Stories from Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Harrell L Brabant passed on Sunday, Feb 3, 2019, at Medicalodge in Neosho. He was born Aug. 19, 1942, to Elmer and Helen (Steinman) Brabant, in Mexico, Mo. Survivors include his wife Nyla (Tuggle) Brabant, married Aug. 12, 1970, in Hannibal and 1 son Harrell L Brabant, Jr, (Tiffany), two daughters, Brenda (Kelly) Lindsey of Bethel and Marla (Daniel) Thornburg of Davenport, Iowa, and two stepsons, Larry (Holly) Thomas of Ozark and Rick Thomas of Los Angeles, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; six step grandchildren; also 18 great-grandchildren; and step great grandchildren.. ...

Jerry Lee Hoffman, Sr., 75, of Aurora, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cassville. He was born Oct. 11, 1943, in Pleasant Hope, the son of Homer and Margerette (Burns) Hoffman. On July 22, 1966, in Dinuba, Calif., he was united in marriage to Hazel Holman, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents and one grandson...

Andrew Jackson “A.J.” Hurst, 17, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. He was born Aug. 1, 2001, in St. Louis, to William H. Hurst and Kimberly J. Loth. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Bob Loth. Survivors include: his parents and his sister, Xandi Hurst. His grandparents include Dennis Hurst of Cassville, Barbara Hurst of Blackfoot, Idaho, Matt and Laurie DeVito of Tucson, Arizona. He is also survived by a great-grandfather, Karl Loth of Borculo, Mich...

Jeannie Moncrief passed away on February 5, 2019. She was born on August 31, 1950, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Wayne and Maleta Forsberg. Jeannie graduated from Wichita East High School in 1968 and studied art and ceramics at Kansas State University. She was a lifelong, dedicated KSU Wildcat fan...

With all the previous years’ rattle about eliminating the month of February from the calendar, the shortest month of the year is still with us, and apparently is going to be with us from now through the remainder of our existence. So, why not take another look into the month we find ourselves in, at least for the rest of the month, and see what might be significant...

• Alexia Joye Belisle, Eagle Rock, operate a vehicle without a valid driver's license, misd. D, operated a vehicle owned by another knowing owner had not maintained financial responsibility, misd. D, and a seat belt violation, infr., $121; operated a vehicle owned by another knowing owner had not maintained financial responsibility, misd. D, and a seat belt violation, infr., $90.50...

Exeter Middle School and Exeter High School have selected Quarter Students of the Quarter.

Eunice Thomas Elementary has announced its January Students of the Month.

This spring, the Shelter Insurance Foundation will award a $2,000 scholarship to a graduate of Wheaton High School and of Cassville High School. Shelter Agent Terri Lynn DeGraffenreid Brattin sponsors and partially funds this scholarship. A committee of local high school officials and community leaders will select the local recipient. ...

The Exeter FFA Chapter has been working diligently throughout the past year to improve and expand its program of activities. Over the past year, members have attended the annual float trip, helped with the Barry County Youth Fair, helped with the Barry County Co-Op Dinner, and attended Farm Fest and the PBR in Springfield. ...

Exeter’s 2019 Homecoming Court is pictured.

Pittsburg State University has released the honor rolls for the 2018 fall semester. To qualify for Dean’s Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 for all credit course work that semester and have no grade lower than a B and no grade of I in any course during the semester. ...

College of the Ozarks has recognized students for earning a high level of academic distinction during the fall 2018 semester with inclusion on the President’s List and/or Dean’s List. To qualify for the President’s List, students must maintain a 4.0 minimum grade point average during the semester and carry at least 15 credit hours. ...

I received more comments than usual about my essay last week. My wife said, “You always exaggerate. There were only 80 potatoes for you to wash, not 100!” Maybe so. It was, nevertheless, a bunch of potatoes to me! Men said, “Way to go! I think I would do the same thing. Good thinking!” One man told me, “I did the laundry one time and threw in a pair of red socks, on purpose. Everything turned pink! She hasn't asked me to do the laundry since!”...

Harry Stephens and Ray Boxley celebrated their retirements from Regal recently.

A Missouri tour operator has been elected to the board of directors of the National Tour Association (NTA), a worldwide organization of travel professionals. Jerry Varner is owner of Making Memories Tours based in Washburn. With pick-up points in Bella Vista, Ark., Washburn, Monett, Springfield, Harrison, Ark., Mountain Home, Ark., Tulsa, Okla., Claremore, Okla., Vinita, Okla., and Joplin, Making Memories Tours plans about 30 tours each year that visit destinations in Canada, the U.S. ...

Meet Marney, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

The Jenkins Fire Department will host its annual Chili/Soup Supper on March 2, from 5-7 p.m. The menu will include chili/soup, drinks and dessert — all for a donation to the department. Entertainment will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event will be held at Station No. 1, located just west of the Junction of Highways 39 and 248. Proceeds will be used to provide equipment for the volunteer firefighters. For more information, people may call Sara at 417-342-4243...

The Wheaton Historical Society held its 12th annual Valentine’s Dinner on Saturday at the Wheaton Community Center.

Freshly made salads from Geraldi’s, were unwrapped and prepared for everyone who came to the Friendship Banquet at the First Christian Church on Saturday.

Friday, in the Wheaton Elementary gymnasium, daddies and daughters got dressed up for the very first Wheaton school daddy-daughter dance.

Wheaton Police Department will be rolling up in a new ride soon, as the department will hopefully be purchasing a 2017 Police Interceptor for $15,000. David Shockley, Wheaton mayor, said he had heard of vehicles from lots in both Diamond and Fairview for sale...

A Purdy man is being held in the Barry County jail after allegedly threatening a person with an axe. Brian Coleman, 31, of Purdy, is charged with first-degree harassment and unlawful use of a weapon. According to a probable cause statement filed by Russ Nichols, officer with the Purdy Police Department, the incident occurred at a store on Business Highway 37 in Purdy...

The Lives Under Construction (LUC) Boys Ranch in Lampe received a $1,500 grant on Dec. 17, 2018, allowing LUC to build a new auto body shop and get equipment for the new training center. Rhonda McCartney, LUC funding coordinator, said the ranch applied for the grant in the fall of 2018...

A Cassville man is facing 34 counts of forgery, along with other charges, after allegedly writing numerous check to himself from a victim’s bank account. Scotty Henson, 47, of Cassville, is charged with 34 counts of forgery, financial exploitation of an elderly/disabled person, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest...

Young patrons of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library system will be happy to know that funding for the summer reading program has been awarded through a $12,663 grant from Institute of Museum and Library Services federal program through Library Services and Technology Act, disbursed through the state...

Wheaton has decided to revise a city ordinance to allow each household to have a combination of three pets. Clint Danforth, Wheaton police chief, said there is a leash law in the city limits of Wheaton. “Dogs can’t run loose without being on a chain, lead or fence,” he said. “The city is looking into revising the city ordinance that determines how many pets a household can have.”...

The Cassville Police Department saw a small upward trend of calls for service in 2018, but it had fewer reports made compared to previous years, due to a 2016 change in report requirements. Dana Kammerlohr, Cassville police chief, said there were 6,174 calls for service and 2,516 reports made in 2018...

A Washburn woman is facing four felonies after allegedly having sexual intercourse with a student while serving as a substitute teacher and drama teacher at Southwest High School. Chelsie Leroy, 23, of Washburn, is charged with two counts of second-degree statutory rape and two counts of sexual contact with a student...

Cassville senior Shannon Haney, sophomore Zach Coenen and junior Jacob Olbertz earned Academic All-State football honors this season for the Wildcats.

For area teams, the season has been reduced to a series of win-and-advance games. That is the case for Exeter as it prepares for the Class 1, District 5 tournament On the boys’ side, the Tigers will have their work cut out for them. Golden City is the No. 1 seed, with Lockwood the No. 2. Everton gained the No. 3 slot, and Dadeville the No. 4. McAuley is the No. 5; followed by Sheldon, No. 6; Exeter, No. 7; and Bronaugh, No. 8...

Only a handful of games remain on the regular season schedules for the small school basketball teams in the area. On Wednesday, Class 1 and Class 2 schools found out their district seed and first round opponents for the win-and-move-on tournament. For Class 2, District 12, a field where four of the eight teams are from the bi-county area, the action begins on Monday at Webb City High School...

For the third consecutive year, the Cassville wrestling program qualified for the state tournament in Columbia. This was by far the most difficult qualification year for Cassville, thanks in large part to a district tournament that featured five teams ranked in the top 10...