Stories from Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Monett City Council approved its budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year and approved significant contracts during its monthly meeting on March 22. Mayor Jim Orr and Commissioner Mike Brownsberger, in the absence of Commissioner Jerry Dierker, passed the $45.6 million spending blueprint. No comments or questions from the public delayed final passage...

The Village of Freistatt has recognized Empire District Electric for service that included upgrades to the community. The 2012 Freistatt Community Service Award was presented to Empire at the March meeting of the Freistatt Board of Trustees for a range of efforts that impact the quality of life in the village...

An investigation into complaints issued by a victim seeking medical help led to the arrest of three people in Aurora on a variety of charges. On March 25, Aurora police arrested Carl Rice, 21, a Jasper County resident, for felony resisting arrest and four warrants for failure to appear in court, one for a felony. ...

Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. The family will receive friends following the Rosary until 8 p.m. Thursday, in Fohn Funeral Home...

Alice Mae (Spree) Kleiboeker, of Wentworth, Mo., passed away on March 26, 2013 in her home surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Alice was born on March 30, 1929, to Emil and Louise (Bracht) Spree, in Freistatt, Mo. She married Lorn Kleiboeker on Jan. 2, 1953 and they celebrated 60 years of life together. Alice was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Freistatt, where she was baptized in April of 1929 and confirmed in March of 1943...

A total of 45 Purdy High School vocalists competed in 24 events at the 2013 District Choir Festival, held at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Sixteen students achieved I ratings and will advance to the state competition. Soloists advancing to state include: Katherine Wise, Phillip Roller, Madison Vice, Alissa Graham, Dana Cunningham, Esmeralda Perez, Bailey Spears and Kaitlyn Carpenter...

The Ozark Mountain Motorcycle Club (OMMC) will host the "Cruising for a Cause" poker run, with registration getting underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Irwin-Easley American Legion Post #118 in Cassville. A portion of the proceeds will benefit David Ruark, a Barry County Deputy, who sustained a major back injury last year...

Fritz Implement in Monett has received the Vermeer Platinum Master Dealer award from Vermeer Corporation, the Pella, Iowa-based company. Vermeer Forage Dealers earn platinum master's status by reaching or exceeding specific sales, service and dealership management criteria established by the manufacturer...

Christ United Methodist Church in Monett will host an Easter sunrise service, beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 31. A breakfast will follow the service at 7:15 a.m. Heno Head and the congregation extend an invitation to the public to attend. The church is located at Maple and Pearl streets, behind AutoZone...

Beth Schaller, area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), shared details about changes and ongoing programs in the state's highway program at a recent meeting of the Monett Kiwanis Club. Schaller has spoken in Joplin and Springfield on MoDOT's "On The Move" program. She is seeking public input on the current status of the state road network and views on needed projects...

Announcement was made at the Pierce City March council meeting that residents should have new 95-gallon poly cart containers delivered and ready for use on April 1. Stanphill Sanitation has been distributing the containers to trash disposal customers. Customers with personal trash disposal units may opt to dispose of those by marking them as trash, or keeping them for alternate uses...

Easter egg hunts in Monett and Pierce City will be held on Saturday, March 30. The Monett Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Monett Jaycees, will be held at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Monett. The Pierce City hunt, organized by the Dacy Foundation, will be held at 1 p.m. in the field by the water tower on South Elm Street...

A single vehicle crash on Tuesday, March 26 resulted in minor injuries to the driver. The crash on Farm Roads 1070 and 2090, west of Freistatt. The crash occurred when the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu ran off the road and overturned in a cornfield. Responding to the scene were volunteers from the Freistatt Fire Department, Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The driver reportedly refused treatment...

Purdy Eagles baseball coach Joshua Hughes picked the right play, at the right time and had the right player to make it succeed as Purdy defeated Monett 4-3 in eight innings at Seneca on March 27. Reese Veith, the shortest player on the Eagles' roster at 4'5", came to the plate with runners on second and third with one away in the bottom of the eighth...