Stories from Thursday, March 3, 2011

The Purdy Lady Eagles advanced to the finals of the Missouri Class 2, District 12 finals with an impressive 62-32 win over Miller Wednesday night in Carthage. The Lady Eagle utilized three scoring runs to extinguish any thoughts Miller might have had of an upset...

The family of Christopher Stark, the Army specialist who graduated from Monett High School in 2007, has issued a statement in response to Stark's death due to hostile action by insurgents in Afghanistan on Monday. According to a release by the U.S. Department of Defense, Stark was one of two soldiers killed in an incident in Wardak province. ...

Ronald Ray Whitely, age 54, of Purdy, died at 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

This week in Monett: Soprano Robin Braun will offer a wide range of music from Broadway to pop at 7 p.m. on Friday at Denali Dreams, 316 E. Broadway. The Monett High School Jazz Band will perform at 7 p.m. on March 8 at Mocha Jo's, 404 E. Broadway. This week in Springfield: Mardi Gras activities will run Saturday on Commercial Street downtown, beginning at 6 p.m...

The Monett R-1 Board of Education has begun a review of its transportation system in hopes of finding ways to economize. Board members began talking about changes that may reduce bus service in town during their February meeting. Superintendent Dr. John Jungmann said rising gas prices and the state's inability to fund transportation at promised levels has prompted the board to reconsider past practices...

Traffic crashes are on the decline in Monett, according to a report from the Monett Police Department that cited 28 fewer crashes in 2010 than in 2009. Sergeant Dennis Camp said 26 of the 157 collisions investigated by patrol officers in 2010 involved injuries to the driver or passengers, which was three more than in 2009. None of the wrecks were fatalities...

Time is running out for submission of nominations for this year's Dale Taunton Helping Hand Award. Nominations may be made for any resident of the Pierce City R-6 School District. This award is named in honor of the late Dale Taunton, of Pierce City, who lost his life during the May 4, 2003, tornado helping save the lives of others at the cost of his own...