Stories from Friday, February 6, 2015

A Barry County man who has been on death row for 17 years is set to be executed on March 17. Cecil Clayton, 74, formerly of Purdy, is the oldest inmate on death row and was sentenced to death in 1997 for the killing of Barry County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Castetter, a 29-year-old father of three...

At 9 p.m. on Wednesday, snow was falling at its hardest so far this season, and Missouri Department of Transportation maintenance crews pulled out of their depot west of Monett to hit the highways, as seen at the Highway 37 and Highway 60 intersection. ...

Cox Monett Hospital announced on Wednesday that visitor restrictions in effect for children 14-and-under are being lifted at all CoxHealth facilities. Janell Patton, administrative director of community relations indicated the change resulted from declining flu rates in area communities...

Members of the Lawrence County Local Emergency Planning Committee will have the opportunity to attend several training conferences and exercises in the coming year. The first opportunity is the Lunch and Learn with the EPA at 11 a.m. on Feb. 20, at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center in Springfield...

The impact of new federal programs for dairy producers and technology innovations will provide central focuses for the 46th annual Monett Dairy Day, slated for Feb. 19 at the Monett National Guard Armory. The conference represents the first part of the agriculture presentations offered that day by the Monett Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the University of Missouri Extension Service. ...

New fees for the Windmill Ridge municipal golf course in Monett have been approved for 2015. Mike Brownsberger, the city golf commissioner, said this was the first time rates have been changed in approximately five years. "We feel the fees are pretty well in line with area courses," said Justin Beck, golf course superintendent. "We met with the Golf Course Advisory Committee and there was not a lot of opposition."...

Administrators at Pierce City High School may have been contemplating their healthcare benefits as they took part in a BMX bike stunt Tuesday. Steve Garner, principal, was joined by instructors Kaci Gunnels, Megan Jenkins, Jeff Chapman and Denny Allen to serve as either an obstacle to jump or speed bumps, depending on the skill of the biker. ...

The Muscular Dystrophy Association's annual Lock-Up, a fundraiser to fight neuro-muscular diseases, was held on Thursday at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett, a joint undertaking with the Distributive Education Chapters of America. Local business and community leaders are "arrested" for reasons ranging from being a bad golfer to a Chicago Cubs fan. ...

Final tests are being run this week on Monett's new $11 million water treatment plant. Larry Marble, job superintendent for Crossland Heavy Contractors, said crews on Wednesday ran their last tests on the clear well storage tank to ensure the treated water was pure. ...

Thursday and Feb. 14 are the final chances Monett swimmers have to reach state meet qualifying times. Thursday's meet is the preliminary round of the Southwest Missouri Championship. Participants compete for top seeding honors for Saturday's championship event...

After spending a year as an independent, unaffiliated youth baseball and softball organization, the Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League voted unanimously to rejoin the Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken affiliations for the 2015 season. The league issued a statement on its Facebook page stating:...

Entering tonight's Big 8 Conference game with Mt. Vernon, the Monett boys basketball team is trying to obtain its first conference win and to defeat the Mountaineers for the first time in seven seasons. According to Maxpreps.com, the last time the Cubs defeated the green-and-white-clad ballers from northern Lawrence County was Jan. 4, 2008, by a 50-41 margin...

Lightning has struck the Big 8 Conference again in less than a month, as East Newton Coach Seth Johnson submitted his resignation letter this week. Johnson, who finished his third year at the helm of the Patriots, recorded a 2-28 record. "I just felt it was the right time for me to step down," Johnson said. "East Newton is my alma mater and home. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead its young men on the football field."...

Dwain Waggoner Dwain Lance Waggoner, 46, of Aurora, died at 1:32 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial will follow at the Clay Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the funeral home chapel...