Stories from Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Expecting sales tax revenue to decrease in 2013, the Barry County Commission adopted a $3.1 million budget last Thursday. The county's 2013 budget totals $3,173,703, which is $437,870 less than last year's spending plan and $322,743 less than the amount actually spent...

Purdy aldermen backed away from a "no parking" position on Washington Avenue during the January city council meeting. At the direction of the city, public works superintendent Teddy McIntire placed "no parking" and "violators will be towed" signs on the north side of Washington Avenue between Commercial and Third streets...

Minor injuries were reported in a single vehicle crash a mile and a-half south of Highway 60 around 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a southbound 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by Alxandro Hernandez, 19, of Monett, left the roadway, overturned and ended up on its side against a utility pole just south of Farm Road 2020...

The Ozark Festival Orchestra will continue its 33rd season with the Soloist Showcase concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Monett City Hall Auditorium in Monett, Mo. Under the baton of music director Ken Meisinger, the orchestra play works showcasing both soloists and and a wide range of orchestral color and nationalistic styles, including two concertos with two soloists...

Cox Monett Fitness Center spinning instructors will host the first Jenny Garner Student Memorial Bike Ride, slated for 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the new Monett YMCA facility, located on Highway 37 south of Monett. "Jenny was a part of spinning classes at Cox Monett for many years," said Lauren Holland, Cox Monett community wellness educator. ...

The 12th annual Christopher Foundation Gospel Celebration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the First Baptist Church, 12325 E. Highway 86 in Neosho. A chili/hot dog supper will begin at 5 p.m., followed by singing at 5:30 p.m. Music will feature the Old Friends Quartet, Corky Long, Shepherd's Own and the FBC Neosho Group. Proceeds benefit public awareness and support in the pediatric cancer fight. For more information, contact Cathy at 417-451-1434...

Three cadets from the Junior ROTC program at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett participated in the American Legion Junior Shooting progam. Competition began in September, 2012 and concluded in January. The state championship match will be held in February. The 23rd annual Junior Three-Position Air Rifle National Campionship will be held at the USA Shooting Range at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo on Aug. 6 through Aug. 11...

The City of Pierce City is gearing up for what might be a severe winter with low temperatures accompanied by ice and snow, according to Alan Frantz, superintendent of the Pierce City streets and water departments. Frantz told aldermen at their Jan. 14 meeting that the motor to propel sand and de-icing chemical onto city streets was in danger of going out and a replacement was needed. Aldermen authorized replacing the motor...

A Wheaton man was killed in a McDonald County crash that occurred at 7:20 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28, on Indian Creek Road about one mile west of Rocky Comfort. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2004 Yamaha all terrain vehicle, Andrew G. Loyd, 20, of Wheaton, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole. He was not wearing a seat belt. Loyd was pronounced dead at the scene by McDonald County Coroner B.J. Goodwin...

A Monett man has been sentenced in Federal District Court in Springfield to three years in prison for possession of obscenity. Christjan Bee, 36, of Monett, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to three years in federal prison without parole, followed by five years of supervised release...

The Barry County Health Department Board of Trustees received a draft of proposed changes to the county's wastewater ordinance at its regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 17. The proposed ordinance, which is currently also under review by the Barry County Commission, includes a new property transfer certificate requirement. The requirement is modeled after a regulation that has been instituted in Stone County...

John Roy Huff, age 64, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12:10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home with burial at Union Cemetery in Stotts City.

Larry Parrigon, age 61, of Pierce City, died at 8:07 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28 at Cox Hospital South in Springfield. Arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.

Bill Coursen, age 65, of Miller, died at 4:40 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, at the Freeman Hospital East in Joplin. A graveside service, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home was held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Miller Memorial Garden's Cemetery...

John Linden Hayes, age 79, of Mt. Vernon, died on Saturday, Jan. 26, at his home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 at First Presbyterian Church in Mt Vernon. Burial will be at a later date in the Ozark Prairie Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Fueral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Audrey Irene (Plumlee) Clifton, age 101, of Humboldt, Kan., formerly of Rocky Comfort, died on Sunday, Jan. 27 at Chanute Health Care Center. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Rocky Comfort Cemetery.

Wuanita Botts, age 90, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with burial at Summit Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday in the funeral home chapel...

Mrs. Laura M. Wolf, age 96, of Pierce City, Mo., departed this life on Monday morning, Jan. 28, 2013 while at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo. Laura was born on May 11, 1916 in Barry County, Mo., daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Friday) Witt. ...

Nora E. Lampe, age 95, of Pierce City, Mo., passed away at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, while at the Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon, Mo. Nora was born in Freistatt, Mo. on April 22, 1917. She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church as well as actively involved in a number of church and community organizations, including the Dorcas Ladies Aid, the University of Missouri Extension Club and Council, the Friendship Club and the Lawrence County Republican Committee...

The Barry-Lawrence Area United Fund has continued supporting Linn Thornton's annual effort to bring Christmas joy to children who may otherwise not receive gifts. A check for $1,000 was presented to Linn Thornton, right, by Ken Dudzik, president of United Fund Board of Directors, pictured at left...

Knights of Columbus, Council #1075, presented the Arc of the Ozarks with $707 to help the Arc's work with the developmentally disabled. The Knights raised the money in the annual Tootsie Roll Drive, held in October. Half the funds raised were donated to the Southwest Missouri Special Olympics...

Two tips led to the apprehension of two juveniles involved in mailbox bashing and sign damage in Lawrence County. Lawrence County deputies began responding to calls on Tuesday, Jan. 22, reporting numerous mailboxes and metal signs had been damaged during the late hours of Jan. 21 or early morning on Jan. 22...

Purdy High School basketball teams took a pair of contests from Verona on Jan. 29. Purdy's boys claimed a 63-48 decision over Verona and Purdy's girls earned a 56-21 victory. In the boys varsity tilt, the Eagles found themselves in a 6-0 hole early. However, a 14-4 run to close the period gave them a 14-10 lead to open the second quarter...

The Pierce City Eagles basketball team is starting to fly high. The Eagles (11-9, 4-1) earned their third straight victory with a 53-37 decision over Greenfield on Jan. 29. The green and white got off to a slow start and trailed 10-6 after one quarter of play...

The Monett Cubs basketball team fell 62-42 to the Diamond Wildcats on Jan. 29. The Cubs were attempting to win their third consecutive game but got off to a slow start, falling behind 17-6 after the first period. Monett freshman Logan Coones came off the bench to lead the Cubs in scoring with 11 points. Coones was the only Monett player to achieve double digit scoring...

Purdy High School senior Mattie White signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Missouri Baptist University (MBU) in St. Louis next year. White chose the Lady Spartans over Evangel and John Brown universities. "MBU felt like home," said White. "The coaching staff and players on the team made me feel welcome and that was big for me."...

The trip of a lifetime resulted in a pair of victories for Pierce City High School's basketball teams. Pierce City's boys earned a 43-36 victory over the Bears and the girls cruised to a 42-13 win. "We had a great time in Memphis," said Pierce City Eagles coach Matt Street. "The kids did a great job of focusing up after halftime. We did a nice job on the defensive end of the floor to help overcome our offensive struggles."...

The Monett Cubs wrestling team claimed top honors at the Odessa Wrestling Tournament on Jan. 26. The Cubs amassed 91 total points to secure first place. Fulton was second with 89 points, and Odessa finished third with 83 points. "I am very excited about the next two weeks. ...

Lane Witt, piano student of Mariann Carrier, has received 53 consecutive excellent lessons. Witt's other hobbies include golf, basketball and baseball. His favorite subject in school is history. A pizza and Monopoly party was held on Dec. 14, 2012, for students receiving eight consecutive excellent lessons. ...

Jason Terry and Angela Yoon were united in marriage on Nov. 20, 2012, at Chapin Baptist Church in Chapin, S.C. Jason is the son of Steve and Mary Terry, of Purdy. Angela is the daughter of Seokho Yoon and Yeonkyung Kim, of Seoul, Korea, and Tommy Edds and Lise Uhl, of Waco, Texas. Jason is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of South Carolina, and Angela is completing her master's degree and will begin her doctoral studies in the fall of 2013 at Indiana University...

An E-reader class will be held at the Monett Branch Library at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31. This is an opportunity for those with E-reader devices, including Kindles and Nooks, to learn helpful tips on using them. New fiction titles available at the library include: "After Moonrise" by P.C. Cast; "These Things Happen" by Richard Kramer; "Sweet Tooth" by Ian McEwan; "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton; "Wyoming Fierce" by Diana Palmer; and "1 Step Away" by Eric Wilson...

The Dorcas Ladies Aid met in the fellowship hall at Trinity Lutheran School on Dec 6, 2012 with Judy Lehde, president, calling the meeting to order. There were 16 members, Pastor Ryan Buchmueller and guests, Virginia Scott and Arlene Stevenson, in attendance...