Stories from Wednesday, August 27, 2014

James Grinder, 66, of Seligman, died at 2:10 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25. No services are planned. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville.

The Monett Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library will hold preschool story time at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, led by Jeanne Ann Camp, beginning Sept. 2. Volunteers from Tyson Foods will work on the Habitat for Humanity house at 111 E. Nellie in Monett on Saturday, Aug. 30. Tyson will provide lunch. Anyone interested in helping with the house may call Ron Overeem at 417-669-4420...

ABOVE: Following their August meeting, members of the Purdy school board viewed the completed hallway with satisfaction. The final phase of the project involves installation of decorative metal panels on the gym entrance exterior and interior vestibule. ...

Construction projects have moved forward quickly at the Monett School District. This week, crews for R.E. Smith will finish placing the pre-cast concrete walls for the storm shelter at the middle school campus. Superintendent Brad Hanson said the contractor did not expect to have the walls until Oct. 1, making progress exceptional...

School opened with a few wrinkles at the Purdy School District. Superintendent Steven Chancellor said the first late-start Mondays and changing the lunch schedule offered the two biggest changes. The school day now starts at 8:15 a.m., 15 minutes earlier, and lets out at 3:15 p.m., five minutes later than before. ...

Pierce City School Board members addressed the subject of teacher raises at a recent board retreat. "Where do we want to be in 10 years?" asked Russ Moreland. The current teacher's salary schedule rewards instructors for both longevity and added education credits...

For the second consecutive year, sales tax receipts for bi-county cities and counties improved in August, boosting receipts back almost to the pre-economic-downturn record in 2008. Overall, bi-county receipts increased by 7 percent over a year ago, though almost all of the improvement took place in Barry County...

Aurora at McDonald County Carl Junction at Mt. Vernon Mountain Grove at Cassville Seneca at Lamar East Newton at Monett Last weeks results Carl Junction at East Newton, 44-12 Mt. Vernon at Lamar, 0-63 Seneca at Monett, 0-55 Cassville at Aurora, 36-12...

55: The number of points Monett scored in its season opening win over Seneca. 2008: The last time Monett score 50-plus points in a game (61-0 over McDonald County and 63-7 against Aurora). 0: The number of turnovers Monett committed in the win over Seneca...

Coaches say one of the greatest complements they can pay their teams is to say they played hard. No coach in the Big 8 Conference understands that more than East Newton's Seth Johnson. In two seasons as the Patriots skipper, he has only managed a 1-19 record, but that isn't for lack of effort...

Leona L. Watkins, 67, of Cassville, died at 10:07 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 29, at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be at King Cemetery, Seligman.