Stories from Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The FBI and area law enforcement agencies are searching for a Monett man in connection with the armed robbery of a Great Southern Bank branch in Springfield on June 14. Joseph K. Meierotto, 49, of Monett, was formally charged with bank robbery in the U.S. District Court in Springfield on June 18 after he was identified through bank surveillance photos...

The demolition of the buildings at the rest stop on Interstate 44 east of Mt. Vernon got underway on June 7. The rest stops on both sides of the highway were closed following the Memorial Day holiday and are scheduled to reopen after the Labor Day holiday as truck stops. There will be toilets but no hand-washing facilities. Roads leading back from the highway into a more secluded area have been removed...

Duane Sholes, age 82, of Cassville, died on Monday, June 17, at Benchmark Healthcare of Monett. Arrangements are under the direction of White Funeral Home in Cassville.

Patricia A. Alexander, age 68, of Seneca, died on June 16 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville,

Lois Pruitt, age 83, of Pierce City, died at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 17, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on June 21 at Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pierce City Cemetery...

Gabriel Lee Butler, infant son of Brandon Lee and Angelique Elizabeth Ellen (Estes) Butler, died at 8:10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born Friday, June 14, 2013 at 8:03 a.m. A graveside service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery. Family visitation will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel prior to the graveside service...

The Monett City Council plans to discuss the dedication of a memorial to longtime youth baseball coach Lawrence Gripka during the regular monthly council meeting on Thursday, June 20. Gripka, who coached young people for decades at North Park, will be remembered with a memorial name plate at North Park...

Monett Intermediate School Cubpella students recently sang for the Kodaly Honor Choir of the Ozarks.

Approximately 25 current and former Purdy R-2 School District employees hosted a memorial book drive in honor of former Purdy Elementary Principal Patty Laney, who died in April. The group collected over 60 new children's and young adult titles to donate to the Purdy school library to honor Laney, who served as principal from 1995 to 2002...

Several Purdy students were recognized for displaying exemplary character in May. Honored students were selected based on their ability to demonstrate courage.

The Monett Speedway featured a full slate of races on Friday June 14. Five classes, including the Oil Capital Racing Series (OCRS) competed for points, prizes and prestige at the speedway. The feature finish results are as follows. A Modified 1. Johnny Bone, Jr...

A Pierce City woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, on County Road 2210 about three miles east of Monett. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a 1988 Ford Taurus, Della M. Headrick, 77, of Pierce City, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch...

"It will be interesting to see what impact unusual weather this spring, including snow in May, had on area hay production," said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. "The best way to analyze the weather factor is to test the hay," Cole continued. While doing that, Cole urges area producers to enter their hay in the annual Ozark Empire Fair (OEF) Hay Show...

Sign-ups for Monett Cubs youth football and cheerleading will be held June 24 through June 26 and June 29 at the Monett Athletic Complex (the Mac), east of Monett High School. Students third through sixth grade can participate. Cost is $50. Sign-ups are 6 to 8 p.m. on June 24, through June 26 and from 9 a.m. to noon on June 29. For more information, call football coach Sean Kelley at 235-9700 or cheerleading coach Gwen Fillinger at 417-489-1657...

Tree care becomes one of the bigger home and lawn maintenance projects. According to certified arborist Brett Cogburn, many vendors offer to work on trees and caution is important, especially in dealing with unfamiliar parties. "There are lots of scams this time of year," Cogburn said. "Absolutely don't pay anyone up front for tree work."...

Not everyone can say they plan to travel to the past over their summer vacation, but Wheaton history teacher Jason Navarro is going to do just that. Navarro, the newly named Teacher of the Year for the State of Missouri through the National History Day competition, is taking a step back in time to re-visit the Civil War by visiting historic sites in Vicksburg, Miss., Shiloh, Tenn., Gettysburg, Pa., Antietam, Md., Harper's Ferry, W. ...

Justin Beck, the superintendent at Monett's Windmill Ridge municipal golf course, is very optimistic about the quality and improvements planned at the course. Starting in January and after working through the spring, Beck told members of the Monett Kiwanis Club he expects to build on a good start, though much work may take several years to show itself...