Stories from Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Beverly Jane Simpson, 83, of Cassville, died Tuesday, Dec. 22. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at East Lawn Cemetery in Mexico, Mo., under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville

Timothy Noel, 54, of Osage Beach, died Tuesday, Dec. 22. Graveside services were held Tuesday, December 29, at Webb Cemetery in Miller, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Michael Moorehead, 59, of Monett, died Saturday, Dec. 19. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Carol Ann House, 73, of Lockwood, died at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Don Hargis, 90, of Aurora, died Monday, Dec. 21, in his home. A visitation was held Saturday, Dec. 26, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, with a graveside service following at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

, of Mt. Vernon, died at 7:34 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Cox Monett Hospital in Monett. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date, with burial at Goss Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Roger Lee Curless, 70, of Mt. Vernon, died at 10:04 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. A Celebration of Life will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be held at the Claytonville Cemetery in Willis, Kan...

Mt. Vernon, died at 4:37 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, at Cox Hospital South in Springfield. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery...

Betty Jo Colley, 83, of Sarcoxie, died at 7:10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, at her home. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be held at Colley Cemetery at a later date...

Martha Lou Wilson, 87, of Ridgedale, Mo., formerly of Monett, passed from this life on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Bentonview Park Health Care in Monett, Mo., after a short illness. Martha was born September 6, 1933, in Purdy, Mo., to Morris E. and Omah Bell (Higgs) England. She attended and graduated from Purdy High School Class of 1951...

Frank R. Harling, Jr., 62, of Monett, Mo., passed from this life to his Heavenly home on Friday, December 25, 2020, at his home in Monett. Frank was born on December 14, 1958, in Riverside, Calif., son of the late Frank R. Harling, Sr. and Sarah (McCoy) Huennekens. He worked for Monett Metals for many years. He enjoyed drag racing...

Sandra D. Denney, 85, of Monett, Mo., went home to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Sandy was born on January 28, 1935, in Picher, Okla., to Jack and Edna Lucille (Kincaid) Cunningham. ...

Cindy (Nichols) Boehs, 56, of Monett, Mo., passed from this life on Sunday morning, December 27, 2020, at her home following a short battle with brain and lung cancer. Cindy was born on May 7, 1964, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, daughter of the late James and Sharlene Nichols...

Pierce City quarterback Chanse Ford, pictured, and defensive lineman Cody Hyde both earned Class 1 Third Team All-State honors for the Eagles this season.

Monett schools has more than 100 years of sports history. State Champions, All-Americans, All-State Selections and numerous other accolades have been awarded to individuals and teams representing the Purple and Gold over the years. Now, the time has come for the district to honor those that contributed so much to making the sports history at the district...

Pierce City Senior Center will be closed in January and February due to COVID. The center will evaluate the situation at the end of February to consider opening for March. The Freedom Dream Center, 17044 Hwy. 39, north of Aurora, offers a support group for persons or families struggling with addiction. The support group meets at 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month. Additional information is available by calling 417-678-6909...

Danny Boyd, right, new Barry County sheriff, took his oath of office, administered by County Clerk Jill LeCompte, Tuesday morning.

Justin Guffey gives his son, Judah, 11, some pointers from the free throw line at the YMCA on Monday.

Monett residents Joel Barrientos, left, Nora Barrientos center, and Gabby Cecenas enjoyed an afternoon of disk golf at the Monett Park.

A Springfield woman has been charged with tampering following a slew of alleged Christmas Eve thefts from several local vehicles. According to Lt. Dennis Camp, Monett Police Department, Aliechia Ellis, 40, of Springfield, was arrested in connection with theft from at least nine reported vehicles as well as theft of a motor vehicle starting in the evening hours of Dec. 23 and continuing through Dec. 24...

A Monett man charged with with two felonies in 2018 has pleaded guilty to both and was sentenced in Barry County Circuit Court on Dec. 21. Gregory Meeks, 49, of Monett, pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping and second-degree domestic assault. Judge Jack Goodman sentenced him to 6 years in the department of corrections for each count, running concurrently...

The holiday season is a time of gathering for families and friends, but unfortunately, it can also be a deadly time for Americans traveling the roads to festivities or vacations, as many will make the tragic decision to drink and drive. In December 2018, a total of 839 people lost their lives to traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. That means that 839 families had to begin the New Year with heartache and sorrow over the loss of their loved one to a senseless death...

The Barry County Health Department began administering Moderna vaccines for COVID-19 this week after receiving its first round of doses the week of Christmas. Roger Brock, Department administrator, said the office received 100 doses of the vaccine, and the first ones were given on Monday...

Another successful event is in the books for the organizers of the Linn Thornton Memorial Community Christmas Dinner, held Christmas Day at First United Methodist Church in Monett. Although temperatures dropped into the mid-30s and this year’s format changed from a seated meal to a drive-through distribution, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 600 meals, slightly fewer than last year, were served to area residents...

Charles Raymond Tennison of Garden Grove, Ca., passed away peacefully with his children by his side on December 21, 2020, at age 83. Charles was born to Raymond and Tennie Tennison on October 3, 1937, in Monett,  Missouri. He excelled in playing varsity football for the Monett Cubs. He enjoyed drawing and oil painting...