Stories from Wednesday, February 8, 2012

On Tuesday, Barry Countians overwhelmingly approved a one-eighth of a cent emergency services sales tax by an almost two-to-one margin. Over 27 percent of county voters turned out for the election, which also served as the presidential primary. The sales tax, which was placed back on the ballot by the Barry County E-911 Emergency Services Board after it failed in November of 2011, was approved by 64.69 percent of voters. The issue received 3,272 "yes" votes and 1,786 "no" votes...

Cox Monett Hospital hosted its first-ever orientation for new spin instructors last month. A total of 12 people, including local residents as well as those who traveled from as far away as Oklahoma City and St. Louis, attended the class, which was offered through Mad Dogg Athletics, the national organization that credentials all of the hospital's spin instructors...

A Monett family of realtors was sentenced Monday in federal court for their roles in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme involving more than two dozen residential properties and earning the mom, dad and son more than $1.3 million in profits...

Barry and Lawrence County voters followed the statewide trend in yesterday's presidential preference vote. Republicans threw their support to former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum both locally and statewide. As expected, President Barack Obama held a high margin among the Democrats...

The Harlem Ambassadors will take on the Habitat Hometown Heroes at the Cassville High School gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 11. The event, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., will raise funds for Habitat For Humanity of South Barry County. "At our shows, we want the kids to know that they're part of our team too," said Harlem Ambassadors coach Lade Majic. ...

The Monett Middle School has announced the eighth grade Students of the Quarter for the second quarter. honored students are pictured above. In the front row, from left, are: Marlene Canales, perseverance; Arrielle Orzechowski, band; Alex Bahl, principal's; Lauren Brown, choir; Grace Cloud, P.E.; Carmen Renteria, character; Sean Steward, pre-algebra; and Juan Almaraz, Spanish. ...

Monett Middle School has announced the seventh grade Students of the Quarter for the second quarter. Honored students are pictured above. In the front row, from left, are: Chelsea Henderson, computers; Kallen Brown, P.E.; Karsyn Ballay, principal's; Cierra Hudson, math; Lilly Schmidt, character; Montana Craig, perseverance; and Sarah Childress, choir. ...

Monett High School has announced Students of the Month for January. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Kristina Valderrama and Reece Johnson, juniors; and Eddie Cervantes and Lauren Head, seniors. Back row: Verneice Rodriguez and Hunter Williams, freshmen; and Sam Martinez and Monica Ballay, sophomores...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Feb. 6. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Sierra Preston, Jazmin Garrett and Macie Jungmann. Back row: Fernando Sandoval, Kaylie Buller and Ben Brown.

Cox Monett Hospital's asthma education program is continuing to serve school-age children in the bi-county area. On Jan. 11, St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett received a certificate of appreciation for their participation in the asthma education program. The presentation was made by Brenda Barger-Saunders, Cox Monett's asthma educator...

Erin Daugherty, of Monett, is among nearly 1,200 Harding University students included on the dean's list for grades achieved during the fall 2011 semester. Daugherty is a senior at Harding University in Searcy, Ark. To be eligible, a student must be carrying 12 or more hours with a 3.65 or higher grade point average and no incompletes...

The eighth annual Chocolate Lovers' Festival will bring a world of epicurean delights to area choco-holics beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center in Eureka Springs, Ark.. "This is the perfect day-trip or weekend get-away for those wanting to celebrate Valentine's Day or just indulge in waterfalls of chocolate," said Pam Hinson, manager for Holiday Island Vacation Rentals. ...

Truman State University in Kirksville has released the fall 2011 provost and vice president for academic affairs list. Area students named to the list are: Angela Hilton, of Aurora; Amy Hall, of Monett and Jessica Curl, of Mt. Vernon. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester grade point average 3.50 to 3.99 and complete 12 semester hours of credit...

New DVDs at the Pierce City Branch Library include The Greening of Whitney Brown and Battle of the Bulge. New adult fiction titles include "Expendable" by Maggie Jamieson and "Twelfth Prophecy" by Bodie Thoene. During the Preschool Story Time in February, the library will be reading about Groundhog Day and polar bears. A Valentine's Day party will be held, and leap year will be celebrated...

The month of February is "Library Lovers Month." The next "Teen Night" at the Monett Branch Library is planned for Thursday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. New adult fiction titles available at the Monett Branch Library include: "In Justice for All" by Robin Caroll; "Even" by Andrew Grant; "Home Front" by Kristin Hannah; "One Moment, One Morning" by Sarah Rayner; "Taken" by Robert Crais; "Ancient Spirits" by Alice Duncan; "$10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles" by Parnell Hall; "Expendable" by Maggie Jamieson; and "All I Did Was Shoot My Man" by Walter Mosely.. ...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites photographers in Missouri to enter its 75th anniversary photo contest. The contest is an effort to help Missourians discover nature by capturing and sharing photos that celebrate the natural wonders of Missouri. Winners will be featured in the October issue of the Missouri Conservationist and the MDC website and in other media...

The Harlem Ambassadors will take on the Habitat Hometown Heroes at the Cassville High School gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 11. The event, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., will raise funds for Habitat For Humanity of South Barry County. "At our shows, we want the kids to know that they're part of our team too," said Harlem Ambassadors coach Lade Majic. ...

Albert "Lee" Jordan, age 86, of Crane, died at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5 at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Mt. Vernon. A graveside service, with full military honors, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service in the funeral home chapel...

Raymond E. Carter, age 47, of Belton, died on Sunday, Feb. 5. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 in Shell Knob Church of Christ, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob. Burial will be in Fields Cemetery, Shell Knob.

Incumbents running for re-election in the Monett city primary received strong support in yesterday's vote. Mandated by law, Monett's primary did not change the April election line-up. The number of candidates fell within the allowable range. The vote, much like the presidential preference vote, offered a straw poll on public sentiment...