Stories from Wednesday, May 22, 2013

At 3:33 p.m. today (Wednesday, May 22), the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Shell Knob on Monday, May 20 at 7:50 p.m. The tornado was initially rated an EF-0 tornado when it touched down 2.3 miles northeast of Shell Knob. It quickly became an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds as high as 110 miles per hour...

The Monett City Council voted on May 20 to sell the historic National Guard Armory on Euclid Street to Palabras De Vida Eterna, a Hispanic church-affiliated organization, for $150,000. The city acquired the 17,000 square foot armory in 1991. Under the agreement signed in August 1985 and approved by the Missouri General Assembly, the city provided the Guard with a new location, which was acquired through the Monett Industrial Development Corporation, in the Monett Industrial Park...

The Purdy R-2 School Board recognized students for their achievement during the second half of the school year. Certificates were presented to the students by board president Randy Henderson during the board's April meeting. Seven students were recognized for qualifying for state competition in business. ...

The Purdy R-2 School Board recognized students for their achievement during the second half of the school year. Certificates were presented to the students by board president Randy Henderson during the board's April meeting. Seven students were recognized for qualifying for state competition in business. ...

Honors were pre-sented to Purdy High School seniors at the annual awards assembly on May 8. Principal Bob Vice announced that Jacey Staponski was the class valedictorian and Kait-lyn Carpenter was the salutatorian. The Student Council named the senior class the class of the year. The Spanish Club was the organization of the year and the Golden Apple award was presented to Lisa Reid, science teacher...

Margaret R. Armstrong, age 84, of Monett, died on Monday, May 20 while at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett. Services are pending at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.

Jackie Dean "Jack" Driskill, age 68, of Verona, died at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 24, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Clio Cemetery, Jenkins. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Thursday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Steve Jessie Martin, age 88, of Seligman, died at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Bayless Cemetery, Garfield, Ark. .

Lorena Mitchell, age 79, of Arcola, formerly of Monett, died at 10:46 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22 at Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City. Burial will be in Zion Memorial Cemetery near Stotts City...

Helen "Imogene" Caywood, age 78, of Exeter, died at 6:49 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, with visitation from 6 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday in Wallace Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery...

Charles E. Britton, age 54, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013, in his home. He was born on March 7, 1959, in El Paso, Texas, the son of Millard and Sharon (Petty) Britton. On Oct. 11, 1994, he was united in marriage to Jaquetta "Jackie" Graves, who survives...

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library summer reading program kicks off at all branches in June. Folk singer and storyteller Judy Domney Bowen will perform at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4, at the Miller Branch Library. Additional performances include: 1:30 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Branch; 3:30 at the Aurora Branch; and 6 p.m. at the Marionville Branch...

Officers with the Monett Police Department responded to 1,666 incidents during the month of March, along with 16 collisions involving 28 vehicles. Four injury wrecks were documented and 26 vehicles were damaged during March. The 911 Communications Center answered approximately 310 "911" calls. Of those, 31 were hang-up calls. A total of 169 calls were dispatched to the Pierce City Police Department, including 7 medical assistance and 64 traffic stops...

Purdy Elementary Principal Jeff Swadley has announced character education medal winners for March. 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...

Crowder College had 22 competitors in the 2013 SkillsUSA state competition held earlier this month. Students competing must place either first or second at the district level to advance. Of those competing, there were 10 high school and 12 college students. Students competed in areas such as criminal justice, diesel technology, and knowledge bowl...

Monett High School has announced Students of the Month for M

On April 12 the students of St. Mary's School in Pierce City held the annual Reading Lock-In in the school's gymnasium. The students enjoyed reading activities including "silent" and "partner" reading. Pizza and ice cream was supplied by the Home and School organization...

On April 11 Trinity Lutheran School students, in grades five through eight, made a special delivery to Cox Health Ozarks Dialysis Clinic in Monett. Students cut, sewed, and tied pillows and lap blankets for patients at the clinic. This project was done under the direction and supervision of their teacher, Melissa Wolf...

On April 12, the first and second grade classes of St. Mary's in Pierce City had a special project in conclusion of their Science chapters on "Pond Habitats." The students made various creatures that live in and around ponds, describing each one and the related habitat...

Purdy Middle School's 100 percent Club enjoyed a fun-filled activity time to celebrate their third quarter achievement. Student members complete 100 percent of assignments in core classes, earn quarterly grades no lower than a C- and avoid detention, in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension for the entire quarter...

Monett Elementary School has announced Students of the Week for May 7.

Monett High School has announced Students of the Month for May.

A reception for retiring Verona R-7 school superintendent William Sweet will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 at Verona City Hall. The Leann Cemetery business meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 at the cemetery. Donations for mowing and upkeep will be accepted at the cemetery or can be mailed to Ruby Vincent, secretary, at 20674 Farm Road 2065, aurora 65605 Decorations not attached to stones should be picked up by June 11 for mowing to resume...

Several area athletes represented local school districts well on May 17 and 18 at the Class 2 state track meet at Lincoln University in Jefferson City. Lutheran St. Peters won the girls' team title with 64 points, followed by Herculaneum, Stockton and Monroe City on the trophy stand...

The Monett Cubs track team sent three athletes to the Class 3 Sectional Track Meet at Ozark on Saturday, May 18. Monett's Wes Abramovitz finished sixth in the long jump with a 19'1.75" effort. Wes Antill placed seventh in the 200-meter in 23.93, and Faith Schmidt was seventh in the girls' 100-meter hurdles in 17.35...

A Monett woman was recently honored at the State Family Volunteer Awards Conference held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield. Mary Thurman, past president to the Tom Wolfe Memorial Post #4207 Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars was recognized at the awards conference with an Impact Award for her work with the 1107th Aviation Group, Missouri Army National Guard.The 1107th is located in the Springfield area where Thurman's spouse, David, a 30-plus year veteran, is currently assigned...

In the wake of the deadly tornado that killed 24 people in Oklahoma on May 20, local residents are seeking information on shelter locations in the event southwest Missouri is battered by storms that continue to develop in the area. In Monett, one Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-rated shelter is available at the Monett Elementary School, located on Learning Lane...

Monett Elementary first grade teacher Lori Forrest is known for "going above and beyond" to ensure her students succeed in school, and that quality is just one of the reasons Forrest was selected as Teacher of the Month for April. Forrest was honored in front of her students and fellow first grade teachers during a morning assembly last week. ...

The Purdy Eagles baseball team dropped a close Class 2 sectional playoff game to Billings 2-0 on Monday, May 20. Dawson Meyer dominated Purdy from the mound, throwing a three-hit shutout for Billings. He struck out seven Eagles, including the final two batters of the game when Purdy had the tying runs in scoring position...

Severe storms moving through the Monett area disrupted power and prompted the sounding of storm sirens after 7:30 p.m. on May 20. Spotters in Seligman sighted what appeared to be a funnel cloud passing over tsouthern Barry County. According to Barry County Emergency Management Director David Compton, the sighting was consistent with rotational cloud activity seen by radar...

There were a lot of raw nerves and missed opportunities at the girls' high jump competition at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 2 Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City on Saturday, May 18. Slick footing on the Lincoln University venue apron seemed to affect a number of jumpers, and an inordinate percentage of girls bowed out after missing all three attempts at the opening height of 4'8"...

Kaylynn Harkey knows what adversity is all about. Competing for Purdy, a small, rural high school with no track and field facilities, she pursued an All-State medal in what is possibly the most challenging of all the events in her sport: the pole vault...

The Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS) Dirtcar Series returns to action this weekend for the 13th annual Tony Roper Memorial at the Monett Speedway on Sunday, May 26. Tony Roper was a NASCAR driver. He was born in Springfield, to Dean Roper and Shirley Medley. Growing up his family was heavily involved in auto racing...