Stories from Friday, July 22, 2011

The bodies of Rebecca Porter, 46, and her husband, Russell "Rusty" Porter, 34, the couple from Willard missing since April have been found dead in Taney County, near the town of Protem. Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott announced today the discovery of the bodies. An autopsy is planned for Monday...

The bodies of Rebecca Porter, 46, and her husband, Russell "Rusty" Porter, 34, the couple from Willard missing since April have been found dead in Taney County, near the town of Protem. Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott announced today the discovery of the bodies. An autopsy is planned for Monday...

A strong local hospital is part of the prescription for a healthy community, and Genny Maroc, Cox Monett Hospital's new vice president and administrator, is committed to strengthening the hospital's bottom line while providing area residents with high quality healthcare...

Faith Ann Heath, age 70, of Monett, died on Tuesday, July 19 at Aurora Nursing Center. Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Midland Cremation Society, of Joplin.

The 2011 Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-State baseball teams were announced this week. Monett's Jake Smith was selected as asecond team All-State catcher. The list of area players honored is as follows: CLASS 4 First team Second team...

EAGLES CAMP The Pierce City High School football team will host a summer football camp from 6 to 8 p.m. July 25 through July 29 at Don Keebaugh Stadium in Pierce City. On Friday, July 29, the varsity football team will host a peewee football camp for kindergarten through sixth grade players from 6 to 7 p.m. The camp is free...

The work of Rapha House, a Joplin-based international program combatting human trafficking, was outlined at this week's meeting of the Monett Kiwanis Club. Stephanie Freed, co-founder and national chairman of Rapha House, explained how the organization came into existence in 2003. Freed's father, Joe Garman, who has an international prison ministry, encountered a young woman being sold while attending a leadership training conference in Cambodia in 2002...

Rev. Paul Lanning delivered his first sermon on July 3 as the new pastor of the Monett First United Methodist Church. Lanning has taken the position following the departure of Rev. Clif Crockett on June 12. Crockett transferred to the Kimberling City United Methodist Church...

The Animal Clinic of Monett and the Pierce City Police Department hosted a rabies clinic at Pierce City's South Park on Saturday.

A local group of medieval combat enthusiasts will gather at Monett's South Park on Saturday to test their mettle in classic sword fighting skills. The Celtic Guardians, a group based in Monett, is part of a larger "Dagheir" organization that gathers to test skills in the kinds of combat crafts seen at Renaissance fairs. They will meet around 5 p.m. on Saturday on the main field at South Park...

This one and a half year old Yorkie mix is available for adoption through the City of Monett dog pound. He had his hip dislocated and is currently being treated conservatively. The adoption fee is $42, which includes neutering, distemper/parvo, rabies and bordetella shots. Anyone interested in adopting the puppy can contact Animal Control Officer Alicia Graves at the Monett Police Department at 235-4241...

A Verona man was injured yesterday afternoon in a motorcycle crash that occurred at 2:35 p.m. on Business Highway 60 four miles east of Monett. The wreck occurred when the driver of a 1999 BMW motorcycle, Eugene M. Gladney, 70, of Verona, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a guardrail. Gladney was airlifted to Cox Hospital South in Springfield with moderate injuries...

The Monett Street Department has begun its summer chip and seal work around town. Street Superintendent Russ Balmas said crews are spreading oil and laying fine rocks on Cleveland, West County, Park Street and Sycamore from Ninth to 13th, 10th Street from Cleveland to Sycamore, on 11th and 12th streets north from Cleveland, on Schaller Lane off 14th Street, Brookside Circle, on County Road on Marshall Hill, and on the loop approaching Monett Elementary School west of Eisenhower on Dunn, Linden and Cale.. ...

The Monett City Council moved forward on plans to explore flood control for the downtown area during its July regular meeting on Wednesday. The council voted to amend the contract with Olsson and Associates for consultation on a flood control plan. The revision added authorization to work with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in negotiating a land use arrangement...

Entrepreneurship is alive in Monett as seen by a lemonade stand run by neighborhood children on Sunday at the corner of Central Avenue and Cale. The stand offered lemonade, cookies and brownies to satisfy any customer.

2011 Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-State Baseball Teams CLASS 4 First team Second team CLASS 3 First team Second team CLASS 2 First team Second team CLASS 1 First team Second team...