Stories from Saturday, August 11, 2018

About 700 people turned out on Tuesday for the second annual National Night Out, a celebration of emergency responders, held at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park in downtown Monett. Sgt. Paul Ferguson, with the Monett Police Department, said attendance was up from approximately 100 last year...

Monett school district faculty returned to work for the 2018-2019 school year on Tuesday, with a new superintendent and a school board committed to finding a new building plan to take to voters in a no-tax-increase bond issue next April. Dr. Darren Bass, school board president, opened the session with the official greeting...

What do you do if you find someone who appears to be suffering from an overdose? According to J.J. Goulbourne, instructor at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy, first responders, typically law enforcement personnel, administer Narcan in an effort to save a victim’s life...

An Aurora teenager who is charged with the second-degree murder in the shooting death of Savannah Hill, 21, of Aurora, waived his preliminary hearing in Lawrence County Associate Court on Thursday and has been bound over to circuit court. His arraignment has been slated for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 10, in Lawrence County Circuit Court with Presiding Circuit Judge Jack Goodman...

A Verona man is being held in the Barry County jail on sexual molestation and sexual abuse charges while additional charges are pending in Lawrence County. Eloy Villafana, 55, was scheduled for arraignment in Barry County Associate Circuit Court on Aug. 10 before Judge Robert Foulke for alleged fourth degree child molestation. He is being held in lieu of $15,000 cash only bond...

It helps when someone knows the ropes.

The threat of late afternoon showers didn’t stop the festivities at the annual Howdy Neighbor Days festival in Pierce City on Thursday evening.

Students at Pierce City High School in need of updated vaccinations were able to take part in a clinic hosted at the school by members of the Lawrence County Health Department.

Families arrived with anticipation and excitement on Thursday for open house at Monett Elementary School

New faculty in Monett this fall for upper grades.

A large crowd turned out on Wednesday for open house at the Verona R-7 School District, the day before classes began.

New faculty joined the Verona school district faculty.

Students at Pierce City school district had the opportunity to get a free haircut in preparation for the start of classes on Aug. 14.

The 19th annual Kings Prairie Community Center Benefit, a free bluegrass and gospel outdoor concert, will be held Aug. 11, starting at 5 p.m. A drawing will be held to give away many prizes, including Branson shows and meals, gift certificates from many local restaurants and businesses. ...

While gardens may be challenged by this summer’s weather, Linda and Lonnie Fulp at Myrtle and Eisenhower have had a surprise growing heartily in their yard.

On behalf of the Monett Police Department I would like to thank you for your support of National Night Out. We estimate over 1,000 people were in attendance of our 2nd Annual National Night Out event. We appreciate everyone who assisted with putting together this event greatly appreciate your participation in our annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. ...

Father Matthew Rehrer arrived July 29 to begin his service to the congregation at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce city. Bishop Edward Rice has assigned Rehrer, who immediately began tackling issues that his predecessor, who had limited ability due to poor health, had not addressed...

Dinner, presentation of awards, induction of new members, installation of new officers and fellowship provided a memorable evening for Monett Lions Club recently. Members and guests celebrated at the Monett Historical Society’s Event Center which was decorated with a patriotic theme in tribute to the Fourth of July holiday...

Summer drought has caused headaches for livestock producers who are preparing to feed cattle this winter with little forage or hay on hand. As a result, University of Missouri county extension offices have been flooded with questions about what to do. Those questions have led to the Lawrence and Greene County MU Extension Councils offering meetings on Friday, Aug. 17, for cattle producers who want tips for surviving the drought...

Fred and Carrie Jobe of Monett, and Charish and Ralph Cook of Wentworth announce the engagement of their daughter, Cassandra "Cassie" Jobe, to Tyler Walker, son of Treva Dacheff of Pierce City and Jeff Walker of Springfield. Wedding is set for Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Civil War Ranch in Carthage...

Last season was a rough and rocky road for the Monett football team. Coming off a state championship and the graduation of a large senior class, along with some key injuries, led to a 3-7 overall record and 1-6 mark in Big 8 Conference play. This year, out of necessity, the team has turned to its youth for help...

The Monett WaterThrasher swimming season culminated with its annual end of of the year banquet and election of board members. Jay Apostol was tabbed for a a two-year term as board president and Travis Coffey will serve a one-year term as vice-president...

Friday marked the end of the first week of fall practices for sports in Monett.

Effective teaching is a kind of alchemy. Teachers themselves may call it simply following the steps, the formula provided in training. An experienced observer knows better. There’s something intangible, something magical, about a teacher’s connection with students, something that has the power to build memories and last a lifetime...

Rita Faye Wolfe, 58, of Fairview, died Sunday, Aug. 5. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Wheaton Southern Baptist Church, under direction of McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton.

Vernon Wyatt Massey, 85, of Aurora, died on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon. A funeral service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Aurora Church of Christ. Burial will be at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Virginia Henson, 84, of rural Pierce City, died Wednesday Aug. 8. Graveside services were held on Friday, Aug. 10, at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Monett, with Rev. Gary Stockton officiating. Arrangements were entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.

Vickie Lynn Golubski, 61, of Monett, died Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. A memorial funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Aug. 14, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Monett. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Dorothy Malinda Gilbert, 68, of Cassville, died Friday, Aug. 3. Services will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Robert Lewis Dryden, 84, of Northbrook, Ill., (former resident of Bellevue, Wash.) died Monday, August 6, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Monett, with interment to follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Rev. Paula Lively will be officiating...

Joanne Dierking, 78, of Monett died Thursday, Aug. 2, at Quail Creek Nursing in Springfield. Visitation for Joanne is being held on Sunday Aug. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Funeral services are being held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Aug. 14, at the Atlanta Church in Atlanta, Neb. Burial will follow services later that afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Lincoln, Neb...

Glenda Lynn Chapman, 67, of Cassville, died Tuesday, Aug. 7. Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at Corinth Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Whitley Wade Bray, of Miller, died at birth on Tuesday, July 3. A graveside service, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, in Miller will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Pennsboro Cemetery in Pennsboro.

Elsie Marie Auernheimer, 87, of Cassville, died Wednesday, Aug. 8. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at United Methodist Church in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville...