Stories from Saturday, March 6, 2021

Frank L. Shultz, Jr., 81, of Cassville, died at Monday, March 1. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Jennie Lee Schelin, 92, of Verona, died Friday, Feb. 26. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at the Spring River Cemetery in Verona. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Norman Sammy Nelson, 89, of Glendale, Ariz., formerly of Marionville, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery in Marionville...

Carl Tilley passed on to his Heavenly destination Monday, March 1, 2021, in Sedalia, MO. Carl was born in his grandparent’s home in Bellefonte, Ark., on April 15, 1942. He was preceded in death by his parents L.C. Tilley, Jr. and Mildred A. Ruble-Tilley...

Janet Copley, 76, of Monett, Mo., passed away at 6:06 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at her home following an illness. Janet was born on June 17, 1944, in Springfield, Mo., daughter of the late Raymond Smith and Verble (Cantrell) Smith. Growing up in Springfield, Janet then moved to Monett after marrying her husband, Jimmie Copley. She was a babysitter in Monett for 40+ years...

Rodney Douglas Barnes, 74, of Mt. Vernon, passed away Feb. 28, 2021. Rodney was born on Feb. 11, 1947 to Roy and Eulas (Hedrick) Barnes of Reeds Spring. Rodney graduated from Reeds Spring High School with the class of 1965. He married his beloved wife, Susie, on Jan. 22, 1966. They had four children – Scott, Teresa, Dana and Lori...

While no local schools will be represented in the Show-Me Showdown final fours next weekend, one local man will be on the floor for hopefully a few games. Joshua Hughes, of Purdy, was one of two officials in the Joplin Basketball Officials Association selected to officiate the final rounds of the state tournaments, set for March 11-13 at the JHQ Arena and Hammons Student Center in Springfield...

Monett senior Abigail Jastal has been putting in some of the longest days of her prep athletics career in the past two weeks. For the second year in a row, Jastal will be the Lady Cubs’ lone competitor at the State Championships on Tuesday, and she’s hoping the work put in from the fall to the hours leading up to her first state match will pay off in the form of a medal, which would make her the first placer in the program’s history...

In the past two weeks, I have received two pieces of correspondence that gives credence to the claim that people these days interested in news are prone to seeking out the kind of news that fits their worldview. There has been a fair amount of talk in this space about letters to the editor recently, and when I returned to the office after the couple weeks of winter weather, I had one waiting on me at my desk...

Any Southwest Missouri resident 65 and older is now able to get a COVID-19 vaccine with CoxHealth. Participants must show proof of age and residency, and this is only for first doses of the vaccine. Individuals may sign up at www.coxhealth.com/covid/vaccine/first-dose-scheduling/ or by calling 417-269-1300. ...

Spring is in the air – literally.

Retired Monett Times editor Murray Bishoff, left, receives the 2021 Community Service award from former Jasper County Collector Steve McIntosh.

A special enrollment period for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace is now open, and runs through May 15. During this time, individuals needing health insurance are able to purchase plans without the need of a qualifying life event, and CoxHealth Certified Application counselors are available to help individuals navigate the sign-up process...

Agents with the FBI arrested Marionville resident Kenneth R. Hubert, 63, at his home Wednesday Feb. 23 for allegedly threatening two congressmen, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, D-Mo., and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.. Hubert was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts, including threatening to assault Clever, who represents the fifth district in Missouri on Jan. ...

Verona is considering ways to improve its use guidelines for Cannon Park guidelines and various updates have been suggested to the city council. In addition to allowing use of a nearby lot for parking during special events, the council considered charging park users for electricity used during events, setting up a system for inspecting the park for damages following events, a system for charging a deposit before the city agrees to allow users to host events and what users should have to apply for a park use permit before hosting an event.. ...

School days at the Verona district will be extended by 12 minutes in the 2021-2022 school year. The school board approved a motion that will add six minutes to the beginning of the school day, and six minutes to the end of the day. That means, beginning this fall, students will start school at 7:54 a.m. and end at 3:51 p.m...

Pierce City schools are moving forward with a plan to implement a college tuition reimbursement program for teachers and staff looking to further their educations. Superintendent Kelli Alumbaugh first floated the idea of offering tuition reimbursements to teachers during the school board’s January meeting. ...

Monett Rural Fire responded to reports of a grass fire at West 60 Auto at approximately noon Wednesday. Firefighters responded to find a garbage fire that had spread to several scrap vehicles on the north side of the salvage yard. Rural Fire Chief Jeff Owens..

First on Front is returning to Monett in 2021 for one big event scheduled for July 2. First on Front, which is traditionally held the first Friday of the month in May, June and July, was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The event’s host, First State Bank of Purdy, announced this week that First on Front will be back for one big event on Fourth of July weekend...