Stories from Friday, January 24, 2014

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com Myka Masters, a student on the Pierce City Scholar's Bowl team, recently took first place in All Conference competition. At left, Masters, pictured above with Vickie Slagle, English teacher and Scholar Bowl sponsor, was honored at the January meeting of the Pierce City School Board...

By Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com Sharon Kleine of Mt. Vernon, who has served as treasurer of Lawrence County since January 1999, has announced she will not seek re-election to a five term in office. Kleine returned last week from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where she underwent surgery for cancer. Kleine reported she received "a very positive prognosis" and anticipates a full recovery...

By Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com A delegation from the Purdy R-2 School District is visiting Apple Computer headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., this week to explore technology options for Purdy students. Superintendent Steven Chancellor is leading the group that includes Randy Henderson and Ronnie Veith, school board president and vice president, and several faculty members...

By Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com A wet year resulted in a dramatic turnaround in fire runs for the Monett Rural Fire Association in 2013. Chief John Hull reported firefighters made 121 runs, down from 198 in 2012 and right in line with the 123 made in 2011...

By Melonie Roberts reporter@monett-times.com A Purdy teen has been charged with the felony of second degree assault after allegedly threatening a juvenile classmate on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the recycling center at Purdy School. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Johnathan William Gee, 17, of Purdy, pulled a lock blade knife and held it to the victim's throat while threatening to "slit his throat like a pig."...

By Melonie Roberts reporter@monett-times.com This year marks the 40th anniversary of Catholic Schools Week, and two local schools are marking the milestone event with celebrations all week long. St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett will begin its celebration on Sunday, with this year's theme Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service. The theme will focus on the parish, where students will host a chili cook-off after the 10 a.m. Mass. Student work will also be on display...

The McDowell Music Jubilee continues on Saturday, Jan. 25. The open mike sessions for old-time music will begin at 6:30 p.m. The jubilee is located south of Highway Z at Pleasant Ridge on Highway V to McDowell and follow the signs. The next dance at the Pierce City Senior Citizens Center will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 23. The Fun Timers will provide live music. Cost is $3...

By Melonie Roberts reporter@monett-times.com Kaci Pfaff, training specialist at EFCO, a Pella Company, recently presented a check in the amount of $250 to Laura Triplett, Monett High School Spanish Teacher, who was named Teacher of the Month for October...

By Jared Lankford sports@monett-times.com The alarm clock rings at 5:30 a.m. every morning, and Monett wrestler Chase Brennan is immediately faced with two choices: hit snooze or run. Brennan knows that hitting the snooze button is not an option, because somewhere in Missouri there is a contender lacing up his shoes and working on getting better...

Contributed photo Monett Elementary School recently named Students of the Week for the week of Jan. 13. Receiving the honor were, front row from left, Marley Jackson, Diego Castillo, Johana Piedra & Sabastian Perez. Back row are Loreina Cordero, Robert Salas, Josiah Ball & Devin DeSantiago. Absent from photo was Austin Stewart...

Contributed photo Monett Intermediate School has announced their November students of the month, an announcement that was delayed due to inclement weather and student absences. They are, from left, Erick Alvarez, Raymond Villalta, Tanner Wright, Bretton Palmer, England Yarbro, Keaton Hohensee, Jennifer Vasquez, and Peyton Poage...

Jan. 24, 1934 Robert Campbell got up from supper and climbed into his Chevrolet sedan in front of his home at 508 Third Street. A bandit, hidden behind the front street, jabbed a gun in Campbell's back and told him to drive. Campbell was robbed of $4 and a flashlight at the IOOF Cemetery, but convinced the robber his car had mechanical problems SO a second car took the robber away...

By Murray Bishoff times-news@monett-times.com Construction is underway on a 16,000-square-foot addition to Arnhart Baptist Church, located three miles east of Purdy on Highway C. According to Pastor John Duncan, the addition will include a new 250-seat auditorium, plus a gym-sized multi-purpose room that will be used for a fellowship hall and youth activities. Additional construction will include a gathering area with a fireplace, a large kitchen and new offices...

The good news out of Monett City Hall this week is work on the alleys in coming. Not in next year's budget, but right away. Street Superintendent Russ Balmas said he has been planning to work on the alleys for the past four months. His brush collection crew has two weeks a month to work on extra projects. Workers have been cutting trees and brush for some time now. Once the edge work concludes, the crew will move in with cold mix and patch the alleys...

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com Marie Leavitt, a seventh-grade student at Pierce City R-6 School, recently presented her science fair project for school board members. Her experiment included baking chocolate chip cookies and leaving out key ingredients, such as salt or vanilla, to determine how the taste and texture of the finished product would be affected. ...

J.D. Fletcher, 83, of Eagle Rock, died at 6:18 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at All Faith United Methodist Church in Eagle Rock under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Cassville. Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the funeral home...

Terry Wayne Miller, 52, of Aurora, died at 2:51 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Burial will be at a later date at Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora under the direction of Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home of Aurora. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the funeral home...