Stories from Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Contributed photo Preparations are in full swing for the fifth annual Community Fundraiser Concert, sponsored by the Purdy Renewal Project and the Purdy High Spanish Club. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, in the Purdy High School gym, featuring students, staff and community talent. ...

All Monett R-1 students will be dismissed early from classes on Friday. Students will be dismissed from each campus on the following schedule: Monett Elementary School, noon; Central Park Elementary, 11:50 a.m.; Monett Intermediate School, 11:45 a.m.; Monett Middle School, 12:15 p.m.; Monett High School, 12:15 p.m.; and Scott Tech, 12:15 p.m...

times-news@monett-times.com Construction at the Purdy school complex has progressed slowly since the road on the north side of the high school was closed in February. "We're still missing an entryway," said Steven Chancellor, Purdy superintendent. "The kids are already intrigued by the plywood [over the old entryway to the gym]."...

times-news@monett-times.com Audiences of students and adults alike responded with intense interest to the story of Rachel Scott, a casualty in the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, during the presentation of Rachel's Challenge. According to Judge Mike Garrett, who attended both sessions, "You could have heard a pin drop" during the presentation to the Monett High School students during the day Monday. ...

reporter@monett-times.com PIERCE CITY -- The lights will remain on in Pierce City for at least another two years. Aldermen recently approved the first reading of a two-year contract with Empire District Electric Company to provide electrical service to the city...

times-news@monett-times.com Carbon monoxide detectors proved lifesavers to a Monett family this week when the alarms sounded at their home at 611 Fifth St. Monett firefighters responded to the William Hamilton home at 611 Fifth St. Monday and detected higher than normal concentrations of carbon monoxide with their meters. A team from Missouri Gas Energy as responded and determined the household furnace was defective...

WARRENSBURG -- A University of Central Missouri student from Monett is part of the cast of an upcoming production of "Julius Caesar." Meg Aleshire, daughter of Jean Aleshire, Monett, will play Caius Cassius for the production, set for April 2-6 at the Highlander Theatre...

times-news@monett-times.com Vince Jennings, 58, a Democrat from Marionville, has filed to run as state representative for the 157th District, which includes most of Lawrence County, including Forest Park in Monett. A southwest Missouri resident for over 30 years, Jennings has lived in Marionville since 2010. ...

composition@monett-times.com Two Joplin men were hurt when the 2001 Ford Focus they were traveling in hit a 2006 Freightliner on Interstate 44 five miles west of Mt. Vernon. The Highway Patrol report stated that the crash happened at 4 p.m. Monday when Dominic Martello, 30, was driving eastbound in the passing lane and lost control, crossing the center line and hitting the tractor trailer driven by Jose Marquez, 38, of Oak Lawn, Ill...

composition@monett-times.com Two Joplin men were hurt when the 2001 Ford Focus they were traveling in hit a 2006 Freightliner on Interstate 44 five miles west of Mt. Vernon. The Highway Patrol report stated that the crash happened at 4 p.m. Monday when Dominic Martello, 30, was driving eastbound in the passing lane and lost control, crossing the center line and hitting the tractor trailer driven by Jose Marquez, 38, of Oak Lawn, Ill...

composition@monett-times.com Two people were injured on Interstate 44 when a vehicle attempted to change lanes to pass, but hit another truck who was already in the left lane. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, both vehicles were headed east on I-44 12 miles west of Mt. ...

Judith Ann "Judy" Schardein, 73, of Shell Knob, died at 2:04 a.m. Saturday, March 22. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Shell Knob under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home of Shell Knob.

Bettie L. Hall, 89, of Big Springs, Texas, formerly of Aurora, died at 5:20 a.m. Monday, March 24, at the Texas State Veterans Home in Big Springs. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, at the United Methodist Church in Aurora with burial to follow at Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City...

Christin Janssen/Special to the Monett Times The Monett Area YMCA Marlins swim team pose with their numerous trophies won during the YMCA regional swim meet held earlier this month. The Marlins placed third in the meet.

sports@monett-times.com The Monett tennis team is set to begin another season on the court under coach Bob Crain. Crain knows that this season will be an uphill battle as he seeks to plug four of the top six holes in his lineup. "Losing four varsity players will make it tough to improve on last year's 4-4 season record," Crain said. "A few of our opponents lost (only) one to three varsity players, so depth will be important again this year. This will be a building year."...

sports@monett-times.com Pierce City can't wait to take the diamond this season. With the squad the Eagles have assembled, they seem to have conquered every obstacle in their path from recent years. Whether it was scraping enough players together to field a team, looking for upperclassman leadership and fielding talent, the 2013-14 Eagles appear to have it all...

The Monett Times A man being held in the Barry County jail on a smuggling warrant out of California is the victim of an apparent suicide that occurred Monday night. Arnolfo Quintana, 59, of San Bernardino, Calif., was being held on a $5 million bond as a fugitive from out of state, wanted for allegedly smuggling drugs. Three inmates found Quintana at about 9 p.m. Monday after he used his pants in an apparent suicide...

Absentee balloting for the April 8 election will continue through April 7 at the county clerk's offices. Screenings for preschool at the Verona School District will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 28 and 1 to 6 p.m. on March 31. Eligible children must turn age 4 by Aug. 1. Families may call Lisa Braden at 417-498-6418 to schedule an appointment...

times-news@monett-times.com A new curriculum has expanded the focus of the Parents as Teachers program in Monett, but left funding as a political football tossed between the state and local school board. According to Elaine O'Neal, special services director, the Monett Parents as Teachers program uses the recently-developed foundational curriculum. The new curriculum focuses on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being...

The Monett Times The Barry County Commission is in negotiations with the Table Rock Lake and Dam Board and the Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock, Ark., to lease the Viney Creek Recreational Area, which was tabbed for closure earlier this year. Cherry Warren, presiding commissioner, said the county has completed a right of availability to see if it can lease the park, and is waiting for negotiations to begin...

The Monett Times A bill has been filed in the Missouri House of Representatives that would legalize marijuana for recreational use, and local law enforcement and legislators have come out against the proposal. State Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, a former Boone County judge, introduced House Bill 1659 in January, saying he has seen the lives of too many young people ruined by convictions of small amounts of the drug. ...

reporter@monett-times.com PIERCE CITY -- A local group managed to raise over $40,000 to benefit Wildlife Unlimited, $20,000 of which will support local charities and scholarships. Eldon Skinner, president of the Southwest Missouri chapter of Wildlife Unlimited, said approximately 350 members purchased banquet tickets and the remaining funds were raised through silent and live auction items, including hunting trips and resort stays, as well as chances to win guns, artwork and outdoor merchandise...

The Monett Times The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) released updated property tax estimates for the proposed Route 109 345 kV transmission line that would go through Barry and McDonald counties, and the new estimate is, at best, 33.5 percent of the original $820,000 estimate...