Stories from Tuesday, April 8, 2014

By Melonie Roberts reporter@monett-times.com Rural Monett voters in both Barry and Lawrence counties have approved establishing a tax-supported fire district. Voters approved the proposal by 63 percent, with 281 yes votes, (172 in Barry County; 109 in Lawrence) to 164 no votes, (113 in Barry County; 51 in Lawrence)...

Purdy High School seniors Tyler Scott and Kailee Essary arrive via limousine at Purdy's prom at the Monett YMCA over the weekend. Jacob Brower/jbrower@monett-times.com

Taresa Lynn Vandergrift, 43, of Mt. Vernon, died at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at her home. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7, at the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral home.

Eugene H. Tilley, 91, of Austin, Minn., formerly of Purdy, died Wednesday, April 2, at Our House Senior Living Center in Austin. Service arrangements are pending and will be announced by Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett.

Carl L. Hobbs, 70, of Stotts City, died at 12:57 p.m. Friday, April 4, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. The body has been cremated. Services will be held at a later date under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home of Pierce City.

Cecil H. Mayer, 86, of Monett, died Sunday morning, April 6, after a lengthy illness. Service arrangements are pending and will be announced by Buchanan Funeral Home of Monett.

Joseph A. Velten, 60, of Crane, Mo. (formerly of Pierce City) entered into eternal rest on Thursday April 3, 2014 at Mercy hospital in Springfield, Mo. He was born on December 11, 1953 in Monett, Mo, the son of Charles and Anna (Gripka) Velten. He was united in marriage on February 14, 2002 in Maple Grove, Mo. to Judy A. Roderman, she survives...

Sharon Kay Clifton, 72, of Purdy entered into eternal rest on Thursday April 3, 2014 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. She was born on September 15, 1941 in Purdy, the daughter of the late Hershal and Marjorie (Douthitt) Hall. She was united in marriage in Purdy in 1960 to Loren Clifton, he survives...

Storm clouds painted an ominous picture over Ali Campbell's barn near Purdy Thursday evening. Campbell was able to capture the moment. The storm caused no damage at the property. Ali Campbell/Special to The Monett Times

A flag used in a combat mission by U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan has been presented to Monett Masonic Lodge No. 129, AF&AM. John Eden, worshipful master, at left, accepted the flag from Russ Hagar, at right, who returned from Afghanistan in February. ...

Barry County Clerk Gary Youngblood delivers voting equipment to the Monett City Park Casino for today's election. This is the first time since August 2012 that Barry County voters have cast ballots in the casino and the first time since the facility was rebuilt. ...

Renovations on the three buildings housing Bruner Pharmacy at Fourth and Broadway are nearing completion. On Thursday, new windows were installed in the two eastern buildings. Brett Dierker and Mackey Gilmartin with Dierker Construction removed old bricks above the framing for the new window prepared by Monett Glass. ...

Over the past three years, the sports facilities for the Monett community have improved immensely. Over $12 million dollars of both public and private money have been raised all in the name of benefiting the whole community, not just the elite. Over the course of 36 months, the former strawberry capitol has witnessed the construction of a state-of-the-art YMCA. Facilities at North Park were upgraded, improving the dugouts, fences and netting, and cost-efficient lighting was added...

The Monett tennis team took fourth place in the Mt. Vernon Tournament on Wednesday. Mt. Vernon won the team event, followed by Clever and Republic. Monett's George Fulton took second in No. 1 singles and Jairo Rueda was first in No. 2 singles. The No. 1 doubles team of Fulton and Rueda placed second...

Monett baseball What: Heads to Carthage on the heels of the Monett Tournament crown. Look ahead: Four games this week will test young Cubs teams.

The Monett Minis-terial Association's mid-week Lenten service will be held at 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 at the First Presbyterian Church in Monett. A light lunch will be served following the service. A retirement reception for John Foley and Doug Wallner, two longtime administrators with Arc of the Ozarks, will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, at the Monett office, 1010 Old Airport Rd...

The recent introduction of roller skating at the Monett Area YMCA is proving to be popular with area residents. According to Y personnel, hundreds of skaters have enjoyed skate time each weekend since roller skating was made available at the end of January this year...

reporter@monett-times.com People with tablets or electronic book readers such as Kindles and Nooks now have the option of borrowing titles from the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library system. "We are now part of the Missouri Libraries to Go consortium," said Gina Milburn, director of the regional library system. "We have downloadable e-books and audio books that are compatible with most devices. Once the books are downloaded to the device, they can be read anywhere."...

Registration for the Missouri Child Identification and Protection Program (MOCHIP) attracted 126 children to the Monett City Park Casino over the weekend. Hosted by Monett Masonic Lodge No. 129, AF&AM, the child ID effort was combined this year with the Monett Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo and held right before the Monett Jaycees' Easter Egg Hunt. ...

times-news@monett-times.com Loaves and Fishes, the hot meal home delivery service that celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2013, faces major challenges for its future. While financially sound, the number of clients served has dropped back to levels near when the organization began...

reporter@monett-times.com Local drug task agencies have seen a rise in drug-related activity over 2012, resulting in more arrests in 2013. According to Det. George Daoud, a total of 68 arrests were made in 2013, compared to 47 in 2012, an increase of 44 percent. Two of those included drug trafficking and one was for distributing, delivering, or manufacturing methamphetamine near a school. One meth lab was seized and disposed...

This photo by Amy Sampson (inset) earned first place in the rural landscape category of Grinnell Mutual's Hometown Pride contest. According to a press release, the contest "captures the spirit of people, places, and small-town living in the Midwest." Sampson is a teacher at Monett High School...

Issues City of Monett $6 million bond issue Pierce City R-6 School $.35 levy increase and rollback Cassville R-4 School District $4 million bond issue Cassville $.00375 sales tax for street maintenance Monett Rural Fire District Establish $0.30 District Levy...

Issues City of Monett $6 million bond issue Monett Rural Fire District Establish $0.30 District Levy Monett Rural Fire District Board (pick 5) Pierce City R- 6 School $0.35 Levy increase question Aurora R-8 School $2,500,000 Bond Issue Question Miller Rural Fire Protection District...

In the Pierce City municipal race, all incumbents will return to their chairs by an overwhelming vote during the Tuesday election.

Monett's $6 million bond issue to upgrade the waste treatment plant coasted to easy passage in Tuesday's election.

The Pierce City R-6 School District, which was seeking a 35-cent increase in the district's tax levy and elimination of the Proposition C property tax rollback, was set back in its efforts during Tuesday's election.

In less than three minutes, 1,200 Easter eggs strategically placed at Monett South Park disappeared over the weekend in the Monett Jaycees' annual Easter Egg Hunt. The colored treasures were placed in four groups for ages 3 and under, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Blake Snarey was all business as he gathered his finds in the youngest division. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com...

Board members brought back by wide margins