Stories from Saturday, September 8, 2018

On Wednesday, Monett Main Street closed on the purchase of the historic Monett National Bank building, last used by U.S. Bank, on the northwest corner of Fourth and Broadway. The bank building has been a topic of discussion since earlier this year when an anonymous donor offered to buy the building and offer it to the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, a gift valued at approximately $1.5 million. The library board hesitated and the offer was subsequently withdrawn...

Monett school board members recently reviewed programs and strategies that will have an impact in the new school year, including the growing popularity of dual credit classes. Assistant Superintendent Mike Evans reported schools expect to see preliminary data from last spring’s Missouri Achievement Program (MAP) tests in the last week of October. A preview of how the district rated in the Annual Performance Review will come on Dec. 3 and will be released to the public on Dec. 17...

McKinley Ellis, a pre-K student at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Pierce City, studiously worked at hammering nails to craft her own miniature tool box under the watchful eyes of her grandfather, Marty Kennedy.

Speakers have been announced for the annual Field Day at the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center, located southwest of Mt. Vernon. The annual event has been scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday. According to David Cope, Southwest Center director, the event has been combined into a single day this year, open to both the public and school students, to hear agriculture experts speak on a wide range of topics. ...

The Mark Chapman Band will headline this year’s entertainment lineup at the annual Jammin’ at Jolly Mill Concert in the Country on Sept. 15 at Jolly Mill Park, located near Pierce City. The park will open at 5:30 p.m., and the Pretty Lonesome band will perform at 6:30 p.m. This husband and wife duo, Brendan and Chelsey Roberson, perform a variety of country songs...

Members of the Wheaton Board of Education has set the district’s incidental levy at $2.75, the minimum required by the State of Missouri. Board members also approved the debt service levy at the ceiling of 83 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on both real estate and personal property owned by patrons of the district...

According to the Monett Police, a wreck took place at 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 4 on Dairy Street, just east of the Hickory Street intersection. Jacob Saffer, of Pierce City, backed his 2007 GMC Acadia SUV out of a parking space facing north into traffic. The SUV struck a 1997 Buick LaSabre, driven by Eric Mattingly, of Monett, that was stopped at a stop sign...

The Verona City Council addressed street repairs and sold its old police car as part of wide ranging business last month. Council members awarded an $850 contract bid by J&R All Services to remove the rocks laid as rip rap along the ditch beside Ella Street. ...

The Monett Kiwanis Club will again host a visit to town of the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus, which will give shows at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 at Monett's South Park. Billed as "America's favorite old-fashioned big top circus," the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus has animal acts, clowns, aerialists and unicycle artists in a 90-minute show...

This week the Monett Lions Club made its first batch of its popular apple butter, which will go on sale at Apple Butter Makin’ Days in Mt. Vernon next month.

Kindergarten children at St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett are learning about the letter “H” this week.

Monett Special Road District commissioners will meet in regular session on Tuesday, September 11 at 5:15 p.m. at the road district barn on Eisenhower. Chief Sarcoxie Days continues today in downtown Sarcoxie. Royalty will be crowned at noon and the talent show held at 3 p.m. Live music, beginning at 5 p.m., will include Liz Moriando and Eddie Valen...

As part of the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s annual leadership program, Thursday was History Day, when Judge Mike Garrett briefed the group on the history of the Monett Industrial Development Corporation, and Monett Times news editor Murray Bishoff gave a walking tour of Broadway...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen students demonstrating the characteristic of being polite and respectful as Students of the Week for Sept. 4.

The Purdy FFA engaged in many activities over the summer, especially the Purdy Livestock Show, managed by the chapter.

Students at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt were recognized after chapel for scoring 95 percent or higher on all reading tests in the month of August.

A laser shot off the bat of Madi Coones on Thursday rolled to the left field fence at North Park, and by the time the ball reached the infield, the speedy Coones had circled the bases for an inside the park home run. That run proved to be the difference in the Lady Cubs’ (3-1) win over East Newton, 6-5...

The Monett tennis team (1-4) battled its way to its first win of the season with a 5-4 decision over Lamar on Thursday. Stacy Hurtado, 9-8; Giselle Hernandez, 8-4; Diana Rodriguez, 8-1; and Sofia Semerad, 8-1, all earned singles victories. Hurtado and Hernandez, 8-3, won in doubles action to secure the team victory. ...

On Thursday, I offered a primer on Monett history for the members of the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s annual leadership class. I provide the deep history on how the town started, why, the major economic forces through its history and sketches of the major figures over time. ...

Angel J. Hayes, 48, Neosho, entered into rest on Sept. 5, 2018, following an accident. Angel was born Oct. 5, 1969, in Dekalb County, Ill., the daughter of Ralph E. and Juanita (Anderson) Hayes. She moved to the southwest Missouri area in 1979 from Illinois. ...

Robert Roy Walker III, 75, of Monett, Mo., passed away on Friday morning, September 7, 2018, while at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Robert was born on August 3, 1943 in Springfield, Mo., son of the late Robert Roy Walker, Jr. and Mary Ann (Gibbons) Walker Herriman. ...

Neal Anderson, of Aurora, died Sept. 3, at Elfindale Manor in Springfield. A visitation under direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora was held on Friday, Sept. 7, followed by a celebration of Neal’s life at the First Presbyterian Church. A private burial service was held at the Maple Park Cemetery...

Mary Jane Brown, 85, of Marionville, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Aurora Nursing Center in Aurora. Services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the First Baptist Church in Marionville. Burial will be at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Williams Funeral Home...

Noel Jesse Gouldsmith, Jr., 92, of Joplin, died Saturday, Sept. 1. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.

Waity H. Skym, 85, of Wentworth, died on Monday, Sept. 3, at Freeman Health System West in Joplin, after a fall at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Monett...

Mary Alice Tanner, 95, of Aurora, died Sunday, Sept. 2, at the Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora was held Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

Firman Russell Trenary, 88, of Stark City, died Tuesday, Sept. 4. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 7 at McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton. Burial was at Dice Cemetery in Fairview.

Noah I. Troyer, 41, of Stotts City, died Wednesday, Sept. 5, at his home. A funeral service was held Saturday, Sept. 8, at the home of Darrel Troyer. Burial was at the Stahl Creek Cemetery. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...