Stories from Thursday, March 31, 2011

All smiles at state tournament. The Monett Youth Wrestling Club participated in the Missouri State Youth Championships last Saturday.

Financial issues came to the forefront at the March meeting of the Monett R-1 Board of Education as board members looked at health insurance and transportation costs. District employees are looking at another rise in their cost for for health insurance. ...

Dr. Aaron Cornman, superintendent at Walnut Grove School District, has been named as the new superintendent of Pierce City R-6 School District. He will assume his duties on July 1. "I am very excited about the opportunities and challenges that await me in the Pierce City School District," Cornman said. "It is my hope that we, as a community of learners, work together to impart the knowledge needed by our students to be successful members of society."...

An expanded celebration of the nation's birthday in Monett is planned by the Freedom and Fireworks Committee, the newly incorporated panel of volunteers organizing the local event. The biggest change will move the fireworks display from July 4, which falls on a Monday, to the preceding Saturday, July 2...

This week in Monett: First Friday Cruise-In will be Friday evening in the 300 block of East Broadway. The Weekenders band will play classic acoustic rock at Denali Dream. 316 E. Broadway. The Ozark Festival Orchestra will present its 12th annual Young Artists Concert at 3 p.m. ...

Basketball standouts from Barry and Lawrence counties have been tapped to play in the Southwest Missouri All-Star basketball game to be played this Friday, April 1 at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus in Joplin...