Stories from Saturday, October 18, 2014

Dear Editor, Have you ever been told that jail is the only option? Mental illness is an "above the neck" illness treated much differently than any other. My 18-year-old son, who is autistic, has been sitting in jail for weeks without his needs being met. Worse yet, the things he has seen and heard while incarcerated are scarred into his brain...

As the Monett Chamber of Commerce begins leading discussions about where is Monett going and how do we get there, the subject arises of the next generation that will lead the community. This is a much harder question that it seems. From all accounts, young professionals and millennials have a different world view. They aren't very tolerant of conditions they don't like. That includes a job, a career, or a town that doesn't deliver satisfaction...

The Monett volleyball team will put its season on the line Monday, as they play Seneca in the Class 3, District 10 Tournament in Aurora. "Our defense will be the key," said Julie Dalton, Monett coach. "Every team in the tournament has big hitters, and we have to be prepared for them."...

Purdy Elementary School students learned about friendship as their character education lesson in August.

Five Purdy High School vocalists will join 295 students from 25 area schools in the All-District Honor Choir performance on Oct. 25.

The Monett High School Marching Pride Band and Flag Corps placed first in their division as well as placing second overall, behind Carthage by 1.2 points, at the El Dorado Marching Festival on Oct. 11. The drum line received the "Best in Class" and the highest scoring of the day out of all the divisions...

Monett Elementary selected the following as Student of the Week for October 13.

Wayne Schnake, of Stotts City, will celebrate his 80th birthday with a birthday reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 at the First Baptist Church in Stotts City.

Professional development is a key component to many jobs and teaching is no exception. During the school year, Monett R-1 school district provides professional development days designed for instructors and staff to improve their skills in a variety of different settings and methods...

First State Bank of Purdy held Customer Appreciation Day at its branches in Purdy, Monett, Pierce City and Cassville this week

Students from Central Elementary School in Pierce City had the opportunity to tour a Pierce City Fire Protection District pumper truck and leaned about the importance of having smoke detectors in the home during Fire Prevention Week last week.

Southern Missouri Beekeepers of Monett will hold their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at the First United Methodist Church, 1600 N. Central. Charlie Johnson will speak about swarm traps and how to catch swarms. Bob Clark will discuss pests and predators of honey bees. All interested persons welcome. For more information, people may contact John Schmidt at 235-7726...

More than 30 Monett area dairy farmers turned out for the informational meeting on the new Dairy Margin Protection Program at the Monett City Park on Wednesday.

Jerry Hall, co-founder of Jack Henry and Associates, has posthumously received the American Heart Association's Missourian Award. Hall, who died in 2013 at age 69, was a Butterfield native and graduate of Purdy High School. He and Jack Henry founded Jack Henry and Associates in 1976. Hall received the Monett Chamber of Commerce's Community Service Award in 2009...

Final rehearsals are being held this week for the Ozark Festival Orchestra's opening concert of its 35th season.

The city of Monett recently raised rental rates for the its major airplane hangars at the Monett Regional Airport, effective Jan. 1, 2015. Airport Superintendent Howard Frazier reported rent rates had not changed in several years. Rates for Hangar A will rise from $110 a month to $130. The charge for Hangar C will rise from $140 a month to $150. End units will increase from $165 a month to $175...

Monday marks the 80th anniversary of the death of "Pretty Boy" Floyd, one of many gangsters of the 1930s who is said to have passed through the Monett area. Floyd died in a hail of gunfire in Clarkson, Ohio at the hands of FBI agent Melvin Purvis and his squad. Like many of the legendary gunmen of his day, Floyd became the stuff of legend. Fellow Oklahoman Woody Guthrie perpetuated the myth in his song "Pretty Boy Floyd," which ends with these lyrics:...

It was a fitting ending to a great game when Monett pitching sensation Allie Krueger secured the final out of the Class 3 quarterfinal with her 15th strikeout of the game. The Lady Cubs (25-3) exercised two years of demons with a 2-0 win over Bolivar on Saturday at North Park, advancing to the Class 3 state semifinals for the first time in school history...

The general election is a little more than two weeks away, and 59-year-old Vince Jennings, D-Marionville, is hoping to unseat Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, in the State House's 157th District. Jennings, who has a Bachelor's of Science in economics from Missouri State University, said even though he is running on the Democratic ticket, he is more an Independent than a Democrat...