Stories from Saturday, June 27, 2020

Jeffrey Bryan Gray, 54, of Overland Park, Kan., died June 24, in Monett. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, at Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City. Burial will be at Pierce City Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. prior to the service...

Donald G. Buck, 88, of Wheaton, died Tuesday, June 23. Memorial services with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Chapel of Grace in Monett. Cremation arrangements are under direction of McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton.

Mary Elaine Thomas, 103, was born on December 3, 1916, to Bert and Lydia “Gussie” Eagleburger in a dugout (a pioneering frontier home) in Holly, Colorado, where her parents were homesteading. She passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at the King’s Daughters Home in Mexico, Missouri...

Over the years, I’ve attended many local funerals. Kings and princes were honored for stature they had earned, for grace and kindness in action; women whose nobility and thoughtfulness earned them respect. Honor at graveside has been mostly a meritocracy here, not a right of birth...

High school sports fans across the state will see an expansion of classes this season, thanks to the passage of a 2018 amendment by a 376-51 vote, to the bylaws of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). Those changes to the way classes are determined will cause 10 MSHSAA sports to add more classes this year which will mean more championship opportunities...

The Monett Cubs Athletic Booster Club has started its annual “Catch the Spirit“ membership drive. For the 2020-2021 season, the Booster Club is looking for members to become part of something special. “Our athletic programs often serve as the window to the school and community,” said Scott Leech, club president. “By building pride in our athletic programs, people will become more familiar with the academic progress being made in Monett.”...

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ford, of Seymour, will observe their 60th wedding anniversary on July 6. Floyd Ford and Suzanne Terry Ford were united in marriage on July 6, 1960. To this union, three children were born: Dennis, Sharon and the late Ferlin Ford. The couple have three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Floyd has been retired for 15 years. No celebration is planned...

The Monett Chamber has announced there will be no carnival rides, inflatables and laser tag this year at Freedom & Fireworks - Monett. Those who have already purchased wristbands, bring them by the office for a full refund. Refunds will not be offered at the event itself, but before or after July 4th. With an increase in area COVID-19 cases, the Chamber has determined this to be the safest option while allowing guests to have an enjoyable time...

From left, Louis Carrasquillo, Beth Hilton and Abe Sherwood were recently sworn in as the newly elected members of the Verona School Board.

It took teamwork to soak the towel and pass the dripping fabric to the back of the line to fill the bucket during the wring the towel race at Central Park Elementary School on Thursday.

There have been some changes made to the annual Freedom and Fireworks celebration, slated to take place July 4 at Monet’s South Park. According to Jeff Meredith, executive director at Monett Chamber of Commerce, there will be no carnival rides, inflatable toys or laser tag at the upcoming event...

They are a tempting sight to see, those brightly colored containers holding the promise of loud bangs and colorful light shows, but itchy fingers grasping lit matches should pull back from the lure of those beckoning wicks. While fireworks have long been the choice of entertainment for those celebrating the nation’s Independence Day, there is a time and place to properly observe those celebrations...

After serving 8 years in the State House of Representatives, Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, is looking for a larger voice in state politics as he takes aim at the District 29 State Senate seat. Moon, 61, said initially, he wasn’t planning to run, but a friend changed his mind...

A lawyer in Cassville for 27 years and a lifelong Republican, David Cole, R-Cassville, is looking to enter the political arena at the state level this year, as he is running for the District 29 State Senate seat. Cole, 55, said he has been involved with Republican politics throughout his life, helping to elect GOP members to positions in local, state and national government...