News

A Springfield woman was injured Tuesday in a wreck at 11:10 a.m. on Highway 60, two miles west of Verona. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Nicole Wallace, 30, of Springfield, was driving a 2014 Ford Focus westbound when her vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, being driven by Bradley Archer, 52, of Pierce City...

The Nov. 6 election approving the formation of the new Freistatt Fire District will trigger a number of changes in the existing Freistatt Fire Association. Voters approved the proposal 324-104, a 76 percent margin in favor. The authorization will solidify the Monett area into tax supported fire districts, with the approval earlier this year of a Mt. ...

November 11 is nationally known as Veterans Day, and this year marks the 100 anniversary of the end of World War I. WWI began on June 28, 1914, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, and the war lasted more than four years until Nov. 11, 1918...

The Verona City Council has voted to buy a new office telephone system and to have the parking area in front of city hall resurfaced. The impending collapse of the city’s phone system acquired through Windstream had occurred, reported City Clerk Laura Hazelwood. The manufacturer was out of business and damage to the current system had eliminated the voicemail system...

New to the Monett Police Department this month has been Lyndsi Waltrip, a native Monettan and graduate of Monett High School in 2010. A finalist in recent testing, Waltrip is the daughter of Joe and Michelle Waltrip. She graduated from the Police Academy at Drury University in December 2015 and most recently worked security for CoxHealth Systems, a job that also included managing helicopter landing zones...

More programs and services are planned for the Monett Senior Center by new director Theresa Morgan, who began her duties in early October. Morgan, who has served as director of the Aurora Senior Center for the past four years, plans to split her time between the two facilities. ...

Three leaders from varied professional backgrounds offered insights on leadership during the seventh annual leadership summit, hosted by Drury University’s Principles of Leadership class, at the Monett City Park Casino on Thursday. Joel Thomas, class instructor, reported the attendance of 80 people represented a record for the event. Speakers from past seminars were recognized...

There wasn’t much snow on Monett South Park’s sledding hill on Monday afternoon, but 2-year-old Paislie Witt didn’t need much to take flight on her saucer while Mom Taylor Kennedy looked on.

Ret. Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9) James E. Case III was the guest speaker at this year’s assembly honoring area veterans at Pierce City High School.

The Monett Chamber of Commerce hosted its 15th annual Festival of Flavors on Thursday evening at the Monett Intermediate School cafeteria.

Monett Electric Department crews have been busy since Oct. 30 setting up lights for the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Lights holiday display at South Park.

Sally Heidlage, a teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Pierce City, led the student body in expressing their appreciation for the bravery and sacrifices made by local veterans in service to their country following a school-wide assembly held Tuesday morning...

The Cox Monett Auxiliary will hold a Nutty Bavarian sale today, Nov. 13, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby. Purchase an assortment of glazed roasted pecans, almonds and cashews. All proceeds to benefit Auxiliary projects for Cox Monett Hospital. For more information, people may call 417-354-1404...

At the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., there is an exhibit on display entitled “Echoes of the Great War,” in honor of the centennial of the U.S. involvement in World War I. In one of the display cases is the diary of Gen. John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of the American Expeditionary Forces. Next to his is another diary, written by a serviceman, not a major commanding officer, but one of the American foot soldiers, Norvel P. Clotfelter...

Monett High School students witnessed a celebration of America during the annual Veterans Day assembly on Wednesday in music and a speech in the school gym. The school district once again hosted area veterans for a luncheon prior to the assembly at the Scott Regional Technology Center...

Like many reticent veterans, Coz Passalacqua, 77, of Mt. Vernon, speaks sparingly of his military career, glossing over the years of service to remember only the high points. “I enlisted in the Navy when I was 17 years old,” he said. “I joined the reserves in 1959 and went on active duty from 1961 to 1963. Then, I went back into the reserves and decided I wanted to become a Naval aviator cadet. I went back to school and learned how to fly an airplane.”...

Declining membership in the national organization will bring changes in the coming months to the Monett chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America. With 35 members and a 10-year history, Chapter No. 1023 of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) has announced plans to reorganize. ...

Federal investigators have indicated a Verona man as captain of the duck boat that sank on July 19 on multiple charges of negligence. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced that Kenneth Scott McKee, 51, of Verona, was charged in a 17-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. ...

Monett voters showed variances from county trends in Tuesday's voting, showing more of a difference in totals rather than leading in trends, and showing variety in candidates receiving support. Turnout overall was relatively high, at more than 60 percent in Barry County and almost 59 percent in Lawrence County. ...

Filings are due in two weeks in the federal lawsuit filed by landlord Randy Davidson against the government of the Village of Freistatt, as the two sides agreed to a timetable for proceeding in the case. Davidson substantially amended his complaint, detailing issues stemming from his failure to secure water service for one of his tenants living in a trailer...

The Monett Museum will host a special photo exhibit of all the courthouses in the state in a special exhibit arranged through the State Historical Society, opening on Sunday at the museum, 422 E. Broadway. Bill Hart, executive director of Missouri Preservation, will be on hand for the program at 2 p.m...

A vehicle crash on Nov. 2 caused an extended power outage in the northeast corner of Monett. According to Daryl Fenski, Monett Electric Department foreman, a call for power outage at 4:31 a.m. brought crews to where a vehicle had driven into power pole guy wires, causing two poles to break...

The kitchen in the fellowship hall at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Sunday was a beehive of activity as volunteers with the Parish Council of Catholic Women served more than 150 people for the church’s annual fall feast.

The celebration of the 60th anniversary of Bob and Marlene Mareth will be held at 8 p.m. today, Nov. 10, with a reception and dance at the Monett City Park Casino. Monett Special Road District commissioners will meet at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the road barn on Eisenhower, west of the overpass...

The Monett Police Department is investigating reports of at least 59 vehicles that have had their tires punctured and flattened since Thursday. The reports started coming in on Thursday morning after Halloween. Eleven tires were reported slashed on five different vehicles. ...

Historical predictors held the field in the race between a Republican and an independent for the presiding commissioner of Lawrence County. In a race of two candidates running for the first time in the county, Republican Bob Senninger, of Freistatt, easily carried the day with 9,826 votes (72 percent) to 3,662 votes (27 percent) for independent Mike Palmer, of Pierce City...

Republican Mike Moon has won his final race for State Representative of the 157th District, defeating Democratic challenger Loretta Thomas in Tuesday’s election. Moon received 10,549 votes (79 percent), and Thomas received 2,819 votes (21 percent). Moon has enjoyed high margins of victory in his last three elections. ...

Anyone looking east from Monett Friday night just after 7 p.m. saw something unusual — a meteor..

An active shooter training exercise at the Purdy schools on Monday brought law enforcement, firefighters and ambulance crews to the school for the second time in a year and a half. Superintendent Steven Chancellor said the exercise is part of an ongoing effort to make the school safer. ...

A Monett man is facing four felonies after a fight at a home on 5th Street and struggle with a Monett police officer led to the officer firing his duty weapon. William Tillman, 27, of Monett, is charged with resisting arrest, first-degree property damage, domestic assault and first-degree assault...

An Aurora man is facing a total of eight felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly shooting a handgun at three people in a vehicle on Farm Road 1180 and Farm Road 2030 on Sept. 1. Calyn Short, 20, of Aurora, is charged with three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and misdemeanor property damage...

After serving six terms of four years each, Cherry Warren, Barry County’s presiding commissioner, has been presented with a plaque of appreciation. According to Alan Cook, Newton County associate commissioner, Warren was presented with a plaque on Oct. 17, at the Roaring River Emory Melton Conference Center...

Monett City Council members took action on improvements to Cleveland Avenue, employee health insurance and the purchase of carts for the Windmill Ridge municipal golf course recently. Council members approved a resolution applying to the Missouri Department of Transportation for funding under the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). ...

Getting proper nutrients through healthy food is important, but purchasing those pantry items can be difficult when on a limited to budget. To help those who need help obtaining foods that are low in sugar, salt and fat, CoxHealth has launched its seventh annual Pack the Pantry healthy food drive from now through Nov. 16, and the community is invited to participate...

Cadets in the JROTC program at the Scott Regional Technology Center have a busy schedule planned next week to help area schools mark Veterans Day. The first event will be in Monett for the Veteran's Day Luncheon at Scott Tech today. Immediately following the luncheon, a color guard team will support the Monett High School Veteran's Day Assembly at 1 p.m...

The wheelchair races proved to be a popular event at the 23rd annual Golden Age Games, held Friday at Monett High School.

Volunteers with International Dehydrated Foods worked Saturday and will be back again this week to help with construction of the new Habitat for Humanity house at 526 W. Logan in Monett.

The Monett Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Flavors will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Monett Middle School cafeteria/FEMA shelter at Ninth and Cleveland. Tickets are $12 at the door. Around 20 vendors will offer specialty foods for the holidays, all sampled for one price. Advance tickets are available at the Chamber office, 200 E. Broadway...

The following are unofficial results from the 2018 Midterm Election in Lawrence County.

The following are unofficial results from the 2018 Midterm Election in Barry County.

The OATS Transit bus service in Monett is a reliable way for many without other means of transportation to get around town, and the organization is hoping to keep it that way. Funding cuts to the SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging have put OATS’ Monett city bus service in limbo. Jeff Robinson, regional director for Oats Transit’s southwest region, said a contract with the agency was cut by 48 percent in September, affecting 13 of the 17 counties he manages...

A mistrial has been declared in the case of Matthew Jackson, of Holiday Island, Ark., who is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly stabbing a man to death in Golden in December 2017. According to a docket sheet from the jury trial on Monday in the courtroom of Judge Jack Goodman, by agreement, the court declared a mistrial due to contact between a witness and the jury pool. ...

Visitors to Fourth Street in Monett, north of Front Street, this week saw some changes underway. Olen Morris has begun demolition work on the former New Beginnings ice cream parlor. The property was acquired by Monett Main Street to serve as a parking lot for the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park and events at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion. The land will become part of the city’s park system...

The Monett Kiwanis Club has named Mike Evans as Kiwanian of the Year and installed Jim Haston as the new club president during installation ceremonies held this week at the Monett Museum. Evans, who was recently elected president elect, was attending the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence’s Celebration of Schools the night of the installation and was unable to attend the Monett function. ...

Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Monett affiliate awarded a $2,425 grant to Drury University in Monett to undertake a downtown revitalization project identified by and in collaboration with the Monett High School Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (GO CAPS) program...

Monett City Council members recently approved closing Bridle Lane between County Road and Callan Street and sold land previously used for the city reservoir between Wishart and Benton streets. The proposal to close Bridle Lane immediately south of Callan Drive developed in 2015 when window manufacturer EFCO Corporation completed a 22,000-square-foot addition on the west side of its plant for its glass operation. ...

For only the second time in its 39-season history, the Ozark Festival Orchestra has announced the cancellation of a concert, this one originally set to open the season on Sunday at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. The move was precipitated by Music Director Todd Borgmann being hospitalized this week. Borgmann hopes to be released this weekend...

One of the favorite activities for young trick-or-treaters at Wednesday’s Ghouls in School event was the face painting booth.

Halloween is a time for children to overindulge in copious amounts of sugar, and students in the kindergarten classroom of Alejandra Gomez at Monett Elementary School, were happy to do just that as part of the end of day festivities.

More than 20 people competed Wednesday in the annual Monett Costume Contest, hosted by the Monett Lions Club and The Monett Times.