Stories from Thursday, April 11, 2013

Loaves and Fishes, the not-for-profit hot meal delivery service based in Monett, celebrated its 40th anniversary at the annual volunteer luncheon, held April 9 at the First United Methodist Church. The program served 8,186 meals in 2012, reported treasurer Phyllis Whitley, an 18 percent increase over 2011 and the most delivered since 2008. The higher numbers helped to reduce the cost of meals to $5.46, the lowest price since 2008, down from a peak price of $5.78...

In a special meeting of the Pierce City Council on March 21, aldermen rejected an option to purchase a city-owned mower from a Monett business when it was discovered Mayor Allen Stockton would have to provide his Social Security number as the responsible party on the application...

The Purdy R-2 School Board rehired all of its certified teachers for the 2013-14 school year during its March meeting. Sarah Skiles, who started as a third grade teacher and presently teaches kindergarten, and band teacher James Adams moved to tenured status...

The blooming Bradford Pear tree is a sign that spring has arrived and winter might be in our rear-view window. The trees, pictured above, located near WinTech in Monett, are full of white blooms and add brilliance and character to the landscape of any yard...

The first Monett Elementary 5K and one-mile walk will be held on Saturday, April 13. The event will begin and end on Learning Lane in front of the elementary school. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The cost for adults is $20 and elementary students can participate free if accompanied with a paid adult. All other Monett students can enter the event for $5...

The Cox Monett emergency main entrance will be closed beginning at noon on Friday, April 12 until Monday, April 15, to install new flooring. The main entrance for patients and visitors will be through the ambulance entrance during this time. Staff will help direct patients to the temporary entrance. For more information, call 417-354-1409...

A University of Central Missouri-Warrensburg student, from Monett, Meg Aleshire, is part of the cast of the "Street Scene" production. UCM's Department of Theatre and Dance will present the production April 24 through April 27 in Highlander Theatre...

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office recently participated in a statewide youth seat belt mobilization conducted from March 15 through March 31. During the enforcement effort, officers issued a total of 11 traffic tickets including nine seat belt violations; one suspended license; and one uninsured motorist violation. A total of 25 warnings were issued for various other traffic violations...

The Royal Bazaar, a major fundraising drive for Royal Family Kids Camp, will be held May 3 through May 5 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Cassville. The bazaar gets under way at 7 a.m. each morning and continues until 4 p.m. The fundraiser benefits a week of camping experiences for children in foster care in six counties, including the 39th circuit, comprised of Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties...

Mary Lee Endicott, age 71, of Monett, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at her home following a lengthy illness. Mary Lee was born on June 17, 1941, in Spokane, Wash., the daughter of the late Patrick Fisher and Emily (Brandon) Fisher. Mary Lee had lived in the Monett area since 1978, moving here from California. ...

Betty Rae Freeman - Howerton, age 69, of Cassville, died at 8:40 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Dolores Morse, age 81, of Monett, died on Monday, April 8, at her home in Monett. No services have been scheduled at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett.

Ronald Doyl Shepherd, 71, of Springfield, passed away on April 8, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at Cox South Hospital. He was surrounded by his family, decked in his favorite Cardinals' shirt, and took his last breath top of the ninth, Cardinal's home opener. He was born on Dec. 13, 1941 in Monett, Mo., son of the late Doyl and Charlotte Shepherd...

The Missouri National Guard has launched an innovative program at Missouri Southern State University that Captain Amanda Self described recently for the Monett Kiwanis Club. Self is an experienced Army officer with overseas duty from Kosovo to an imbedded mentor on the Pakistan border with Afghanistan. She is in charge of military police in St. Louis and St. Clair in addition to serving as director of the Missouri national Guard's ROTC program at MSSU...