Stories from Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Southern District ruled on May 13 in favor of the City of Monett in the lawsuit over the city's tax increment financing (TIF) program. The three-judge panel, citing two Missouri Supreme Court rulings that have been on the books for more than a century, ruled against the Barry County Commission and the Barry County 911 Board on every argument...

Ready, set and eat. Verona teachers and administration showed a festive spirit by participating in a pie eating competition at Verona Elementary's Cinco de Mayo celebration.

The Flat Tire Gang is hosting the sixth annual Tour de Monett on Sat-urday, June 22, starting at the Monett Area YMCA, located south of Monett on Highway 37. Registration begins at 6 a.m. and all bikers will depart at 7 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Three routes have been planned for this year's ride. The shortest is 40 miles, followed by a 62-mile (100K) route and a 100-mile route. Routes will encompass Monett, Pierce City, Verona, Purdy and Butterfield...

A Pierce City man is being held in the Monett Municipal Jail after at-tempting to steal com-pact discs and gum from Walmart in Monett on Monday, May 13. According to Monett Police Chief Tim Schweder, the suspect, Joshua Vermont, 22, of Pierce City, assaulted the loss prevention em-ployee at the business when she attempted to stop him from leaving the store with the mer-chandise...

The Monett R-1 School Board hired a new assistant principal at Monett High School and a director for the culinary arts program at the Scott Regional Technology Center during a special board meeting last week. David Williams was hired as the new assistant principal at MHS, succeeding David Miller, who takes over as the new director of Scott Tech. Williams comes to Monett from the Ava School District, where he served as assistant high school principal for the past five years...

The Pierce City Arts Council (PCAC) announces the fifth annual Pierce City Arts Festival is moving to the Pierce City South Park, where Howdy Neighbor Days is celebrated each summer. The festival is set for May 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival, will be held a month earlier and the move to the park will allow plenty of elbow room to spread out. Entrance to the festival is free...

Holt Atkeson was a rising young adult in the prime of his life when he was killed in an automobile accident on Aug. 16, 2009. As the anniversary of his death approaches, the GRIP Boys Home, in Verona, is preparing to award the Holt Atkeson Memorial Scholarship in his memory, to one of the 2013 graduates of Verona High School...

The annual meeting of the Zion Memorial Cemetery will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 26, conducted by Pastor Terry Pitts, at the intersection of Farm Roads 1080 and 2150 in Lawrence County. A basket dinner will be served at noon. Body of Christ Outreach Ministries Center in Wheaton will host southern gospel recording artists Second Generation in concert at 7 p.m. ...

Roaring River State Park will hold its annual spring Kids Fishing Day from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. The event is for children age 15 and under. Youngsters are invited to pick up free trout tags at the hatchery office on Friday, May 17 or on the day of the event. A portion of the park will be reserved for youth fishing. Volunteers will be available to assist youngsters...

Lynn M. McClure, age 59, of Pierce City, died on May 12 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18 at Church of the Nazarene in Monett. Arrangements are under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City...

Bluegrass music and comedy will be performed at the Fishline Bluegrass Stage during Roaring River State Park's annual spring Kids Fishing Day on May 18. Entertainment will be offered from 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Performers are listed below. Traditional bluegrass band Spur of the Moment will perform several sets throughout the day from 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m...

Alice Ann Huffman, age 89, of Mt. Vernon, died at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, at the Lawrence County Manor. A funeral service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be at a later date at the Round Grove Cemetery...

Margaret Madeline Baxter, age 94, of Mt. Vernon, formerly of Aurora, Springfield and Lebanon, died at 10:40 p.m. on Monday, May 13 at the Lawrence County Manor. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora...

Betty Jean Hope, age 86, of Mt. Vernon, died at 12:29 a.m. on Monday, May 13, at the Cox South Hospital in Springfield. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 17 at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with burial at the Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery...

Carolyn S. Omans, age 78, of Aurora, died at 4:45 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, at the Mt. Vernon Place Care Center. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the Maple Park Cemetery, 300 West Grand Street in Springfield. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in the funeral home chapel...