Stories from Friday, January 27, 2012

Monett saw the smallest amount of housing construction in 21 years during 2011. Only the $9.3 million Monett Area YMCA project boosted the value of building permits issued during the year to over $11 million, keeping the overall total from hitting a three-year low...

Elsie Renkoski, age 82, of Purdy died on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 28 in McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Burial will be in Muncie Chapel Cemetery, Wheaton. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m., on Friday, in McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton...

Marion Lee Williams, age 81, of Purdy died on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Benchmark Healthcare in Monett. Funeral services for Mr. Williams will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30 at the Buchanan Funeral Home Chapel in Monett. Interment will be at a later date in the Calton Cemetery, Pleasant Ridge. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

By Melonie Roberts Two Exeter residents were injured in a single-vehicle wreck that occurred at 8:05 a.m. on Thursday on Farm Road 1045 about three miles west of Exeter. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2003 Ford F150 Amy N. Cole, 36, of Exeter, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree and an embankment. Cole received moderate injuries in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt...

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department will host a basic law enforcement academy starting Aug. 16 at the Lawrence County Sheriff's office. The 700-hour course will qualify graduates with a Class A peace officer license in Missouri. The class is slated to meet Tuesday and Thursday nights as well as Saturdays and some Sundays. Graduates will be certified in several areas...

Purdy High School senior Alex Haworth was selected as "Mr. Tip-Off" at an assembly at Purdy High School last week. Alex is the son of Kent and Piper Haworth and competes on the basketball and the golf teams. Other candidates were: senior Reese Stevenson, son of Bobby and Stacy Stevenson; junior Austin Hancock, son of Chris and Chrissy Hancock; sophomore Brent Cornman, son of Brian Lee Cornman and Jina Marie Wormington; and freshman Lucas Ridenour, son of Jimmy and Sherry Nichols. ...

CENTRAL PARK AND MONETT ELEMENTARY Key: SC - Smart Choice entree item (16 grams of fat or less.) HM - Homemade fresh in the Opaa! Kitchen. WG - Whole Grain item. Monday - Breakfast: Waffles, cereal or oatmeal. Lunch: 1. Cheeseburger. 2. 3 cheese grilled cheese. 3. Popcorn chicken chef salad w/WG breadsticks...

The Monett High School speech team competed at the Cassville Individual Events Tournament on Jan. 14. The following students advanced to the semi-finals: Andrew Brown, Emily Pitts and Sam Martinez, dramatic interpretation; Haley Henry, humorous interpretation; Sam Martinez and Courtney Brown and Sally Ferrell and Lindsay Staudt, duo interpretation; Kaylee Barnes, poetry; Kiersten Harper and Haley Henry, Emily Pitts and Stephanie Schumacher, Matt Murphy and Andrew Gilliam, and Courtney Brown and Sam Martinez, improvised duet acting; Reece Johnson, Nathan Webb, Tom Younker and Andrew Rausch, radio; Emma Verstraete, Tom Younker, Alex Schmitt and Connor Marshall, extemporaneous speaking; Sally Ferrell, Ronnie Hearn and Katelyn Morrison, storytelling; and Sam Martinez, Emma Verstraete and Tanesha Eden, prose.. ...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Jan. 23. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Colton Butts, Amber Knight and Maryjossee Lazalde. Back row: Drake Carey, Victoria Soriano, Chloe Brown and Fabian Rios-Roman.

The recent series of vehicles thefts that plagued our area for several weeks offered a vivid reminder about living in rural small towns. We enjoy the peacefulness and the slower pace. We become part of the rhythm of the place and develop expectations that come from our day-to-day experience...

Dear Editor: I want to thank Senator Roy Blunt for doing the right thing and standing up for a free and open Internet by opposing the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). On January 18, every day Americans spoke out and Capitol Hill listened. ...

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department will host a basic law enforcement academy starting Aug. 16 at the Lawrence County Sheriff's office. The 700-hour course will qualify graduates with a Class A peace officer license in Missouri. The class is slated to meet Tuesday and Thursday nights as well as Saturdays and some Sundays. Graduates will be certified in several areas...

Two Exeter residents were injured in a single-vehicle wreck that occurred at 8:05 a.m. on Thursday on Farm Road 1045 about three miles west of Exeter. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2003 Ford F150 Amy N. Cole, 36, of Exeter, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree and an embankment. Cole received moderate injuries in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt...

Purdy High School senior Alex Haworth was selected as "Mr. Tip-Off" at an assembly at Purdy High School last week. Alex is the son of Kent and Piper Haworth and competes on the basketball and the golf teams. Other candidates were: senior Reese Stevenson, son of Bobby and Stacy Stevenson; junior Austin Hancock, son of Chris and Chrissy Hancock; sophomore Brent Cornman, son of Brian Lee Cornman and Jina Marie Wormington; and freshman Lucas Ridenour, son of Jimmy and Sherry Nichols...

St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett and St. Mary's Catholic School in Pierce City are preparing to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29 through Feb. 5. Catholic Schools Week is an annual national celebration of the important role that Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the country play in providing a values-added education for America's young people...

By Melonie Roberts The May 22, 2011, tornado in Joplin has taught medical personnel, first responders and city leaders valuable lessons, including the importance of people keeping their medical information updated and easiliy accessible in the event of an emergency...

Speakers have been announced for the 43rd annual Monett Beef Cattlemen's Conference on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Monett National Guard Armory. Presentations will focus on current market conditions, the next generation of cattlemen and recent innovations in the industry...