Stories from Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Monett R-1 Board of Education advanced plans for storm shelters at two campuses and began looking at summer projects during the board's monthly meeting on March 28. Jim Stufflebeam and Bonnie Crawford, architects with Sapp Design Associates, provided an update on the development of facilities using funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They discussed different options of where to place the building that will serve both the middle school and intermediate school...

It was during a summer practice that the idea of playing college basketball first took root for Purdy's Katie Hughes. "After one of our summer sessions, Coach (Eli) Ernst told me more than one player on this team would play college basketball," said Hughes...

By a 4-3 vote at its March 21 meeting, the Wheaton School Board relieved Jason Webb of his spring head baseball coaching duties. Webb was only stripped of his coaching responsibilities and will finish out his teaching contract. In his fourth season at the helm, Webb led the Bulldogs to consecutive district titles and was primed for another breakout season in 2013...

Monett Cubs' pitchers struggled to find the strike zone early and fell 16-4 in five innings at Mt. Vernon on April 9. "You sometimes have a baseball game like this," said Monett coach Mike Calhoun. "When you don't force a team to put the ball in play (to score), your limit you chances of winning."...

In Ozark 7 baseball action Monday, April 9, the Purdy Eagles played the role of a generous host for the first three and a half innings. Kenny Ferguson's Trojans from Southwest High School jumped out to a 6-0 lead only to watch the Eagles rally for a 10-6 victory...

The Pierce City Eagles baseball team earned a 9-1 road victory at Jasper on April 9. Pierce City (4-3, 2-1) scored a run in the first and two more in the third. A six-un seventh iced the game for the green and white. Jasper (0-6, 0-2) managed a single run in the fourth frame...

The Monett Cubs baseball team (3-5) battled for seven innings but couldn't get past the fifth ranked Springfield Catholic Irish, falling 10-8 at Monett's North Park. "We had a couple of missed opportunities early in the game that we missed," said Monett coach Michael Calhoun. "We showed heart by not rolling over. We have to find a way to win close games."...

The Pierce City Eagles baseball team fell 1-0 to Miller on Feb. 5 at Miller. "You have to tip your cap to Miller and their pitcher Dalton Gulick," said Pierce City coach Beau Davis. "We had our chances to plate a run and a couple of mistakes cost us those opportunities."...

The Monett Cubs baseball players learned from their mistakes in the Bill O'Dell Tournament at Carthage. The Cubs (4-5) let a 3-2 lead slip away in the seventh and fell 4-3 to Lamar on April 4. Two days later on April 6, the purple and gold rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge Webb City 5-4...

In response to concerns in Freistatt, Lawrence County Sheriff Brad DeLay discussed ongoing issues at the March meeting of the Freistatt Village Board of Trustees. DeLay introduced Rick Sipes, day shift supervisor, and Jon Ford, night shift supervisor, who accompanied the sheriff to the meeting. The sheriff also recommended directing concerns to Lt. Grant Wheeler, who will generally oversee responses to Freistatt...

The atmosphere was electric on April 5 at the Monett Speedway for the beginning its 43rd season. The historic three-eighths of a mile dirt track hosted six feature finals as drivers competed for points, prestige and bragging rights. Results for the races are as follows...

Law enforcement officials attending the March meeting of Crime Stoppers complimented media sources using social networks to get the word out and provide updates on the recent manhunt in Monett. Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly said it took the combined forces of his office, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, Monett Police Department, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to successfully capture the fugitive...

Monett City Council members received a wide range of reports on activities by department employees over the past month during the council's March 22 meeting. In reviewing the latest department activities, Assistant Utilities Superintendent Skip Schaller said the utilities department is in the process of getting a new Vactor truck for sewer maintenance...

Preschool screening for the Purdy R-2 School District will be held from 3:45 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15. Screening will last no more than one hour. Appointments can be made by calling Mrs. Ball at 417-442-9087. The Barry County E-911 Operations Center will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 19 in honor of National Telecommunicator Week. Refreshments and cake will be served during the event, and attendees will have the opportunity to tour the operations center...

Tyson Foods, Inc. has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve concerns over the maintenance of refrigeration systems at food production plants in four states, including Monett. The agreement resolves the EPA concerns through the payment of a civil penalty and creation of a special program for meeting Risk Management Plan (RMP) requirements of the federal Clean Air Act at 23 Tyson Foods facilities in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska...

Verona High School juniors Emily Heseman and Devon Delano were chosen as finalists in the Ozark Electric Cooperation essay contest. Ten students from area schools were interviewed on March 13 in Mt. Vernon. Following the interviews, Ozark Electric will choose the top two students to attend a trip to Washington, D.C...

Monett Intermediate School has named fifth grade February Cubs of the Month. I

Purdy Elementary Principal Jeff Swadley has announced character education medal winners for February. In partnership with elementary counselor, Gary Jurgensen, Purdy's kindergarten through fourth grade teachers present a different character trait each month. At the end of the month each teacher nominates one student who best exemplifies the trait presented...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for March 25.

Monett Intermediate School has named the sixth grade Cubs of the Month for February.

Barry County ranks 83 out of 115 Missouri counties in a recent health study, making it one of the "sickest" counties in the state. The mortality rate in Barry County ranks 74 out of 115 counties, estimating approximately 8,904 years lost to premature death compared to the 5,317 years of life lost used as the national benchmark...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce will present an Eggs and Issues legislative update on Friday, April 19 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Monett Area YMCA Events Center, located at 115 S. Lincoln Ave. The cost of admission is $6 and includes breakfast. Senator David Sater, Representative Scott Fitzpatrick and the newly elected Representative Mike Moon have confirmed their attendance...

Ron Hearst, chief meteorologist for KY3 TV in Springfield, discussed weather forecasting for the Monett Kiwanians during the club's quarterly meeting, held at Big Baldy's BBQ. Hearst, a St. Louis University graduate, has been with KY3 since 1993, coming to Springfield from Tulsa, Okla...

Dave Shaner, 47, of Monett, Mo., entered into eternal rest on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 5:50 p.m. at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Mo. following a long illness. He was born on April 7, 1965 in Ledington, Mich., the son of Susan Brady and the late Bill Brady...

Ruth Huff, age 102, of Joplin, formerly of Mt. Vernon, died at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, at National Health Care in Joplin. A funeral service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, was held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at the Abundant Life Christian Center in Joplin, with burial at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery...

Johnnie ("John") E. Enke, 91, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, joined his Savior on Monday, April 8, 2013, while residing at the Tompkins Health Center, Fort Dodge, following a brief illness. John Enke, the son of George and Effie Enke, was born Oct. 19, 1921 in Monett, Mo. After graduating from high school, and while attending junior college, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard shortly after Pearl Harbor. He was discharged in October 1945...

Stanley Zein "Bub" Kleeman II, age 20, of Golden City, died at 2:15 a.m., on Sunday, April 7, in Stockton. A funeral service, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, at the Round Grove Baptist Church with burial at Red Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home chapel...

Roger Allen Baldwin, age 68, of Miller, died at 11:20 p.m. on Friday, April 5, at Benchmark Healthcare in Monett. A graveside service, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, at Miller Memorial Garden's...

Dora Ann "Dodie" Tummons, age 87, of Shell Knob, died on Sunday, April 7. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 12, in Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob. Burial will be in Greenlawn North Cemetery, Springfield. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob...

Martha Lujan, age 59, of Cassville, died Sunday, April 7, in Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 12, in Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

A Purdy man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash on Sunday, April 7. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Brent Wormington, 21, of Purdy, lost control of a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle on Highway 37 and traveled off the side of the highway. The wreck occurred at 1:30 p.m. about four miles south of Purdy...