Stories from Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Monett Times Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is hoping to change an Arkansas Public Service Commission decision to build a transmission line through portions of Missouri. According to a SWEPCO release, the company is asking the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) to reconsider its decision and approve the company's originally-proposed transmission line route, Route 33, instead of the alternate route, Route 109, approved in February...

reporter@monett-times.com Winners in the 10th annual Draw Pierce City contest have been announced, with John Mills, a Neosho resident, winning first place in the adult division with his entry, "Frisco Approaching." Joan Stattel received an honorable mention for her watercolor of the Pierce City Christian Church...

times-news@monett-times.com Limits to how much parking the Monett City Council will give up to help the Monett Historical Society build a new museum has resulted in talks between the two bodies. The Monett Historical Society has asked the city to sell or lease the east half of the municipal parking lot at Second and Bond for the construction of a new museum. ...

reporter@monett-times.com Pierce City residents will soon see improvements to several public works projects, including work at the lift stations, the wastewater treatment plant and city streets. Alan Frantz, public works superintendent, said it had been a hard winter which had taken its toll on the city's streets...

On Saturday, March 29, St. Lawrence Catholic School in Monett will host the 11th annual Dinner, Dance and Auction with the theme "Horseshoes and Halos." The event begins with a social at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. Classes create quilts or other items to be auctioned off at 7 p.m. ...

composition@monett-times.com The Blue Ridge Apartments in Wheaton have seen their share of tragedy in recent history, and nearly saw another as a driver lost control while attempting to leave the parking lot over the weekend. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Charles Brown, 42, of Purdy, was trying to leave the parking lot Sunday in his 2004 Toyota Tacoma when the vehicle struck 35-year-old Jared Anderson of Wheaton...

composition@monett-times.com A Crane man received minor injuries in a crash that the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported was caused by wintry conditions over the weekend. The crash happened at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on Route K, three miles north of Aurora, when a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by Alexander Estes, 19, was headed south and lost control on the slush-covered roadway, ran off the right side of the road and overturned...

sports@monett-times.com SPRINGFIELD -- The sweetest steps Drury junior Shelby White had ever climbed belonged to an aluminum ladder on the basketball floor of the O'Reilly Family Event Center this week. Moments after the Lady Panthers earned a 99-63 victory in the NCAA Division 2 Women's Midwest Regional Monday night, the climbing apparatus was step up for the triumphant team to cut down the net...

sports@monett-times.com In the wake of the Cassville athletic director's departure, the school district is searching for the person who will fill his shoes. David Large is leaving the district to take the athletic director opening at the Branson School District. He replaces Tony Berry, Branson activities director, who accepted a position as assistant superintendent at School of the Osage...

Purdy youth interested in signing up for summer baseball and softball program will have three opportunities. The first is on March 25 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. the next signup is slated for March 29 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and the final announce signup is April 1 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m...

In Monday's edition, Wayne State College Coach Kieismeier's quote should have read: "I can't find the right words to describe what Addy means to this team. She is such a mature player. We had her on the floor 35 of today's 40 minutes. That tells you what I think of her abilities."...

Thirty-three Monett High School juniors and seniors will be inducted into the National Honor Society during ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 at the high school commons. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.33 out of a scale of 4.0 to be eligible for consideration. Potential members must meet high standards of leadership, service and character...

The Purdy High School speech and debate team participated in the District 5 Speech and Debate Tournament on Feb. 25 and Feb. 28. The Reader's Theatre Troupe of Emily Wolf, Katherine Wise, Billie House, Xena Smith, Megan Whitcomb, Megan Thomas, Lucas White, Kaden Propps, Kelton Mattingly, Umar Akhtar, Gannon Clevenger, Robby Moody, Brayden Jones, Tanner Marshall and Nicole Garner brought home the fourth place trophy in Reader's Theatre. Katherine Wise received the Best Supporting Actress award...

Lawrence County's sheriff reports that four drunk driving arrests, two felony arrests and seven citations were made during a recent four-day drunk driving prevention campaign. Approximately 60 warnings for various other violations were also issued. "I am proud of our deputies for their hard work and dedication to making our region's roadways safer," said Brad DeLay, Lawrence County sheriff...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett City Council will hear public comment on five ordinances at its regular meeting Thursday morning. Council members will accept comment on the following: The proposal to ban collecting donations at intersections on Highway 60, a practice used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for its Buddy Poppy drive on Memorial Day weekend...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com With winter weather lingering and spring due to start Thursday, kids took the initiative to shake off the last vestiges of winter doldrums, even discarding their coats as these three did this week. Dusting off their bicycles and taking spins down the block are, from left: Raul Salas, Zach Stirwalt and Brandon Riggs...

Nancy Avonell Avondet, 84, a lifelong resident of Monett, died peacefully Thursday morning, March 13, 2014. Born in Monett on February 11, 1930, Avonell was the daughter of Armond and Sybil Carlin. She married Louis Avondet, April 23, 1950, her beloved husband of 62 years. Avonell's greatest joy came from time spent with her family and friends, especially her five grandchildren. She loved her Lord and Savior and was a lifelong member of New Site Baptist Church in Monett...

Glenda "Sue" Garoutte, 71, of Stotts City, died at 9:20 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 21, at the First Baptist Church of Stotts City. Burial will follow at Red Oak Cemetery near La Russell under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City...

Darrell E. Haer, 89, of Springfield, died Friday, March 14, at the Maples Health and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the South Street Christian Church located at 500 South Avenue in Springfield followed by a reception...

Geraldine Aldridge, 92, of Edmond, Okla., formerly of Cassville, died Monday, March 17. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at Maplewood Cemetery under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Cassville. Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, March 21, at the funeral home...

Contributed photos Larry (Sonny) & Linda (Suttles) Simpson will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversay on March 26, 2014. Their children are throwing a surprise anniversary party for them at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Crane Community Center on Dodge Holler Road in Crane. Family and friends are invited to attend, and those who have played music with Sonny are invited to bring their instruments. The omission of gifts is requested. For more information, contact Amy at 417-440-0065...

Air Force Airman Ashley R. Boucher has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills...

Contributed photo Mike and Kim Roller of Purdy are happy to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Avery Dawn Roller, to Adam Joseph Legg, son of Donna Lasswell and Tom Legg of Springfield. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Bill and Edna Haynes of Monett, and Bill and Peggy Roller of Purdy. ...

Our upcoming 'Crafternoon Delights' classes include: 'Spring Flower Arrangement' with Naomi Walker, March 25, at 1:30 p.m.; 'Learn to Play the Guitar' on March 25, at 1:30 p.m., with John Clapper; and an upcoming Watercolor Class with Alexander Murphy. All classes take place in our meeting room at 1:30 p.m., and are free to the public...

Contributed photo A ribbon cutting ceremony was held recently to officially christen the Barry County Shrine Club in Monett. Pictured are, from left, Glenda Cuendet, Andy Goodson, Jeff Meredith, John Eden, Darrin Henson, Rajah Jeff Bell, Andy Brandt, Benji Oakley, James Patton, Donna Beckett and Jim Reed...