Stories from Wednesday, February 20, 2019

The Health Department divides food service code violations into two categories; Priority and Core items. Priority items are more likely than other violations to contribute to food contamination, or illness and/or injury. Core items although important to the overall hygiene of the establishment, do not necessarily present an immediate threat to food contamination or illness and/or injury...

Barry County Master Gardeners are hosting their third annual spring workshop on March 9 at Crowder College in Cassville from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Even though it is cold right now, gardeners are already thinking about the growing season and making to-do lists...

Glen Allen Wormington, 60, of Monett, died Saturday, Feb. 2, at his home. Memorial visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, at Buchanan Funeral Home. Graveside services will immediately follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Monett. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Myron James Reed, 77, of Mt. Vernon, died Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, was held Tuesday, February 19, at the Pennsboro Cemetery, in Pennsboro...

Neola Elizabeth Moore, 96, of Miller, died Thursday, Feb. 14, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. A private family burial, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, will be held at Summit Cemetery. Family and friends may pay their respects on Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, in the funeral home chapel...

Juanita “Sue” Susan Brumley, 82, of Powell, died Sunday, Feb. 17. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Fox Cemetery in Powell, under direction of McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will be held from 6-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, at McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton...

Lois Jean Black, 82, of Seligman, died Friday, Feb. 15. Graveside services were held Monday, Feb. 18, at Cargile Cemetery in Washburn, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Dorothy Mae “Doris” Morgan, 81, of Monett, Mo., departed this life on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019, in the comfort of her home with family at her side. Doris was born on February 23, 1937, daughter of the late Edward and Martha (Konarik) Melcher in Hillsboro, Kan. ...

Monett’s Fall Sports Pride Night serves as the annual kickoff to the fall sports season. All of the fall teams are introduced to fans that pack Burl Fowler Stadium, then they get a sneak peek at the soccer and football teams in scrimmages. It was during the football scrimmage that Matthew Bahl experienced pain in his knee...

It was the longest 16 seconds of Karter Brink’s life. The Cubs junior 120-pound grappler clung to a 1-point lead, 4-3, over Sam Hrabovsky, of Fulton. Hrabovsky shot at Brinks legs and latched on, and with the match hanging in balance, Brink had one thought on his mind — hold on...

It was a joyous bus ride home from Columbia Saturday night that spilled into Sunday morning. Ben Hohensee, Monett wrestling assistant coach, said he pulled into his driveway just after 4 a.m. with a smile still on his face...

Throughout the Ozarks, behavioral health has been identified as an area where there is great need. In response to this fact – and in line with changing approaches in health care – CoxHealth recently added behavioral health consultants at a variety of its primary care clinics...

The chili supper hosted annually by the Men’s club at St. John’s Lutheran church at Stones Prairie will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Menu includes chili, potato soup, desserts and beverages. The church is located two miles northeast of Purdy on Farm Road 2057...

Stacey Holt and her daughter, Sammie Holt, painted fingernails and offered girls tiaras and high heels to wear for the “Fancy Nancy” party held Thursday in the library at Central Park Elementary.

Abigail Coates, the 14-year-old Young Artist of the year with the Ozark Festival Orchestra, received enthusiastic applause as she left the stage of the Monett High School Performing Arts Center on Sunday.

Alert neighbors spotted a fire that started under a cedar tree on Oakdale Lane in Monett on Monday, enabling firefighters to douse it before one of the 50-foot trees ignited like a torch, endangering other trees and nearby homes.

No one was injured in a collision between an eastbound dump truck and a northbound pickup in the intersection at Highways 39 and C at Purdy shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Semi-trucks are 13-14 feet tall, and they can reach 80 feet long with a trailer attached to them. Clint Danforth, Wheaton police chief, said the city has been having issues with large trucks driving on residential and city streets, unknowingly creating issues...

Purdy firefighters quickly stopped a flue fire at a home approximately one and a half miles east of Purdy on Highway C on Monday, shortly after 6 p.m. The fire was initially spotted by a passing motorist. Purdy Fire Chief Nick Mercer said the chimney had a significant plug in it which firefighters spent some time dislodging, including use of the pole employed on the roof. Mercer said crews try to not dump an excessive amount of water down a chimney to avoid ruining the chimney lining...

The city of Wheaton has been working since 2008 on projects that include replacing sidewalks and street lights, and now with the transportation enhancement grant, the upcoming phase is going to be from the school to Fastrip on Santee Street. Lance Massey, Wheaton superintendent, said the school district is excited to be a part of the city grant for the sidewalk...

The Monett Area Extended Employment Workshop in Monett is facing a financial crunch due to rising operational costs, a federal mandate increasing minimum wage and some work contracts coming to a standstill for undetermined reasons. Mica Plummer, director, reported that minimum wage has increased for the facility's employees on Jan. 1...

The first graduation of the Little Medical School, a special program for third- and fourth-graders at Central Park Elementary School, was held last week, completing six after-school sessions. Lyndsi Mercer, staff educator for Cox Monett Hospital, led the class. The program brings medicine, science, and the importance of health to children in an entertaining and fun way to introduce younger students to the idea of a career in medicine...

A warning about excessive high supplies and uncertainty about international trade — both positive and negative — characterized economist Scott Brown’s forecast for the beef industry during his presentation to the 50th annual Beef Cattlemen’s Conference in Monett last week...

A Wheaton police officer on routine patrol last week happened to drive up on something unusual that led to him taking quick action. Wesley Kissinger, officer at Wheaton who plans to work for the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office in coming weeks, in the early morning hours Thursday, he was on Hurlbut Street making his way into town when he pulled up to a home that had flames shooting from the front porch...

The Juvenile Office for the 39th Judicial Circuit saw an increase in offensive activity requiring a response from its officers during 2018 in almost every category it tracks. Jill Braden, chief juvenile officer based in the Monett office, reported a busy year in 2018 that has continued in early 2019, though she hopes to see that slow in the coming months...