Stories from Friday, June 24, 2011

The campaign to construct a new Monett YMCA is working toward completing its fundraising efforts based on bids recently received for the facility. Increases in the cost of building materials have caused the YMCA to seek additional funds to avoid any reduction in completing the project according to an announcement made today by YMCA Executive Director Gordon Brown...

For a week and a half, the Ozark Mountain Installation crew has been reinstalling the main playground on the north side of the Monett Elementary School campus. Jim Pass, with the firm, said all the major pieces are in place. Additional slides around the periphery will go in next, followed by ground work and placement of the rubber shreds used for cushion that have been stored in dumpsters since the unit was moved. ...

Detective John Allred, who has been with the Monett Police Department for over 28 years, will officially retire on Aug. 1. "I started as a part-time dispatcher," Allred said. "After 13 months, I was assigned to foot patrol of the downtown business district. I moved on to road patrol, and in 1999, was made a detective."...

A benefit dinner for Monett teenager Breann Weatherly will be held this Saturday, June 25 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce City. Breann is the daughter of Joni Weatherly and the late Doug Weatherly, of Monett. Area residents are invited to attend and enjoy a menu of spaghetti, salad, rolls, desserts and tea. A pie auction will also be held. Dinner service begins at 6 p.m...

Due to personal property taxes being up this year and anticipated savings in the food service budget, Pierce City R-6 board members approved a 1 percent salary increase for administrators and non-certified staffers at their June meeting. Cost to the district will be just over $30,000...

Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into a burglary that took place on June 23 at the Plaza Drive strip mall off of Highway 60 in Monett. Thieves gained entrance to both Century 21 and AT&T Cellular offices by prying open the back door.. Electronics and money were taken from the businesses...

A single-vehicle wreck on Wednesday left a Bolivar man injured. The crash occurred at 11:30 a.m. on Highway 76 one mile west of Exeter when a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, ridden by Kevin D, Ryan, 43, ran off the right side of the road and overturned...

Dillon Richardson, 13, shows off some smooth moves at the Monett Municipal Pool yesterday. Richardson was just one of dozens of patrons, young and old, have fun and cool off from the heat of a long summer afternoon. He is the son of Charles and Chassity Roberts, of Pierce City...

Following Governor Jay Nixon's extension of the declaration of emergency, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is extending its waiver of specific solid waste and air pollution regulations related to cleanup of communities affected by the May flooding in 19 southern Missouri counties, including Barry County...

A multi-jurisdictional task force met in Joplin yesterday to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of fraud related to tornado disaster relief. According to Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, the meeting was organized by the FBI in Joplin and hosted by the Joplin Police Department. ...

Jimmy Green, age 36, of Purdy, MO passed from this life on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Cox Monett Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at the Buchanan Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Ken Dodson officiating. Interment will be in Bethel Cemetery, southeast of Monett. The family will receive friends from 1 until 4 p.m. prior to the service...

Alma P. Edwards, age 78, of Verona, died at 7:05 a.m. this morning at Lacoba Nursing Center in Monett. Arrangements will be under the care of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett.

Lloyd Charles Collins, age 67, of Paola, KS, passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2011 following a lengthy illness. Graveside committal of ashes will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 27, 2011 at the Monett I.O.O.F. Cemetery. A memorial breakfast will be held in his honor on Friday, July, 1 in Kansas City, MO...

Gerlisa Garrett, of Richmond, Vermont, received her bachelor's degree at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., graduating magna cum laude. Garrett is the daughter of Paul Garrett and the late Pia Garrett, of Richmond, Vermont, and the granddaughter of the late Elizabeth Garrett Roth, of Monett...

The Monett FFA and FFA Booster Club recently set up a table at the Monett Walmart Supercenter to collect donations to benefit the Joplin tornado victims. The Monett community and surrounding area donated $946.58. Members decided to buy supplies with half of the funds and to donate the remainder to the American Red Cross. ...

Purdy Elementary School has announced its honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2010-11 school year. Students are listed below by grade and achievement level. Third graders named to the All-A Honor Roll are: Gavin Bailey, Michael Brown, Bradley Gardner, Shelby Haskins, Elizabeth Hoffman, Grace Robertson, Maria Cecenas, Sean Thomas, John Brown, Alberto Haros, Tylar Gusta, Kassidy Mosell, Anastasia Ohler and Samantha Hestdalen...

Drury University James Dillon, of Monett, graduated with a master's degree in education, with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction and Valerie Ball, of Verona, received a master in education with an emphasis on special reading at Drury University. The commencement was held in the O'Reilly Family Event Center on May 14...

Riley Veith, a 2011 graduate of Purdy High School, was awarded a scholarship from the Missouri Independent Banker's Association. Veith, son of Ronnie and ReNee Veith, will be attending the University of St. Mary's in Leavenworth, Kan. in the fall. Shown presenting the scholarship to Veith is Ann Hall, retired president of First State Bank, of Purdy, the nominating bank...

A collision between a car and a large truck in Dairy Street on Monett around 11:15 a.m. on Thursday resulted in minor damage. According to Sergeant Dennis Camp with the Monett Police Department, Charlotte Gates, of Monett, was driving west in a Ford Escort and passed a tractor tanker driven by Kevin Bohn, of Oklahoma City, on the right. ...

Department heads for the City of Monett reported on the latest activities by employees during the June Monett City Council meeting. Police Chief Tim Schweder reported crime had picked up with summer weather. Detective John Allred would be retiring, and applications for a successor were being reviewed...