Vernon, died Tuesday, July 31, at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at the Ozark Prairie Cemetery, northeast of Mt. Vernon...

Sand Kossuth Kulak Meek, 48, of Mt. Vernon, died Friday, Aug. 3, at his home. A private burial, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon was held Monday, Aug. 6, at the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery.

Troy Gene Williams, 78, of Monett, died Thursday, Aug. 2, at Countryside Care in Monett. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...