Stories from Friday, February 8, 2013

The Monett Rural Fire Association reported a 60 percent increase in runs during 2012 at the organization's annual meeting. Firefighters responded to 198 incidents for the year, up from 123 in 2011. Hot weather and double the number of grass fires contributed to the increase...

Male royalty for homecoming at Purdy High School competed for the top honor of Mister Tip-Off. Glen Scott was crowned at a special homecoming pep assembly on Feb. 1.

Monett Middle School has announced the seventh grade Students of the Quarter for the second quarter.

Monett Middle School seventh graders named to the second quarter A Honor Roll are pictured above.

Monett Middle School has announced the A/B Honor Roll for seventh grade students. Students are pictured above.

The Monett Middle School has announced the eighth grade Students of the Quarter for the second quarter. Honored students are pictured above.

Monett Middle School has announced the A/B Honor Roll for eighth grade students.

Monett Middle School eighth graders named to the A Honor Roll are pictured above.

A Billings woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, on Farm Road 2145, about six miles north of Aurora. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 1996 Ford Taurus, Trina R. Lauer, 40, of Billings, ran off the roadway and struck a ditch...

Richard G. Temple, age 63, of Mt. Vernon, died at 9:28 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5, in his home. Local arrangements were under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. A private service will be held in Florida at a later date.

Bessie Smith, was flown on the arms of the angels from this world to meet her Savior, Jesus Christ, on Jan. 28, 2013. Bessie was the youngest of 11 children and was baptized at the Arnhart Church in Purdy, Mo. She was raised on a well-known strawberry farm in Purdy, Mo...

Dear Editor: First, let me say that it upsets me about the reported cattle thefts. I grew up on a dairy farm and understand how hard the work can be. I remember how angry my dad was when thieves stole not only the tires, but also the wheels, off of the square baler and left it lying in the mud...

Linn Thornton called Wednesday morning from Columbia. He was expecting to undergo eight hours of surgery on Thursday morning. Thornton is a patient at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, where he has been undergoing treatment. Thornton's 35 years of organizing the community Christmas Day dinner in Monett and 28 years of bringing toys to stressed families for the holiday has made him one of Monett's most beloved residents...

Purdy Middle School Principal Janet Boys announced December Students of the Month. Each month the middle school core class teachers nominate one student from each grade level, fifth through eighth. The students received a certificate of accomplishment and an invitation to lunch at Mazzio's with Janet Boys, principal...

The University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg has announced the dean's list for the semester. The following area students received the honor: Misti Horton and Jacob Roller, of Cassville; Caitlin Holbrook and Samantha Dohmen, of Monett; Kelsey Smith and Courtnie Miller, of Mt. Vernon; Kelsey Henry, of Washburn; and Kristi Bateman, Danielle Dean and Jessica Duda, of Mt. Vernon...

Taylor Cox-Hoffman, of Crane, and Erin Simmons, of Aurora, have been named to the fall 2012 dean's list at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12-degree credit hours during the fall session...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for Jan. 22.

Residents at the Group Residential Individualized Program (GRIP) Home in Verona are giving back to children's charities in southwest Missouri. David Doner, founder and director of GRIP, said the annual effort to teach the boys in residence is to "pay it forward."...

This week (February 4th-8th) is National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). During this week, we take time to focus our attention on the unique contribution our school counselors provide within our school district to assist students at all levels of development...

The Chatty Crafters will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the First Christian Church in Purdy. New participants are welcome and encouraged to bring their own projects. For more information, call 417-498-2202. The Barry County Council on Aging Board of Directors will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the Cassville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 1300 County Farm Road. For more information, call 417-342-1391...

Royalty and attendants for Verona High School's homecoming reigned over the school's annual celebration on Feb. 1. Seniors Ascencion Estrada and Becca Rogers were crowned as the king and queen.

The 2013 bird count at Roaring River State Park is nearly identical to the total number of birds tallied during last year's tours of the park. "Roaring River offers a mix of different habitats, from open water and open grasslands to woodlands," said Tim Smith, park naturalist. "The complex of different habitats makes it an ideal place for a variety of species of birds."...

Members of the Barry County Tax Board for the Developmentally Disabled (BCDD) approved the proposed 2013 budget during the Jan. 28 meeting in Cassville. The proposed budget includes $350,000 for the purchase of services, $2,500 for a fidelity bond to cover the board, $3,000 for errors and omissions coverage and $3,500 for postage, supplies and dues. The board anticipates $315,000 in revenue from the tax...

A Pierce City woman received minor injuries in an unusual accident at 11:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Elicia Wiggins, 36, was driving north on Highway 37, about one mile north of Purdy, when her 1990 Chevrolet Astro van crossed Highway 37 and went off the west side of the road...