Stories from Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A Springfield area man is behind bars at the Lawrence County Jail after breaking into Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt during the early morning hours of Oct. 16. Lawrence County deputies had responded earlier to a domestic violence call claiming the suspect, Michael W. Parker, was making threats and had taken off on foot carrying a gun. At that time, deputies were unable to locate the suspect...

The City of Monett Public Works Department and Computer Trade Recycling will host an electronics drop off on Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Materials may be taken to the Monett Recycling Center, located at 205 15th St. "If you plug it in or if it runs on batteries, we'll take it," said a project spokesperson. "Please note hard drives will be destroyed on-site to protect your privacy."...

New Monett Masonic Lodge #129 officers were installed on Sept. 15. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Jonathan Baltzell, John Eden, Benji Oakley and Skip Smith. Second row: Chris Lee, Darrin Henson, Kevin Sligar, Andy Brandt, Scott Cloyd and Randall Prock. ...

Drury University's Monett campus will benefit from $15,000 in grant money, which, in part, will be used to help renovate the campus' new site at 400 Fourth St. in the old First United Methodist Church building. "We are continually pursuing the goal of making the Monett campus an academic leader within the community," said Dr. Laura Plybon, director of assessment and instructional director, who wrote the two grant applications with Ann Saunders, assistant director of the Monett campus...

The annual Red Ribbon Week celebration and activities will be held at school campuses across the bi-county area. Planned activities promote drug and alcohol-free lifestyles with a focus on educating children on how to counteract peer pressure. Monett Schools...

The Monett office of the Missouri Career Center may be facing closure due to state and federal budget cuts, but members of the Workforce Investment Board in Joplin have a plan that will continue to serve clients in the Monett area. Jasen Jones is the executive director of the Workforce Investment Board, which serves a seven-county area that includes Barry County. ...

Monett's Cub Scout Pack #140 took to the streets during Broadway Nights to get popcorn sales from those attending the monthly event. In the front row, from left, are: Nathanael Fonner and Jared Smith. Back row: Ben Verstraete, Nathan Arnall and Mason Turben...