News

Willis Washman will speak about the history of Route 66 in Lawrence County at a meeting of the Lawrence County Historical Society at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, at the Jones Memorial, next to the municipal golf course on the northeast corner of Mt. Vernon. The county museum opens for its season on May 27...

Leon Elsey was an active man at the age of 37. He had a full time job, took care of some of the household chores and kept the lawn mowed. He was very involved in the lives of his children and their activities. Then, in May of 1987, he found that his vision was somewhat diffused and hazy and noticed he could no longer walk a straight line...

U.S. Rep. Billy Long toured the WinTech plant in Monett recently as part of his seventh annual manufacturing tour. WinTech President Jack Williams greeted Long, explained WinTech’s origins as a window manufacturer dating back to 1991, and how products had expanded from vinyl windows to aluminum framed products as well. He led Long and his staff through the 100,000-square-foot plant...

Freistatt village trustees spent another contentious session this week verbally wrestling with landlord Randy Davidson, this time centered around a request for public records. Davidson, a frequent critic of the trustees who has asked to be placed on the agenda to address trustees for several consecutive months, made a request for documents from Clerk Deborah Schoen. ...

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District appears headed for a banner year, though one board position remains in question after the April 3 election. With Nick Mercer not running for re-election, the District 1 position, covering most of rural Monett and extending to Capps Creek, was open to a write-in election. ...

Tammy Pyle was visiting the Facebook page of an old friend who lives in Iowa when one particular post caught her eye. “It was about a chapter of 100+ Women who Care,” she said. “I Googled it and researched it, saw what they were doing and thought this would be a good thing to do in Monett. God put it on my heart, and it just wouldn’t go away.”...

Matt Cantrell was appointed to fill the remainder of former Alderman Kenny Smith's term at the May meeting of the Pierce City board of aldermen. Four-term alderman Smith was named mayor following the April 3 election, and had a year remaining on his Ward 1 seat. Cantrell will serve until the next general election...

A Monett eatery topped a rural Cassville brewery in votes in this year's Drury Ad Contest, a collaboration between The Monett Times and Drury University that highlights the culmination of an advertising and public relations course offered at Drury's Monett campus...

People interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement have the opportunity to attend a basic law enforcement academy in Mt. Vernon. The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office will host its fourth academy at the sheriff's office in Mt. Vernon, starting Thursday, Aug. 23...

The Monett City Council will hear public comment on regulations for food trucks and approve the demolition of property at 901 E. Broadway during its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. The additions to the city code about food trucks will be the first on the books in Monett. City Administrator Dennis Pyle said the city would like to encourage food truck activity and needs regulations in place for guidance...

Staffers and residents enjoyed Clown Day in celebration of National Nursing Home Week.

The Veterans Memorial Park at Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora will host its annual Memorial Day Weekend service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26. Representatives from Arrowood-Byers-Cummings American Legion Post No. 126 in Aurora and the Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter No. 1023 will lay wreaths. State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, will provide the address...

Between 400 and 500 Monett High School students will spread out around the community on Wednesday to engage in a variety of projects for the eighth annual Community Service Day. Coordinator Amy Sampson said students will go to more than 20 locations...

Many bi-county FFA students, including four from Monett and Pierce City, won high honors in competition at the 90th annual Missouri FFA convention, held April 19 and 20 in Columbia. Lora Wright of Monett won second in state in dairy production, entrepreneurship. ...

The Monett High School speech program claimed one medal at this year's state competition in Columbia. Monett advanced four individuals and a one-act play to state competition. Alyssa Kelley was the only one to advance to finals. She took second place in state in humorous interpretation...

A Miller woman remains in custody at the Lawrence County jail following a bond reduction hearing on Thursday. Lerenda Campbell, 36, is charged with felony of driving while intoxicated involving the death of Nichole Barker, 42, of Mt. Vernon, a Class B felony, and leaving the scene of an accident involving the death of Barker, a Class D felony. ...

Monett High School graduates were challenged with the power of love, the value of teachers and a vision for future Monett graduates during commencement exercises for the Class of 2018 on Friday in the high school gym. Principal David Williams said the 161 out of the 183 in the class participating in the ceremony represented the largest number in the history of the school. ...

Changes at EFCO Corporation in Monett, as the company reaches the one-year anniversary of its purchase by the industrial giant Apogee, reflect adjustments under new ownership and pending growth at the local manufacturer. "Apogee buying EFCO was the best thing that could have happened to EFCO," said John Klein, EFCO president named earlier this year. "We've operated in this space for a long time. It's a different perspective from what Pella had. Apogee has total confidence in EFCO."...

Purdy High School graduates received advice and encouragement during graduation ceremonies on Sunday in the Purdy High School gym. The 45 members of the Class of 2018 for the first time received graduation designations using the Latin system. Ten were designated as cum laude, with grade point averages of 3.5 to 3.74 on a 4.0 scale, earning the recipients a silver stole with black markings. ...

Work has begun on a mural in the new Fifth Street parking lot on Broadway, showing historic scenes from Monett’s past. The muralist is Raine Clotfelter, who lives in Mt. Vernon and who painted the mural in that city’s square. Monett Main Street commissioned the work to decorate the space created by the acquisition of the lot and the demolition of the buildings located there...

Monett High School seniors received recognition for outstanding achievement and years of consistent performance during the Senior Honors Program, held May 7 at the school's Performing Arts Center. The President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence is presented to students for maintaining a seventh semester grade point average of 3.67 on a 4.0 scale, and who scored in the 85th percentile or higher on the math or reading portions of the SAT or ACT college entrance exams. ...

Maura Sparks, who recently completed serving 15 years as president of Pierce City Senior Citizens Inc., has been honored by Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson for her service. Parson presented Sparks with the Lieutenant Governor's Senior Service Award in Jefferson City. She also received a signed proclamation from the Missouri Senate from State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville...

A misread turn resulted in a collision between a tractor trailer and a car on Chapell Drive in Monett on Monday. According to the Monett police, Joseph Collett, driving a Peterbilt tractor hauling a flatbed trailer, and Brian Higdon, driving a Hyundai, were both headed south on Chapell Drive at 11:50 a.m. Collett said he prepared to make a right turn into the PlayPower parking lot to the west, pulled into the center lane to make a wide turn, and activated his turn signal...

Concluding the graduation ceremony on Thursday, the 30 Wheaton grads tossed their caps, popped confetti and sprayed one another with silly string. More photos from the ceremony may be found at: http://www.monett-times.com/gallery/32843

Monett Ministerial Association will hold a farewell lunch for Father Hank Grodecki, St Lawrence Catholic Church, at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23. All pastors and chaplains are encouraged to attend. Father Hank, who is preparing for his new assignment in Alaska, has been very active in the community. Lunch will be at Lai Lai’s on Bridle Lane, south of Walmart in Monett...

Five people were injured Sunday in a wreck at 10:10 a.m. on Highway 39, four miles north of Mt. Vernon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, John Lomas, 95, of Mt. Vernon, was driving a 2016 Honda Accord northbound when his vehicle pulled from a private drive into the path of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata, being driven by Edna Hoskins, 73, of Miller...

A Seligman man was injured Monday in a wreck at 12:50 p.m on Highway 37 in Washburn. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Tommy Bottoms, 54, of Seligman, was riding a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound when a westbound 2004 Dodge Neon, being driven by Jackie Cargile, 70, of Washburn, pulled into the path of the bike...

The Monett Middle School choir will offer its spring concert at 6 p.m. on May 15 in the MHS Performing Arts Center. The Freistatt Village Board of Trustees has moved its next meeting to 7 p.m. on May 15 in the community center. The Missouri School Boards’ Association Superintendent Search Services will conduct a community forum to gather information and listen to your input as they assist the Board of Education in finding the “right fit” for the district’s next leader at 7 p.m. ...

An Aurora teenager has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Samantha Hill, 21, of Aurora, by an Aurora police officer on May 5. Mason Farris, wanted for a probation violation, was taken into custody by officers following an attempt to arrest him. ...

A Cassville woman died Friday in a wreck at 9:43 a.m. on Highway 60, two miles west of Monett. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jimmie Davidson, 79, of Cassville, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet HHR southbound when her vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck in the side by a westbound 1989 Chevrolet pickup, being driven by Perry Cantrell, 80, of Springfield...

A total of 58 Pierce City High School seniors will end their high school careers with commencement ceremonies taking place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, in the high school gymnasium. The valedictorian for the Class of 2018 is Ragan Blinzler. She is the daughter of Mike and Marty Blinzler. She plans to attend University of Missouri, majoring in elementary and secondary education...

Monett High School’s biggest class to date, the first class to have experienced modular scheduling for all four years, graduates on Friday with a distinctive personality. According to Kara Tinklepaugh, counselor, the graduating class could be described as “driven, well rounded, down to earth, a relaxed group, a diverse group very accepting of each other.”...

Berean Christian Academy graduated seven seniors in its Class of 2018 on Thursday, the second class to have members who spent 12 years at the school. In her address, Valedictorian Abi Hoenshell thanked her family members for supporting her. She recalled that she had not known what she wanted to do with her life until she walked into teacher Susan Hall's classroom. Then, she said, she knew she wanted to be an elementary teacher...

For municipal public works operators, good news came from the representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the annual water and wastewater conference for Missouri’s Southwest Section this week that no new regulations have come down through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will seriously impact water and wastewater operations in general...

Commencement exercises for the 45 members of the Class of 2018 at Purdy High School will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the high school gym. Valedictorian will be Layne Skiles, daughter of Bill and Sarah Skiles. Salutatorian will be Emily Webb, daughter of Jason and Cheryl Webb. Both will speak during the ceremony...

The Lawrence County Board for the Developmentally Disabled met in April to review grant applications and award $53,400 in funding. Lynda Painter, representing the Barry Lawrence County Development Center, requested and received $15,000 for a 20 percent local match to purchase a new bus and extra seats for transporting clients...

Students in the preschool run by the child care technology students at the Scott Regional Technology Center donned caps and sunglasses to sing “Let’s Shout,” one of four musical numbers for their graduation ceremony at the school on Wednesday

A total of 46 scholarships from the Monett community were awarded to seniors in the Class of 2018 at Monett High School during the annual Senior Honors Program, held Monday in the school’s performing arts center. The scholarships represent support from civic groups and memorials recognizing outstanding achievement or personal need by worthy recipients. Students had to complete an application process for consideration...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates (JHA) announced its financial performance for the third quarter of its 2017-2018 fiscal year, with a 9 percent increase in operating income. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, increased to $384.7 million, a 9 percent improvement over the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Operating income increased to $96.3 million or 6 percent and net income increased 61 percent...

The construction technology class at the Scott Regional Technology Center will not see its two-year house project moved until sometime this summer.

Monett Main Street and the Monett Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon May 4 dedicating the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park on Front Street in Monett.

Monett High School graduates capped their practice for Friday’s night’s graduation by wearing their caps and gowns to the elementary schools for a rousing reception.

A Pierce City teenager was injured Thursday in a wreck at 3:20 p.m. on Highway W, four miles north of Ritchey. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Logan Rogers, 17, of Pierce City, was driving a 2001 Honda Civic northbound when her vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned...

A Seligman man was injured on Thursday in a wreck at 8:35 a.m. on Route F in Roaring River State Park. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jesse Holder, 62, of Seligman, was driving a 2013 Honda motorcycle westbound when his vehicle skidded across the center of the roadway, overturned and skidded off the left side of the roadway...

The 21-year-old woman shot by Aurora police on Saturday died on Monday as a result of her injuries. Savannah R. Hill, 21, was pronounced dead at 12:57 p.m. on Monday from injuries in association with a gunshot wound. The Aurora woman was shot by a police officer Saturday during a traffic stop, according to a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

Year-end graduation announcements and schedules have been announced at Monett High School. The 183 students in the Class of 2018 represents an 11 percent increase over the last two years and a new school record for a graduating class. Awards for the graduating seniors were presented at the annual honors assembly on Monday in the MHS Performing Arts Center. ...

On May 1, the Missouri House made a surprising decision when, in a 112-44 vote, it voted to allow anyone over the age of 18 with a terminal disease to use smokeless medical marijuana. HB 1554 moved to the Senate with less than three weeks remaining in the legislative session, which local legislators say doesn’t give it adequate time to succeed...

With discussion about putting medical cannabis on the ballot for Missourians to legalize due to its documented merit for medicinal use, some discussions are now turning toward the business opportunity, and inherent challenges, within that initiative...

For the 20 graduates in the Class of 2018 at Verona High School, commencement exercises on Friday marked the close of their high school careers, completed with encouraging words from classmates and the faculty speaker...

After several months of discussion, the Monett school board has approved a new formal document, “Profile of a Graduate,” that will be used in future promotions. Superintendent Brad Hanson said a year ago, the district asked representatives of the business community what was the most important skills workers need to be successful...