Stories from Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The woman who played an instrumental role in getting Barry County's E-911 system up and running five years ago will be leaving her post to head up the effort of establishing a new 911 system in Winfield, Kan. Friday will mark Pat Leighter's last day as Barry County E-911 director, a position she's held since Feb. 1, 2006...

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) has authorized the Empire District Electric Cooperative to raise its electric rates by about 13.4 percent effective Sept. 10. Authorization for Empire to collect higher revenues came with the finding that Empire's new Plum Point Generating Station at Osceola, Ark., met all in-service criteria and could be put into use. Empire had until Aug. 15 to meet requirements for the new station...

Members of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library board of trustees unanimously approved making an interest payment on lease purchase certificates in the amount of $7,612 for the Marionville and Cassville branches from a $130,968 certificate of deposit...

Jack Henry and Associates (JHA) has opened its new office complex in Springfield. The two buildings, located on Battlefield Road east of Highway 65, have approximately 160,000 square feet of office space. The offices are located on the edge of several residential subdivisions. Landscaped with a wide lawn and a lake, the JHA offices are set in a campus similar to the Monett headquarters. The effect has been a business setting that fits into the neighborhood...

After a shaky start, the Monett Lady Cubs softball team settled down and went to work. They earned a 11-4 season opening victory over the Ash Grove Lady Pirates on Monday night. The Lady Cubs started the game strong, scoring three runs in the top half of the first inning. Starting pitcher Paige Marney helped her cause by belting a two-out, two-RBI triple...

New Monett High School head football coach Chad Depée provided a preview of the fall season for the Monett Kiwanis Club at last week's meeting. Depée, who comes to Monett after serving as head coach in El Dorado Springs for the past four years, said his vision for football is to make better persons out of all players. Winning games is only part of a bigger picture...

The Purdy Lady Eagles softball team has started the season off on the right foot, winning Monday against Billings, 15-5, and Tuesday night against Sarcoxie, 7-0. The Lady Eagles' start to the Billings game was a little shaky after committing three errors to load the bases, Purdy Lady Eagles Head Coach Jeff Swadley was forced to call timeout and huddle his team on the mound...

The Monett Lady Cubs tennis team fell to the Carthage Lady Tigers in match play, 2-7, Monday night in its season opener. The Lady Cubs' Katelyn Sperandio and Nruapa Desai won their respective matches, 8-0 and 8-5. In doubles play, Monett Cubs fell 3-0...

The Pierce City Lady Eagles softball team downed the Patriots of East Newton, 4-3 on Monday. Lady Eagles' pitcher Sara Stearns (1-0) earned her first victory. Stearns pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three...

The Purdy baseball team notched its first win of the season in impressive fashion, beating Hurley 20-0. Eagles Head Coach Joshua Hughes was very surprised. "I knew our pitching would be a strength this year," Hughes said. "But the way the boys swung the bats was a complete and pleasant surprise."...

For the second year, the 100 Mile Yard Sale will be coming through Monett on Saturday. The coordinated effort between 13 communities will provide shopping opportunities at several Lawrence County communities plus Monett in Barry County. "We've been getting calls from people wanting to know where they can sell and others wanting to buy," said Suzy McElmurry, executive director with the Monett Chamber of Commerce. "Last year most of our calls were sellers."...

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