Stories from Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Monett City Council accepted public comment and passed a proposed water rate increase during the Nov. 20 meeting. The water rate increase will go into effect on April, 2014. According to Utilities Superintendent Pete Rauch, the city's engineering firm, Allgeier, Martin and Associates, reviewed city utility rates with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) when the city applied for financing of the new water treatment plant through the State Revolving Fund...

Margaret K. Underwood, age 67, of Monett, Mo., formerly of Joplin, Mo., passed from this life on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, while at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. Margaret was born on June 19, 1945 in Springfield, Mo., daughter of the late Clarence J. Wuellner and Dorotha M. (Carl) Wuellner...

Welcome to the redesigned Monett Times. Today, we are launching a new look for your hometown newspaper. The Monett Times has been serving as a prime news source for Barry and Lawrence counties since 1897, and while we are proud of the newspaper's heritage, we strive to remain relevant in a marketplace that is forever changing...

In light of the norovirus scare currently taking place in Taney County, officials at the Barry County Health Department have not received any reports of the highly contagious illness spreading across county lines. Roger Brock, administrator at the Barry County Health Department, said there was no cause for concern at this time...

The City of Pierce City has been awarded a Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant, in the amount of approximately $350,000, to help pay for the wastewater improvement project improvements and upgrades. Andy Novinger, of Anderson Engineering in Springfield, was at the public hearing on Nov. 12 to explain various studies conducted prior to the start of the project...

A Stella man has been charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors following a high-speed chase through Macon, Randolph and Boone counties. Joshua J. Hood, 23, was reportedly driving a stolen pickup from the Cassville area when he drove off from La Plata Short Stop convenience store without paying for $140 of diesel fuel...

A Pierce City woman was injured in a single-vehicle wreck that occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, on Gum Road, about two miles east of Richie. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2004 Honda Pilot, Martha R. Hatfield, 58, of Pierce City, traveled off the roadway, overcorrected and went off the left side of the road. The vehicle then went through a fence and struck an embankment...

The Monett Lions have presented a $1,200 check to the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program at Monett Elementary School. Due to a cut in federal funding this year, the school program providing books to each student reduced its total to one each. "The money, raised through last year's apple butter sales by the Monett Lions Club, will provide an additional book per student," said Lions Club President Robbie Davis...

Purdy Elementary School will hold its Christmas program starring students from grades 3 to 5 at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, in the elementary gym. Eagle Echoes will perform. Due to the tremendous outpouring of clothes and merchandise for the victims of the Wheaton Thanksgiving Day fire, Wheaton Fire Chief Bob Lombard has requested that further donations be made in the form of cash or gift cards. ...

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office ticketed seven motorists for not wearing seat belts during the November "Click It or Ticket" campaign. Law enforcement agencies throughout Mis-souri participated in the statewide effort to get more motorists to buckle up and save more lives...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates (JHA) has introduced a new line of technology solutions to protect customers from damaging computer software. JHA's ProfitStars division has added to its Gladiator line to protect against malicious software, commonly referred to in the industry as "malware."...

The Monett wrestling Cubs, under the direction of coach Daryl Bradley, look to improve one of the state's best wrestling programs this season. "We have a good mix of experience and youth," said Bradley, who is in this 13th coaching season. "We should be able to compete with anyone on our schedule and place high in some tournaments."...

Monett graduate Kyle Meyer earned the Standford Cardinal's lone victory in a duel against Missouri on Nov. 24. Meyer upset 18th-ranked Kyle Bradley, 3-2, in the 157 pounds class for the Cardinal. A 2009 graduate of Monett High School, Meyer was a four-year letter winner in wrestling. He also earned three letters in football and one each in baseball and track. Meyer captained the Cubs' wrestling team for three years earning Big 8 All- Conference honors in all four sports...

The Pierce City Eagles basketball team opened the 2012-13 season with a 45-36 victory over the East Newton Patriots in the Pierce City Invitational on Nov. 27. The second-seeded Eagles (1-0) spent the first half trying to knock off the rust of the off-season as the first quarter ended in an 8-8 tie...

The Verona Wildcats and Lady Wildcats basketball teams dropped games in their respective tournaments on Nov. 27. The Wildcats (0-2) fell 59-53 to Crane in the Pierce City Invitational, and The Lady Wildcats (0-1) lost 49-13 to Lockwood in the Diamond Tournament...

The Pierce City Lady Eagles basketball team fell 43-39 to Strafford to open play in the Ash Grove Lady Pirate Classic. "We played well at times against a solid defensive team," said Pierce City coach Rob Guerin. "We had two players out with injuries that could help when they get healthy."...

The Monett Lady Cubs fell 66-10 to Webb City in the opening round of the Carl Junction Tournament on Nov. 27 "We are still working fundamentals everyday and working to improve day by day," said Monett coach Kelly George. "We have started out with a tough schedule which should help us down the road."...