Stories from Saturday, October 3, 2020

David A. Price, 72, of Shell Knob, died Thursday, Sept. 24. There are no services scheduled at this time. Arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Robert Joseph Moody, 76, of Monett, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, at his home in Monett. Memorial services will be being held on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Monett. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Janiece Lawson, 88, of Exeter, died Wednesday, Sept. 30. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at Taggart Royal Oak Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Connie Lee (Gertie) Holloway, 67, of Exeter, (formerly of Purdy) died Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. A private family memorial service is being held. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Laura Ann Christianson, 53, of Ash Grove, died Sunday, Sept. 27, at her home. Visitation and funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 2, at the Williams Funeral Home in Marionville. Burial was at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery.

Eva Maxine Marlenee Bowling Brittian, 89, of Aurora, died on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora. Arrangements are under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora...

Douglas Macdonald Monroe, 64, of Springfield, Mo., passed from this life on Friday evening, September 25, 2020, while at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, due to cardiac arrest. Doug was born April 4, 1956, in Monett, Missouri, son of the late E.L. Monroe and Ivia Mae (Macdonald) Monroe...

Dear Editor: I’m a native Missourian and am incredibly concerned about the November elections. It’s with pride that I say I grew up on a dairy farm southwest of Monett and am a graduate of Monett High School. Seeking and telling the truth was paramount in our family...

Some days in life are better than others, and professionally, it will likely be a long time before any day can top last Friday. I was driving on I-49, headed back home after going to Ozark, Ark., to pick up some decorations for a surprise virtual bridal shower my family and I were throwing for my fiancé. My mind was focused on that endeavor until an email came across my phone that made me do a double-take...

Monett’s Natilie Turner digs a shot during varsity action on Monday.

Monett alumus Clayton Kaiser finished atop the Drury Panther golf team over the weekend. The Panthers finished the third after the final round at 48-over-par at the par-72 Brickyard Crossing golf course, located inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex...

The Show-Me Bowl state championship football games will not happen in Columbia this year. But, the games will still be held in mid-Missouri. The Missouri State High School Activities Association announced that the Show-Me Bowl championships will be hosted in Jefferson City and nearby Wardsville (Blair Oaks High School) in 2020 instead of at Memorial Stadium on the University of Missouri campus...

The Lawrence County Health Department will be administering flu shots to persons 19 years of age or older from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, at Flummerfelt’s Town and Country Supermarket in Pierce City. Cost is $30, payable by cash or check, or Medicare. ...

It was a beautiful day for a round of golf, but there was something special about Friday’s turn on the links.

“You and me goin’ fishin’ in the park…” Well, those are not quite the lyrics to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ditty, but they could suffice for a breezy fall day at Monett’s South Park.

Just when you think things can’t get any worse in the era of COVID-19, the political debates begin.

William Gish, Pierce City School’s Protection Officer, recently updated board members on his recommendations for staff and student safety. Gish, who is in his first year as the district’s protection officer, has been tasked with matters involving safety and working with a variety of local entities to ensure the district is providing a safe and secure learning environment...

Pierce City School Board members met in special session on Wednesday to rectify a mistake, inadvertently made when approving the 2020-2021 student handbook in July, concerning grade point averages and class rankings. “I had some parents approach me July 16 saying changes needed to be made, that the old policy was not fair to students,” said Kelli Alumbaugh, superintendent. ...

Monett Commissioners recently took action on several issues, including a sidewalk improvement bid change. Commissioners approved rescinding a bid award for sidewalk improvements on Fifth Street. HHR, LLC, was the lowest bidder with a price tag of $193,025.37. Thad Hood, owner of the company, cited a recent price hike in material costs as the reason to withdraw his bid...

Monett’s city coffers are looking good, and Monett City Council recently approved the fiscal year 2020 audit. The firm of Cochran, Head, Vick and Co., of Kansas City, reported the city’s total net position increased by $5,812,457 during the fiscal year ending March 31. The city’s governmental activities increased by $3,328,853, while the city’s business activities increased by $2,483,604...

Monett Athletic Director Daryl Bradley issued a tweet on Saturday stating that all football activities, including Friday night's varsity game at Lamar, have been cancel for the week.
“Due to injuries, COVID-related issues and concern for player safety, we felt it was the best decision for the athletes and program,” said Russ Moreland, Monett superintendent. ...