Stories from Wednesday, January 14, 2015

From 9:15 p.m. Tuesday to 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, Lawrence County sheriff's deputies were busier than usual, as they were involved in three separate pursuits in less than 10 hours. In the pursuits, deputies arrested two people, recovered two stolen vehicles, recovered a stolen trailer and other stolen goods, as well as narcotics...

The Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District is conducting an internal investigation in responses to a report by a Barry County sheriff's deputy saying one of the organization's paramedics argued with him about taking a Purdy man to the hospital. Jeaneittia Pierce, Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District office manager, said she is conducting an internal investigation about the incident involving Pedro Martinez, 59, of Purdy, and just because an ambulance is called does not mean a person needs transporting...

A budget plan very similar to 2014 is taking shape for Barry County for the coming year. Barry County commissioners have begun meetings with officeholders to shape their financial plans, but a review of requests includes little variance from the past 12 months...

The Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force handled 265 cases in 2014 in Barry and McDonald counties, and part of Lawrence County, compared with 240 cases in 2013, when it had more agents. "The years before that, we've had as high as 400 cases, but we had five to six agents working with us, and we had a secretarial staff," said John Luckey, Task Force director...

The calendar for the Monett School District for the 2015-2016 year will offer few changes from the current year but more flexibility on snow days. School board members adopted the year-long plan at their December meeting, following the annual hearing over starting school prior to Labor Day...

State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, has sponsored a bill that would establish the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act. "We're the last state in the union that hasn't set up a drug monitoring program, which is not a very good distinction to have," said Sater, who pre-filed Senate Bill 63 on Dec. 1, 2014. "Prescription drug abuse is the most rapidly rising drug problem that we have."...

Three speakers will address livestock, wheat production and planning for the next generation of farm ownership during the 86th annual Barry County Soils and Crops Conference. The session will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20 in a new location, at the First Christian Church, located at 905 Old Exeter Road in Cassville...

The City of Purdy became a Purple Heart City this week, recognized for honoring America's combat wounded veterans.

An 18-year-old man and his infant son were injured Monday morning in a wreck on Highway 37, three miles south of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Michael Fletcher, 18, of Seligman, was driving a 1997 Jeep Cherokee northbound on Highway 37 at about 10:30 a.m. when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch and a culvert...

A chili and soup benefit will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 24 for Becky VanSandt Butterworth at the New Site Baptist Church, southwest of Monett. Becky has been battling ovarian cancer since October 2011. Donations will be accepted at the dinner. Beauty aid vendors will also have tables set up in the church gym. Others wishing to make donations may contact UMB Bank in Monett...

The Monett Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the first Small Business Bingo holiday promotion.

Employees at Cox Monett Hospital collected cold weather essentials for students at Monett Elementary School and Crosslines recently.

Regular-season games do not get much bigger than Friday's girls basketball matchup between Pierce City and Purdy. For the last two years, Purdy has watched as Pierce City celebrated district titles on its home court. In 2013, Pierce City topped Purdy, 61-39, in the district championship game. Last year, Pierce City ended Purdy's season in the semifinals with a 69-44 win...

On Monday, the Verona boys basketball team makes it annual pilgrimage south to the Spokane Invitational. The tournament used feature some of the best Class 1 and 2 boys teams in the area, but in recent years, has expanded to included Class 3 and 4. According to Verona Coach Brad Stewart, it is this challenge that keeps his squad coming back year after year...

Dennis Wayne Ridenour, 56, of Wheaton, died at 10:55 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Burial will be in Rocky Comfort Cemetery, Rocky Comfort. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, at McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton...

Linda Wanell (Cook) Farquhar, 64, of Lee's Summit, Mo., passed away at Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care on Jan. 4, 2015. She worked as a matron for the Lansing, Kan. Sheriff/Police Department, the Dallas Times Herald, the Olathe Sun and Truman Medical Center...