McDonald County Press

News

I'll Fly Away Foundation Surprises Children, Gifts Music in Light of Holiday Season For Noel Elementary and Junior High School, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. A donation of a used piano from Whittenburg Church filled a need at the school that Principal LaDonna McClain said she was looking at doing something about. by Rick Peck

Back To Basics Group To Host Christmas Bingo, Myanmar Singers The McDonald County Back to Basics Group will end the year with a bang when members celebrate with a Christmas party. by Sally Carroll

Shop With A Hero Seeking Donations The McDonald County Sheriff's Office is seeking donations to support its annual Shop With a Hero program. by Megan Davis McDonald County Press mdavis@nwadg.com

Three Christmas Parades Re-Scheduled For This Saturday Local officials scrambled to postpone their town's Christmas parade last week amid predictions of impending winter weather. by Sally Carroll

Road Repair Tops 2019 Priority List For Noel Paving some streets in Noel will be a priority in 2019 when city officials receive some additional federal funding. by Sally Carroll

Aldermen Discuss LED Sign The Pineville Board of Aldermen, at its meeting Tuesday, discussed the possibility of purchasing an LED sign for the city. by Rachel Dickerson McDonald County Press rdickerson@nwadg.com

Robot Fest Attracts 100 Teams One hundred teams from across the county gathered at McDonald County High School on Dec. 6 to compete in the third annual Robot Fest. by Rachel Dickerson McDonald County Press rdickerson@nwadg.com

Courthouse News Division I by Staff Reports

Sports

Lady 'Stangs Season Starts Better Than Last Year It took the 2018-2019 McDonald County Lady Mustang basketball team only seven games to match last year's win total of three. by Rick Peck

MCHS Loses Battle At The Ridge For the second time early this basketball season, an opportunity for a McDonald County win was stymied by the weather. by Rick Peck

Mustangs Pinning And Winning Led by first and second places from its returning state qualifiers, the McDonald County wrestling team finished in a tie for 10th out of 14 teams at the Carl Junction Wrestling Tournament held Dec. 8 at Carl Junction High School. by Rick Peck

Bentonville Thanksgiving Throw Down Results for McDonald County Youth Wrestling Club at the Seneca Youth Open held Dec. 2 by Story Submitted

Freshman Mustangs Win Monett Tournament The McDonald County High School freshman boys' basketball team defeated Mount Vernon, 50-38, on Dec. 8 to win the Monett Freshman Boys' Basketball Tournament. by Rick Peck

Elliott Wolfe All-State Third Team Four members of the 2018 McDonald County High School football team have received post-season honors, including Elliott Wolfe, who was named to the Missouri Class 4 All-State third team. by Rick Peck

Junior High Sports The McDonald County eighth-grade girls' basketball team closed out its regular season with a 22-12 win over Monett on Dec. 6 in Monett. by Rick Peck

Ortiz Drops First Match In Finals The featured match of the 31st annual Neosho Wrestling Tournament came in the finals of the 126-pound division. by Rick Peck/Special to McDonald County Press

Opinion

Aluminum Houses And The Fuzzy Duck Because I have spent most of my life as that of a city dweller, I now find that I have acquired the most compelling interest in the southwest Missouri Ozarks Region. I am fascinated with stories of the people who once called the area home, while my attention is drawn to those habits and lifestyles which strike me as exquisitely odd. Take, for example, the nonsensical story of the "Fuzzy Duck." A bird? you might ask; but, no, rather a place, a Noel, Mo., business. by Stan Fine Columnist

Religion

Do You Know Where To Go For Salvation? I was unable to attend church last week, but I am back and happy to bless you with another sermon from Pastor Bob Cartwright. by Joyce Walters Cove Mission Of Hope

Qualification For Leadership Is Your Faith The little white church on the creek is beautifully decorated to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ. As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, we were greeted by Doug Cory. by Kitty Collingsworth Mill Creek Baptist Church

Decorating The Dining Room I remember going to my grandparents' house the day after Christmas. I especially looked forward to my grandma's cooking. Their dining room would be aglow with a special spirit: candles in the window, greenery adorned the chandelier, the table was covered with a cranberry-red tablecloth, Christmas napkins proclaimed, "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men," and a poinsettia graced the center of the table. by Don Kuehle Columnist

Why do we celebrate Christmas? The word "Christmas" comes from "Christ Mass," the name of a special worship service held in churches around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, the Messiah and Savior. by Randy Moll

Things That Scare Me As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, we were greeted by Doug Cory, who opened our service with prayer and greeted our visitors. Happy anniversary to Wayne and Becky Johnson, and congratulations to Tim and Karen. Special prayers were requested for many, including Jimmy Easter, Lewis Davis, Barbara Cory, Don Chaney, Mildred Cook, Reta Henson, David Hazelton, Susan's mother, J.P. Judd, Skip, Angela, the Andrews family, the Perry family, the Wallace family and the Slankard family. We will begin our Christmas season with a "Classic Christmas begins with Christ" float in the Southwest City Christmas Parade on Saturday. by Kitty Collingsworth Mill Creek Baptist Church

Decorating The Living Room Friends had invited us over for a Christmas visit. As we arrived, we noted how beautifully the outside of their home was decorated. We rang the doorbell and were ushered into their living room. In one corner stood their Christmas tree, sparkling lights amid golden tinsel. Packages were piled beneath the tree, awaiting Christmas Day. A striking winter scene picture hung above the couch. Candles burned brightly in the bay window. Beneath the window was a manger scene. A fire in the fireplace made us feel cozy and warm. Our gracious hosts had taken great care in decorating their living room for Christmas! by Don Kuehle Columnist

How do you wish to be remembered in Christ's judgment? "Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD." Psalm 25:6-7 by Randy Moll