Stories from Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Roger R. Winchester, 80, of Shell Knob, died Thursday, Dec. 5. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob.

Timothy Allen Vermillion, 63, of Golden, died Dec. 6, at Bentonview Park Health and Rehab in Monett. Memorial visitation will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 at Buchanan Funeral Home with a memorial service beginning at 4 p.m. Pastor Jeff Griffis will be officiating. A private committal will be held at a later date at Stones Prairie Cemetery...

Mary Elizabeth Pachlhofer Reidle passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, at Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at St. Suzanne Catholic Church in Mt. Vernon, with a funeral mass to follow at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Verona...

Stephanie Lynn Marcano, 46, of Cassville, died Sunday, Dec. 8. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

William “Bill” Jacob Gripka, 84, of Cassville, died Friday, Dec. 6. Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 9, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville...

Miles Wayne Gaddy, 36, of Mt. Vernon, died at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, at his home. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Arrangements are under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Danny Edward French, 72, died Monday, Dec. 2 at his home in Aurora. Arrangements are through the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. A Celebration of Life was held at Elm Branch Christian Church Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Ruth Erickson, 94, of Shell Knob, died Friday, Dec. 6. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, December 13, at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, Kan.

Tina Marie Cummins, 55, of Golden, died Saturday, Dec. 7. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Sherman Wesley Brown, Sr., 85, of Marionville, died Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Mercy Hospital in Aurora. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, at the Williams Funeral Home in Marionville with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery...

George Brattin, 70, of Cassville, died Friday, Dec. 6. Graveside services were held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Creason Cemetery in Ridgley, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

George Louis Boehm, Jr., 51, of Golden, died Monday, Dec. 2. Services are currently pending. Cremation arrangements are under direction Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Cora May “Corky” Blotter, 81, of Webb City, died Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Paula Hightower, 92, of Verona, Mo., was called home to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday morning, December 8, 2019, while at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Paula was born on May 26, 1927, in Maxwell, Okla., daughter of the late Clarence Oliver Willoughby and Bertha (LeForce) Willoughby. ...

Mike Kurt Burton, 59, of Pierce City, Mo., passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019, while at his residence. Mike was born on April 21, 1960, in Fort Benning, Ga., son of William and Ilse (Foltin) Burton. Mike graduated from Monett High School with the Class of 1979. ...

The Cubs wrestling team (1-0) opened the season with a 54-24 win over Branson. Results are as follows: 106: Julio Cruz Jr. (Monett) win by forfeit 113: Karey Anderson (Monett) win by forfeit 120: Kyshin Isringhausen (Branson) win by forfeit 126: Dawson Helms (Branson) win by forfeit...

The Monett football team collected an impressive haul of Big 8 All-Conference West Division awards this season. The Cubs claimed 22 awards all together. Some players are listed twice, due to winning both offensive and defensive All-Conference honors...

A crowd of 45 former employees of Jumping-Jacks Shoes in Monett gathered on Dec. 3 for the annual company reunion at Angus Branch Steakhouse.

Pierce City has an extra Christmas tree downtown this year, located at Commercial and Locust, in addition to the traditional tree at Commercial and Walnut by the band stand. The tree came from the Landoll property on Walnut St in Pierce City. Judy Landoll Meirick, the former resident, and the current resident, Stan Holle, who requested removal of the tree. collaborated to see if it could be placed downtown, decorated and dedicated to Judy's parents, Fred and Wilma Landoll...

Piano students of Ruth Burnside presented their annual Christmas recital on Dec. 1 at the First Christian Church in Cassville. Connie Lee and her teacher opened the recital with a duet on "Jingle Bells." Mallie Clifton, Heidi Sehrbrock and Gracie Lea offered a trio at the middle of the event as they played "Holly Jolly Christmas."...

The seventh annual Monett Alternative Gift Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Monett Museum’s Events Center, 418 E. Broadway. A dozen not-for-profit organizations will be gathered in one place, providing an opportunity to give a gift to a meaningful organization in the name of a friend. Live music and refreshments will be available...

A blast from the Nash Auto Refinishing “Candy Cannon” showered bystanders with treats during the Verona Christmas parade, one of many generously sharing sweets with those gathered along the parade route.

Part of the big attraction at the Jolly Mill Christmas celebration is a chance to have a photo taken with Santa Claus.

Monett public works staff have been hard at work since the beginning on December making the annual collection of leaves.

A fun activity developed for preschool and kindergarten students at St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett has become a holiday tradition now open to the public.

Progress is advancing rapidly this week on the extension for the Highway 37 bridge over Clear Creek in Monett this week.

Monett's annual Christmas parade, hosted by the Monett Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled to roll west on Broadway at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Chamber Executive Director Jeff Meredith reported 84 units have signed up for the procession, which should last close to an hour...

Purdy High School Student Council has planned a holiday celebration for the school this week, capped with the crowning of 2019 Mister and Miss Merry Christmas royalty. The organization planned fun activities for the K-12 student body to enjoy during Winter Wonderland Week. Themed days include flannels and fuzzy socks on Dec. 9, Christmas Character costumes on Tuesday, pajamas today, class colors on Thursday and ugly sweaters, hats and scarves on Friday...

Missouri is leading the nation in adopting new firefighter training protocols designed to help protect those taking part in live fire exercises. Lt. Shane Anderson, with the Monett Fire Department, was one of a group of individuals to design the new protocols...

As the first half of the school year draws to a close, Monett school officials are noting progress and challenges in running the new Monett Regional Learning Center (MRLC), designed for autistic high needs students and located at the Monett Elementary School campus...

A Miller man is presumed dead and a Verona man has been charged with his murder after the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office found burned human remains on a property in Verona. Ray Fryling, 54, of Verona, is charged with the first degree murder, armed criminal action...