Stories from Thursday, January 12, 2012

Tom H. Wilson, 50, of Charlotte, N.C., was apponted on Jan. 5 to the Board of Directors of Jack Henry and Associates (JHA), a move that expands the company's governing board. Expansion of the board from seven to eight members places five independent, outside directors and three non-independent directors in charge of the Monett-based technology company...

A Lawrence County deputy on routine patrol discovered discarded chemicals and other components of a meth lab along Farm Road 2170, about one-fourth of a mile west of Highway M. This is the first meth lab trash site discovered in Lawrence County for 2012...

The 2012 Mocha Jo's Idol contest will begin this Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. In the photo above, 2011 contestant Kyle Diehls is pictured singing in front of a big crowd on the first night of last year's contest. So far, nine contestants have signed up to compete for the 2012 title. ...

A Pierce City man was injured in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday on Highway K about five miles east of Mt. Vernon. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred when the driver of a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am, Terry A. Leech, 18, of Pierce City, ran off the roadway on a curve, struck an embankment and overturned...

The Verona R-7 Board of Education took steps to firm up operations for the rest of the school year with personnel action at the December meeting. Teacher Tabitha Farris received a stipend to serve as sponsor for the high school junior varsity academic team...

Nominations for the Dale Taunton Helping Hands Award are now being accepted for any resident of the Pierce City R-6 School District. This award is named in honor of the late Dale Taunton, of Pierce City, who lost his life during the May 4, 2003, tornado, helping save the lives of others at the cost of his own...

The Barry County Board for the Developmentally Disabled continued discussion on an $80,000 grant request from ARC of the Ozarks during its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Jan. 9. The grant funding request, which would be used to cover a shortfall in funding from the Missouri Department of Mental Health Regional Center in Joplin, was originally presented to the board in November of 2011...

Monett Rural Fire Association elected board members and discussed construction plans for a new main fire station during the organization's annual meeting. Around 50 people attended the gathering, held at the Monett City Park Casino. Board president Larry Long presided at the meeting...

Almon H. Maus, 88, of Springfield, passed away on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 at The Manor at Elfindale. Almon was born on March 10, 1923. He was educated in Springfield Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1940. He attended Southwest Missouri State and the University of Missouri (LL.B. 1948). Almon served overseas in the Army Air Force during World War II. He married Doris Elaine Day in 1942. Almon and Elaine lived in Monett for 28 years where he was the city attorney for 20 years...

Ruth Margaret McWade, age 86, of Aurora, died at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Monday in the funeral home chapel...

On Oct. 16, 2011, Mariann Carrier's piano students dressed up as different characters and presented a piano recital. A Halloween party was held on Oct. 24, 2011, at the Carrier home. Students dressed for the event and a prize was given to Jerika Brown for the funniest dressed. Prizes for all-around best dressed were given to Selah Whisman and Aidan Branch...

Shawn and Emily Kelso, of Mt. Vernon, announce the birth of their son, Chase Jaxon, born at 1:33 p.m. on Oct. 13, 2011. He weighed three pounds, three ounces and measured 14.17 inches. Chase was welcomed home by his 6-year-old brother, Chandler. Grandparents are Linda Kelso, of Monett; Junior and Carolyn Frazier, of Springfield; and Karen and Tony Hough, of Bentonville, Ark. Great-grandparents are: Margaret Ash and Ruby Fletcher, both of Monett; and Leonard and Ann Griffs, of Cassville...

Jordan and Jaelyn Gliedt, formerly of Monett, announce the birth of their son, Cameron Austin Gliedt, born at 11:03 a.m. on Nov. 14, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, weighing six pounds, seven ounces and measuring 19 inches long. Grandparents are John and Agnes Bruner, of Monett; and Roger and Dianna Gliedt, of Rogers, Ark. ...

Wholly Moley Antiques and Fabrics in Pierce City had a drawing for a Christmas ham on Dec. 20, 2011. Pictured above is winner Pat Pachlhofer.

The Purdy Police Department is warning area residents of a new scam trending in southwest Missouri. Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe said an elderly woman reported getting a phone call from an unknown person stating that she had won a "large sum of money or a new car."...

The Environmental Services division of the Barry County Health Department inspected 32 food-service establishments during the month of December 2011. Of that group, 20 establishments had critical violations, eight had no critical or non-critical violations and four had only non-critical violations...