Stories from Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Carolyn Jo Wilks, 74, of Mt. Vernon, died at 5:07 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, at Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will follow at Summit Cemetery northeast of Mt. Vernon...

Julia Ann Rice, age 81, of Miller, Missouri, passed away at 9:45 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 21,at Round Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller...

Joe Ailene Reed, 82, of Cassville, died Saturday, March 6. Graveside services will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Dale Eugene (Gene) Fields, 77, of Pierce City, died March 7 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, march 12, at Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.

Lola Ruth Cleek, 88, of Springfield, formerly of Aurora, died Saturday, March 6, at the Cox South Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora, was held Tuesday, March 9, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Deborah Chappell, 67, of Fairview, died Friday, March 5. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 9, at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Academic honor rolls for Truman State University in Kirksville for the fall 2020 semester have been announced. Two bi-county students qualified for the Vice President for Academic Affairs’ List for earning a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.9. They were: Brittain Cooper, Monett; and Alexa Day, Mt. Vernon. To qualify for either list, a student must be an undergraduate and complete at least 12 hours of credit during the semester...

Eight Purdy High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members have qualified for the organization’s virtual State Leadership Conference and competition.

Pittsburg State University has released the honor rolls for the 2020 fall semester, and 17 bi-county natives are included. Jacob T. Hall, of Cassville, is a sophomore majoring in History/government Dalton A. O’Neill, of Cassville, is a junior majoring in criminal justice...

Purdy Elementary School Principal Julie Dalton and Purdy Elementary Counselor Gary Jurgensen recently announced the school’s February Respect Medalist recipients.

Officials at Berean Christian Academy in Monett have released the students listed to the second quarter honor rolls for the 2020-2021 academic year. First grade: Karlie Bartosh, Max Griffis, Olivia Jones, Lila Kimbrough, Zechariah Spurlock and Olivia Waters...

Purdy Elementary Principal Julie Dalton and Purdy Elementary Counselor Gary Jurgensen presented the school’s January Acceptance Medalists.

The last year has been one of difficulty and change. Education has evolved through the pandemic. While some teachers, community members and farmers may not be allowed to physically be with students within the class rooms, the Missouri Farm Bureau has put together agriculture programs assisting teachers throughout the State of Missouri to reach out and make connections with their students...

Missouri State University awarded 1,534 degrees to students in fall 2020. The commencement ceremonies took place Dec. 11, 2020, at JQH Arena. The following local students earned degrees: India Boughner of Exeter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education...

To honor a fallen friend, 40 of the top athletes in the sport of bull riding will return to Bill Hailey Arena in Cassville on May 8 for the second annual Ridin’ with Mason Lowe Invitational, a PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Touring Pro Division event...

The Monett baseball team is two years removed from a state quarterfinal run, and the Cubs are coming out of hibernation hungry for experience. Monett has two returning starters form the 2019 campaign, then-sophomores Tanner Wright, catcher, and Estin McBroom, pitcher and outfielder...

There’s no stage more serious than the State Championships for Missouri prep wrestlers, and the Monett squad, two-time defending state champions, hope the balance between staying loose and locking in will be the key to the trophy treasure chest. Six Cubs will compete on Thursday at the State Championships on Thursday: Simon Hartline at 106, Ben Bluel at 132, Elias Barrientos at 152, Corbin McCully at 160, Ethan Umfleet at 182 and Harrison Merriman at 285...

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. ...

Water system improvements continue at Adams and Walnut in Pierce City as crews from Goins Enterprises, of Joplin, continue replacing old waterlines throughout the city.

Pierce City artists have an opportunity to show the world their talent in the annual Draw Pierce City contest. Entries are due this Friday, March 12. The contest is open to all local students, with first, second and third place prizes for each grade level. Adults are also welcome to participate. Adults do not need to live in Pierce City, however, all entries into the contest must be subject matter pertaining to Pierce City...

SSG Alisha Williams Davis is a mother, Monett graduate, band director for Springfield schools and wife of Stewart E. Davis, who is employed at SRC in Springfield. On Feb. 23, various people in the community honored her for her many accomplishments, including 20 years of service with the Missouri National Guard...

Lawrence County’s new emergency management director is Grant Selvey, of northeast Lawrence County. Commissioners hired him on Feb. 25 from a field of six candidates. He began duties March 1. His office is in the Historic Courthouse. Previously, the county contracted with the City of Monett for the service...

Officers with the Monett Police Department typically carry about 35 pounds of equipment on their service belts or vests, but they might be glad to add a little bit more weight with the newest addition — a life-saving kit consisting of a tourniquet and holder and combat gauze for traumatic injuries...

The road work has begun on Highway 37 from Monett to the Arkansas state line and will continue to make progress throughout the summer, until the end in June. Dates, as well as project information on the road work, may be able to shed some light on the possible impacts to traffic...

Work is progressing on the Chapell Drive overpass project, with the Monett City Council approving a contract with Anderson Engineering, Inc., for services related to the project. “The project has received tentative approval with Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to offset some of those costs,” said Dennis Pyle, city administrator. “We’ve submitted preliminary engineering and gotten this project fast-tracked.”...

Pierce City Schools have redefined the duties of their armed School Protection Officer (SPO) following a review of his job description by the district’s legal counsel. The Pierce City School District has employed Bill Gish as the school protection officer since the beginning of the school year. Gish’s responsibilities were outlined by a job description the school board approved in 2020...

The Barry County Health Department has announced there will be a drive-thru vaccination in Cassville on Monday. Missouri Residents who are included in Phase 1B – Tier 3 are eligible for vaccination. Tier 3 includes K-12 educators, childcare staff, food production and processing employees, as well as persons included in the certain critical infrastructure sectors. Persons over 65 years of age, first responders, and those with certain health conditions remain eligible for vaccination...

The six members of the Monett boys wrestling team competing in the 2021 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships have arrived in Independence and are ready to take the stage on Thursday. Matches will start at 9:30 a.m. at Cable Dahmer Arena. Check www.monett-sports.com throughout the day for live updates on Monett's progress. Go Cubs!