Stories from Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Board of Directors approved the addition of a mural for the Pierce City Branch and purchase of a new van to serve all branches at the board's April meeting. Artists Sherry Pettey, Terry Canady and Becky Golubski addressed the board about placing a mural at the Pierce City Branch. Pettey offered to paint the mural and donate materials at no cost to the library. She provided samples of her portfolios...

The Aubrey Keeling Chapter of the Purdy High School National Honor Society inducted 17 new members at a special ceremony held on April 4.

Maxine Hope Wheeler, age 82, of Springfield, formerly of Miller, died at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, April 29, at St. John's Mercy Villa in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, at the Misemer Cemetery, east of Miller. Friends and family may gather at the funeral home prior and follow in precession to the cemetery...

John Bennett Jr., 88, of Springfield, formerly of Monett, died on Monday, April 29, at Jordan Creek Nursing and Rehab in Springfield. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett...

Bill Henry, age 85, of Exeter, died on Tuesday, April 30, at his home. Graveside services, with full military honors, will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 3, in Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m., Thursday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

The Monett Police Department will be participating in two national campaigns starting May 21 and continuing through June 3. According to Sgt. Dennis Camp, the campaigns include youth alcohol abatement and seat belt enforcement. The department has also scheduled a sobriety checkpoint during this time...

A new organization designed to serve as an advocacy group for public schools in Missouri is working to spread its message across the state. The group is currently led by Gary Sharpe, who served as the executive director of the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) until 2007...

The Timberline Bluegrass Band from Lawrence County performed at the first Bluegrass and Barbecue fundraising event for the Lawrence County Historical Society's Adamson Cabin in Mt. Vernon on April 27. Among the other performers were the bands Blackberry Winter, Spur of the Moment and Virginia Snyder. Dennis Rodgers served as master of ceremonies...

The 141st birthday of author Harold Bell Wright will be celebrated with refreshments from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Harold Bell Wright Pierce City Museum, located at 404 N. Walnut. The 10th anniversary of the May 4, 2003 tornado in Pierce City is commemorated at the museum also...

The Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers met on April 18 and reviewed recent incidents occurring in the bi-county area. Monett Police Chief Tim Schweder reported getting one web-based tip concerning a woman wanted on federal warrants and another phone tip that did not prove helpful for the month of April. The web-based tip is not eligible for a reward...

James and Connie Meeks, of Monett, announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Kaylie Meeks, to Ritchie Allen, son of Maureen Wells, of Raymore, and Rick Allen, of Ava. The bride-elect is a 2007 graduate of Monett High School and a 2011 graduate of Missouri State University. ...

Whitney McCullah, of Monett, and Jordan Bishop, of Sheridan, Mich., announce their forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Sharon and Kenny Ridenour, of Monett, and Doug McCullah, of Aurora. She is a 2006 graduate of Monett High School and employed at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. ...

CoxHealth employees were recently recognized for years of service at the annual employee recognition banquet. Approximately 1,100 employees and guests gathered at University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield to celebrate 12,500 combined years of service among employees receiving service pins. Many others were recognized for receiving special awards...

New children's easy books at the Pierce City Branch Library include: "The Very Lonely Firefly" by Eric Carle; "The Dark" by Lemony Snicket; and "Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep" by Joyce Dunbar. Adult fiction titles include: "Vanity Fair: a novel of Lattes, Literature, and Love" by Megan Caldwell; and the large print edition of "Daddy's Gone A- Hunting" by Mary Higgins Clark...

Approximately 50 people braved rainy weather on Saturday to participate in the spring Drug Take Back campaign that took place at Old Town Pharmacy in Monett. The effort is geared toward residents safely disposing of unused or out-dated prescription and over-the-counter medications, rather than flushing them into the wastewater system or disposing of them in landfills...

A public forum is being called for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 to discuss the proposed closing of Ninth Street between Scott and Cleveland. The Monett R-1 School District has proposed closing Ninth Street as a way to improve safety around the school campus, which has grown onto both sides of the street...

Two Cinco de Mayo celebrations are planned for this weekend in Monett. Asociaci--n Latina Imagen will host its first celebration of the historic Battler of Puebla in 1862 that marked a turning point for Mexican independence from French colonial rule. The Asociaci--n's event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at South Park...