Stories from Saturday, June 28, 2014

Local school superintendents offered "wait and see" sentiments about Gov. Jay Nixon's announcement that he plans to withhold $1.1 billion in state spending in light of bills passed by the Missouri General Assembly. Brad Hanson, Monett R-1 superintendent, saw the announcement in terms of political maneuvering between the governor and the legislature in light of several additional tax cut bills passed late in the session...

The last few days have been busy for Kelly DeGraffenreid. A Shelter Insurance agent in Monett for nearly 31 years, DeGraffenreid and his wife, Donna, are retiring and have seen a steady stream of friends and longtime customers coming by the office at Tenth and Broadway as they pack up...

The traditional Fourth of July celebration, hosted by the Monett Chamber of Commerce, is set to kick off at noon on Friday at Monett's South Park. The Kids Carnival will open at noon, with Party Station providing entertainment for youngsters at the park. Bill's Laser Tag will also be on site to entertain older youth. Wristbands will be sold to allow unlimited play...

Students at Monett Elementary School have explored new territory this month during summer school. Summer school gives the school an opportunity to incorporate creativity, collaboration and critical thinking -- plus have some fun, according to Sarah Garner, assistant principal in charge of summer school...

Law enforcement officials are still seeking the whereabouts of Joe Andrus, also known as Michael Murphy, Joe Seeley and Lloyd Seeley, for felony probation violation and passing bad checks. Andrus is described as 31 years old and standing 6-1 and weighing 240 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes...

A Barry County woman sustained minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 37 about a mile south of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred when a 1990 Toyota, driven by Ronald J. Beaudoin, 51, of Cassville, struck a 1990 Ford F150, driven by Jerry G. Bickford, 38, of Cassville, from behind at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday...

The sales tax proposal to fund highway construction in Missouri poses some very difficult questions, especially in light of the current political landscape in the state. On the one hand, it's not hard to picture the Missouri General Assembly letting funding for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) fall below the $500 million mark. MoDOT could easily hold true to its promise of a maintenance-only budget. For small rural roads, minimal effort by MoDOT means hard times for us...

I sat with a Korean War/United States Air Force Bomber Pilot at a Veterans Administration facility in the Ozarks. He was in his 80s, spry and watchful. His gnarled, weathered hands gripped the handle of his cane. My husband and I were sitting side by side, holding hands...

Helen Irene Wise, 95, of Aurora, died at 1:35 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 28, at the United Methodist Church of Aurora, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Springfield National Cemetery...

Gene Marvin Ray, 78, of Miller, died at 8:15 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Graveside services, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 30, at the Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery, with full military honors. Services are under the direction of the Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home, Miller. Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 29, at the funeral home...

T.J. King, 87, of Pea Ridge, Ark., formerly of Cassville, died at 2:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 24. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 29, at Fohn Funeral Home, in Cassville. Burial will be at Mineral Springs Cemetery, Cassville. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville...

Monett golf superintendent Justin Beck is a tough man to track down. Beck, who has been in charge of golf operations at Windmill Ridge for two years, knew he had a tough row to hoe in order to return the course to peak performance. The problems at Monett were enhanced by a drought in 2010...

In a light-hearted moment at a recent Monett City Council meeting, Mayor Jim Orr asked Monett Golf Superintendent Justin Beck could be done to solve the turf problem at the South Park soccer fields. Beck replied "install artificial turf." The comment drew a chuckle from those in attendance, then Beck explained the situation...