Stories from Thursday, June 23, 2011

On Monday afternoon, cheers erupted at Camp Barnabas. Riding into the camp for handicapped and chronically ailing children were eight bicyclists, arriving after a 12-day, 850-plus-mile ride from Denver, Colo. As the bikers wound their way around the lower level roads leading behind the camp mess hall, campers and volunteer staffers lined the roads, cheering and clapping, some exchanging "high fives" with the riders. When they stopped, the group was quickly surrounded and hugs exchanged...

The Monett Speedway had a large field of competitors on hand June 19. The sports modified, modified and late model races drew some of the largest numbers of competitors seen this season. Results from the races follow: Street Stock Heat Race 1. Kelly Bremer...

Last Friday night, the Friday Night Golf League continued play on the east nine. The winning team by playoff was Dixie Latshaw, Jerry Gaines, Tom Gripka and Jim Bass. Closest to the pin winners were Jim Bass and Dr. Sergio Cruz. Mature members of any age are welcome to join the league. One does not need to be 50 to join...

The Monett High School Public Forum Debate Teams excelled at the NFL National Tournament in Dallas, Texas, held during the week of June 13 through June 18. In a field of 246 debate teams from around the nation, the sophomore team of Bryce Isbell and Reece Johnson advanced to the debate elimination rounds. ...

By MELONIE ROBERTS Smokers soon will have gruesome reminders of the negative health effects from tobacco use when new mandatory packaging labels go into effect on Sept. 12, 2012. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will require larger, more prominent health warnings on cigarette packages and advertising. ...

The Verona R-7 Board of Education voted to move forward with replacing its business building at its May meeting. Board members voted to approve a contract with Springfield Builders Inc. for a maximum price of $265,142. The final cost came after the board asked for changes that reduced the cost by $8,037. Cost covers replacement of the business lab, construction of an additional learning area and a covered extended hallway. Work started on May 31 and is due to be finished by Aug. 12...

This week in Monett: At Mocha Jo's, 404 E. Broadway, Folk the Midwest Tour will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday with acoustic folk music. Authors Don Schmedeke and C.C. Brown will sign books from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dedication of the new First Baptist Church, South Highway 37, will include live music Friday and Saturday evenings. The remaining members of the Foggy River Boys will perform at...

Twenty-six outstanding students won four-year scholarships through Pella Rolscreen Foundation's Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program for 2011. The winners were graduating seniors of Pella Corporation team members representing company sites in Pella, Carroll, and Shenandoah, Iowa; Macomb and Rockford, Ill.; Murray, Ky.; and Monett. This year's applicants represented 50 high schools in 11 states...

Monett's Jacob Fair competed this week in the 2011 Missouri Amateur Championship. The stroke-play portion of the event concluded yesterday, and Fair was among the 66 players who qualified for match play. Fair was among the top 20 golfers, shooting an 11-over 153 in two days of play at Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta...

The Robert and Frances Chaney Family Foundation awarded funds to six organizations that serve Barry County residents during its spring grant awards this year. The foundation awards funds to non-profit organizations that benefit education, human services and programs for children, families and public safety personnel...

The Missouri Southern State University athletic department had 122 student-athletes named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll as announced by the league office. Named to the Academic Honor Roll list from Monett were: Kyle Coatney, Beau Bounous, Clint Cloud and Silvia Pineda...

A Monett Youth Basketball Camp will be held Monday, June 27 and Tuesday, June 28 in the Monett High School gym, according to Ty Goetz, head boys basketball coach. The camp will be broken down into two sessions. Kindergarten through third grade boys will meet from 9 to 11 a.m., and fourth through sixth graders will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m...

Forty-one members from eight county 4-H clubs exhibited 97 projects at the 2011 Lawrence County 4-H Achievement Day. The number of members participating increased by 25 percent, and exhibits were up 20 percent from 2010. Clubs represented were: Farm & Home Boosters, Jolly Ranchers, Kountry Kids, Miller Champs, Mt. Comfort and Pleasant Acres. The most popular project area was arts and crafts with 23 exhibits, followed closely by photography with 20 photos...

Dr. Randy and Joanna Ryan, of Tishomingo, Okla., and Leonard and Myra McGee, of Purdy, are pleased to announce the engagement of their children, Lida Fay Ryan, of Miami, Okla., and Adam Len McGee, of Lincoln, Neb. Lida Fay is a 2003 graduate of Tishomingo High School and a 2009 graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. ...