Stories from Monday, March 24, 2014

sports@monett-times.com For the Purdy baseball team, it's back to the drawing board. The Eagles have been a dominant force in the Ozark 7 Conference for several years, winning seven of the last eight conference titles, including the last four straight...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett School Board has approved $7.5 million in construction contracts for two storm safe rooms. The work will add a performing arts center at the high school and a new cafeteria to serve the middle and intermediate school campuses...

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com A rollover crash on Farm Road 1090 about a mile south of Highway 60 in Monett resulted in an Exeter woman being transported with moderate injuries to a Springfield hospital. According to a report from the Monett Police Department, the crash occurred when the driver of a northbound Chevrolet Impala, Joann Friend, 56, lost control of the vehicle, hit a driveway culvert and went airborne for approximately 29 feet. ...

times-news@monett-times.com The Monett Rural Fire Association has reversed its policy on responding to medical calls. The organization has elected to change its bylaws to better position the organization for a positive public vote on establishing a tax-supported fire district on April 8...

times-news@monett-times.com Passage of a forgotten weight limit ordinance for Freistatt streets recently culminated in a heated exchange between a resident and the mayor and pledges of follow-up action. A complaint alerted village officials that a large Blevins Asphalt truck was being driven home by a resident. ...

times-news@monett-times.com Prosecution continues this week in the homicides of Rebecca and Russell Porter of Willard. Rebecca Porter is the sister of Monett contractor Jim Hufft. Windy Friend, 33, the wife of convicted gunman Tony Friend, will face a jury trial over two counts of first-degree murder in Forsyth in Taney County. Jury selection is expected to take up much of the day today, followed by opening arguments. Friend is now represented by William Fleischaker of Joplin...

reporter@monett-times.com PIERCE CITY -- There will be some changes in protocol at the Pierce City Municipal Pool when it opens for business this summer. According to Alderman Scott Wahl, he had received several complaints from pool customers last summer who paid admission to the pool and were told to leave after about 30 minutes because "there weren't enough people to stay open." Those customers did not receive refunds...

Rachel's Challenge, a program on school violence and bullying, will be presented at 6 p.m. today, March 24, at the Monett High School gym. The program draws on the journals of one of the teens killed at Columbine High School. The Monett TIF Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25 at the Monett City Park Casino...

Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com In recognition of National Brain Injury Awareness Month in March, EFCO Corporation in Monett held its first bike helmet drive. Partner employees requested helmets for their children, and the company gave out 50. "We could have given out twice that number," said Melissa Reavis, occupational health nurse. Shown displaying their helmets, from left, are: Levi Szydloski, Caden Szydloski, Anjali Mendez and Eric Mendez...

Regarding the March 17 edition article "Expenses climbing for Verona School District," Superintendent Tony Simmons will present school board members with data, from which they will make recommendations and take action on employee salaries, including his...

sports@monett-times.com FAIR PLAY -- The Monett Lady Cubs (1-2) welcome the Bolivar Lady Liberators to Monett on Tuesday for their soccer home opener. If the Lady Cubs have a little extra spring in their step this week, there is a good reason. Monett recorded its first victory in program history Friday and took fourth place in the Fair Play Tournament...

The Monett Cubs (0-1) fell 11-1 to Bolivar on Friday to open the baseball season. Five Monett fielding errors led to 8 unearned Liberator runs. Bolivar score 6 times in the first and 5 times in the fifth. Monett's Cameron Witt doubled in the fifth and scored on a Kyle McCalister sacrifice fly to account for the purple and gold's only run...

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com Members of the Monett High School chapter of National Honor Society looked on as Michael Childress lit a candle during inductio

Jewell M. Bagby, 86, of Aurora, died at 3:14 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 24, at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora with a memorial service to follow at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora under the direction of Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home of Aurora...

Boua Long Cha, age 61, of Wyandotte, Okla., died Monday, March 17, 2014. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 24, at Hazel Green Cemetery in Boulder City under the direction of McQueen Funeral Home of Wheaton.