Stories from Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Monett City Council has hired an engineering firm to conduct a community needs assessment for aquatic resources. After advertising for statements of qualifications, council members awarded a contract to Water's Edge Aquatic Design, of Lenexa, Kan., for services not exceeding $18,230. The contract was awarded at the council's July 19 meeting...

A handicapped accessible public water fountain has been installed at the pocket park at Sixth Street and Broadway in downtown Monett. It will be the first public drinking fountain downtown in decades.

Students at Crowder College Cassville Campus are benefitting from federal grant program aimed at providing services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This fall, the local campus begins its third year of the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant, which intially provided $220,000 in annual funding for the program, which is aimed at increasing college retention and graduation rates for its participants...

Members of the Local Emergency Planning District hosted a tabletop exercise as part of the regular July meeting. The exercise scenario involved a train crash on the Barry-Lawrence county line. The four-engine train in the scenario was loaded with chlorine, potassium hydroxide and sodium chlorate, a deadly mix of chemicals that resulted in six fatalities and a host of other patients needing immediate treatment...

Staff members with Hospic Compassus completed the day-long workshop on July 13 to certify six new volunteers. The event was hosted by New Beginnings Ministry in Seligman. Sessions were led by various leaders on the Compassus Hospice team. Topics such as grief, confidentiality, health concerns and social work issues were addressed...

The Mt. Vernon Community Theatre will be performing "Fiddler on the Roof" on July 25 through July 28 at the MARC (822 Mt. Vernon Blvd) in Mt. Vernon. Tickets are $10 each, with a special rate of $8 each for groups of 10 or more on Thursday, July 25. Tickets can be purchased evenings beginning July 22 at the box office at the MARC...

Meek's home building centers will host a grand re-opening event in honor of their newly remodeled store in Mt. Vernon from Saturday, Aug. 3 to Aug. 12. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2. by the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce...

EIGHTY YEARS AGO July 24, 1933 Several of Springfield's foremost golfers came to Monett and played with several Monett golfers. Most came from the Glenstone Club and chalked up some excellent scores. Vegetables seem to be favored amount petty thieves in Monett who for the past several days have been raiding gardens and vegetable baskets on people's back porches...

The Purdy Class of 1958 recently hosted its 55th year reunion.

One new DVD at the Pierce City Branch is Jack the Giant Slayer. Two new easy reader titles include: "Mia and the Girl with a Twirl" by Robin Farley; and "Flat Stanley Goes Camping" by Lori Houran. Adult fiction titles includes: "Sweet Salt Air" by Barbara Delin-sky; "Trains and Lovers" by Alexander McCall Smith; "Corrupt Prac-tices: a Parker Stern novel" by Robert Rot-stein; and "Island Girls" by Nancy Thayer...

Emil Burnetti, age 77, of Monett, Mo., passed away on Monday morning, July 22, 2013, while at his home, following a short illness. Emil was born on Feb. 23, 1936 in Joliet, Ill., the son of Emil Burnetti, Sr. and Bernice (Jolarando) Burnetti. Emil grew up in Joliet and attended Joliet High School...

Mark Vincent Blinzler, 58, of El Dorado Springs, Mo., formerly of Pierce City, passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at his home in El Dorado Springs. He was born on Dec. 1, 1954 in Monett, Mo., the son of the late Francis Sylvester and Mary Margaret (Mulrenin) Blinzler...

James F. Parrigon Sr., 85, of Pierce City, passed away Monday, July 22 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. He was the son of Luther Parrigon and Mary Ann (Heeter) Parrigon. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Joan Koehler, of the home. James and Caroline were married Aug. 26, 1953, in Sacred Heart Church, Verona, Mo. He retired from Wells Aluminum in 1991, and was a lifelong farmer...

Mr. George Edward Hamilton, age 71, of Grand Rapids, Mich., passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2013. He was born on Jan. 20, 1942, in Pierce City, Mo., to Harold and Wilma (Chapman) Hamilton. He was an inspector for the United States Army, serving for 30 years until his retirement in 1997. ...

Bobby Leroy Priest, age 43, of Rocky Comfort, died Saturday, July 20. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 25, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Quaker Cemetery, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, in Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Lowell B. Gilje, age 68, of Exeter, died on Saturday, July 20, at his home. Memorial services are under the direction of White Funeral Home, Cassville.