Stories from Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Janice Kaye Timmons, 58, of Doniphan, died at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services were held at noon on Monday, Jan. 20, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial was at Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Miller...

Gail Stoeckert, 66, of Wheaton, died Thursday, Jan. 16. Services will be announced at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Shirley Ann Huff, 72, of Mt. Vernon, died Saturday, Jan. 18, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, at First Baptist Church, located at 602 S. Hickory, St. in Mt. Vernon. Burial will follow at the Summit Cemetery...

Bonnie Sue Hauser, 59, of Monett, died Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, due to injuries suffered after a traffic accident. A Celebration of Life is being held for Bonnie on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Angus Branch in Monett from 3-6:00 p.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Ella Mae Burns, 94, of Seligman, died Thursday, Jan. 16. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial was at Seligman Cemetery in Seligman.

Virginia Fay (Bremer) Scott was born Aug. 15, 1941, to Alvin F. and Ruth (Schoener) Bremer in Monett, Mo., near the farming community of Freistatt, where her family lived and operated a dairy farm. She was welcomed into the waiting arms of her Lord and Savior on Jan. 16, 2020, at the Hermitage Nursing and Rehab Center in Hermitage, Mo...

Clifton Andrew Morgan, 58, of Mt. Vernon, Mo, passed from this life on Monday evening, January 6, 2020, while at his residence. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020, at Buchanan Funeral Home with Reverend Ken Lampe officiating...

Vernal “Pooch” Caldwell, 87, a life-long Monett resident, went to be with his Heavenly Father on January 16, 2020. Pooch was born on April 27, 1932 the son of Otto and Lura Means-Caldwell. Pooch married his high school sweetheart on October 9, 1954, in Monett. They were married for 54 years until her death in 2009...

Senior Kylie Wood, right, was crowned Purdy High School Homecoming Queen Friday, and junior Zack Brewer was crowned Mister Tip-Off.

For the first time in 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl after winning the American Football Conference championship 35-24 over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Growing up, we had a black chow dog that my sister affectionally named Prince. The dog was a car chasing fool. While not much bigger than a beagle, Prince thought he was as macho as a full-grown Saint Bernard and as fast as a greyhound. If you came into our yard, he’d bark like there was no tomorrow. Cars that would pass our house would see his chocolate frame barreling after them with a full barking yelp ensuing, even though his short stubby legs were no match for the speed of the vehicle...

The Missouri Media finally released its All-State football lists after several days of reviewing stats submitted by coaches. The media members only chose First and Second Team athletes, making the list competitive and difficult to narrow down. Ray Villalta was selected as a First Team defensive lineman for the Cubs, and Monett’s Wes Merriman picked up Second Team accolades as an offensive lineman...

Tracy Gail Roberts, of Monett, earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from Park University in Parkville during commencement exercises held Dec. 14, 2019, at Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence. She was one of 470 students eligible to participate in the ceremony...

Kassidy R. Mosell, no valid driver's license, $177; no proof of insurance, $177; child restraint violation, $76. Larry L. Nelson, no valid driver's license, suspended imposition of sentence (SIS), $26.50 and six months probation. Larry L. Nelson, failed to register vehicle, $147; display plates belonging to another, $26.50 and six months probation...

CRIMINAL Christopher J. Arbuckle, failure to maintain vehicle insurance, misd. D, fined $175. Emiliano Ballesteros, failure to equip carrier vehicle with required brake system, misd. B, fined $130. Dylan M. Bowlin, speeding, misd. C, fined $60. Julie Ann Caskey, speeding, misd. C, fined $60...

The McDowell Golden Jubilee will continue live performances of old-time music at the old McDowell School, south of Pleasant Ridge on Highway VV, south of Highway Z on Jan. 25. Fans of old-time music and performers are welcome. Concessions will be available...

A cold winter day, even with no snow on the ground, can make recess no fun.

Annual agriculture conferences for dairy and beef producers will be held by the Monett Chamber of Commerce and the University of Missouri Extension Service on Feb. 4 at the Monett National Guard Armory. The annual conferences provide relevant information for ag producers, highlighting both experience from local producers and research from experts in the field. Around 150 total people have historically attended the conferences...

When the Lawrence County Emergency Services Board meets on Monday, board members expect to make progress on a contract with the city of Aurora, one of the sticking points as the organization moves into its second year developing countywide dispatching solutions...

The Purdy school district recently added five new computers to its classrooms as part of a program through U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt’s office to get computers into rural schools. Derek Banwart, Purdy high school principal, said he received the call in November...

Local law enforcement officials continue to handle calls about squatters illegally occupying area houses that are vacant because they are under renovation or under contract with a realtor for sale. Members of the Barry-Lawrence chapter of Crime Stoppers heard from Lt. Det. Dave Haskins, with the Monett Police Department, that officers continue to respond to calls concerning illegal occupation of homes within the city limits...

Darren Bass, president of Cox Monett Hospital, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for health care leaders. Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. Only 9,100 health care executives hold this distinction...

Purdy Mayor Bo Prock said his goodbyes on Jan. 14, as he is resigning his position due to his moving out of the city. Prock, 35, whose family purchased a property in McDowell, will be replaced by Mayor Pro Tem Brian Bowers. Prock’s term will expire in April 2021...

The Monett school board has voted to seek funding for a new middle school. The action, taken on Thursday, will require approval from voters at the April 7 election and would involve an increase in taxes for district patrons. Board members made the decision at the same time they approved a master plan for the district, submitted for consideration in August. They also voted to refinance some of the outstanding debt at a reduced interest rate...

The Barry County Commission meets at 10 a.m. Thursday to unveil and approve the county's budget for 2020. In general, the proposed budget shows an upbeat financial picture, with no dramatic shortfalls and incorporating a major initiative to improve the county jail...