Stories from Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Marilyn C. Moore, 92, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2018, enveloped with the love of her family. No Memorial Service is planned at this time. Instead, in the spring we will gather with friends and family to celebrate her love and life. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hutchens-Stygar Funeral and Cremation Center, St. Charles, MO. www.hutchensfuneralhomes.com...

Billy R. “Bill” VanZandt, 87, of Seligman, died Thursday, Dec. 20. Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 24, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial was at Washburn Prairie Cemetery in Washburn.

Albert Clinton Swadley, Jr., 61, of Seligman, died Saturday, Dec. 22. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Robert “Bob” Noland, 83, of Cassville, died Sunday, Dec. 23. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Exeter. Visitation will be held from 10-11:00 a.m. Friday, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

James Lee Hency, 69, of Cassville, died Thursday, Dec. 20. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville. Visitation will be held from 1-2:00 p.m. Wednesday, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

Donna Sue Collier, 74, of Mt. Vernon, died Thursday, Dec.20, 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 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 27, at the Summit Cemetery, northeast of Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26, in the funeral home chapel...

Maurice Lance McDunner, 58, of Wentworth, Mo., passed from this life on Saturday, December 22, 2018, while receiving care at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Maury was born October 28, 1960, in Monett, Mo., to the late Morris L. McDunner and the late Constance F. ...

Although school is not in session this week, area high school sports team are in full swing. For Verona and Pierce City, the season continues today in the Walnut Grove holiday Tournament. The Lady Eagles (1-6) opened tournament play with a 61-35 setback to Fordland and will play Nianuga today at 10:30 a.m...

For the Verona and Pierce City boys basketball teams, the season continues today in the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament with tournament semifinal berths on the line. The Eagles opened tournament play with a 67-59 win over Fair Play. Kyle Renkoski led the way with 19 points. Trenton Kluck scored 17 in the victory...

A 1990s New Year’s Dance will be held at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pierce City as a fundraiser for the Pierce City backpack program and Eagle Pride scholarships. Cost is $20 per person or $30 a couple. A DJ will provide the music...

A tradition in the English language learners class at Central Park Elementary School in Monett is a pancake breakfast for the holidays.

Nova Schwandt, left, and Virgil Jameson were crowned Miss and Mister Merry Christmas at Lacoba Homes in Monett this week, based on a vote of the staff.

Holiday royalty at Purdy High School was crowned on Dec. 14 in the high school gym after an activity-filled week of festive dress-up days, sponsored by Purdy Student Council.

Progress has continued rapidly on the 11th home under construction by the Monett/Purdy affiliate of Habitat for Humanity at 526 W. Logan.

Educators have the unique opportunity at times to transform their jobs based on the limits of their imaginations.

The 100-Plus Women Who Care Chapter in Monett has donated $5,000 to Camp Barnabas through the Monett Area Community Foundation.

Santa made an early stop in Monett on Friday afternoon, bearing gifts for the employees at the Monett Area Sheltered Workshop.

Barry-Lawrence Regional Library system board members had to make a few difficult decisions at the November meeting, opting to close the Purdy branch by March 1, 2019. At the crux of the matter is the state minimum wage increase, approved by voters in November, which dramatically impacts the system's already strained budget. ...

A total of 24 children from kindergarten through eighth grade participated in the annual Pizzazz Poms dance camp, offered by the Monett High School team to encourage interest in dancing and dance competition. According to Tamara Stadter, coach, campers were divided into age groups and Poms dancers were assigned as “Big Sis” for the day. ...

Making greater use of corn and hay for livestock will provide the focus for the 95th annual Lawrence County Soils and Crops Conference, slated for 6 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2019, at the Southwest Research Center located at 14548 Highway H, southwest of Mt. Vernon...

An annual tradition at the Small Wonders preschool at the First United Methodist Church in Monett is a birthday party for Jesus on the last session before Christmas.

Monett High School’s students in the GO CAPS engineering and manufacturing strand have designed and delivered what they hope will be a valuable tool for EFCO Corporation as their fall project. One Wednesday, GO CAPS students presented the prototype of a cart for the production line at the EFCO plant on Dairy Street in Monett...

A major highway project on Highway 60 in Monett in 2019 will lead to congestion impacting crosstown traffic next summer. According to Kristi Bachman, project manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation, crews will replace the deck on the westbound side of the Highway 60 bridge over Waldensian Road, the original bridge for Highway 60...