Stories from Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Monett Police are seeking two men in the Jan. 30 assault on Cory Harp, of Stotts City, who remains in Mercy Hospital in Springfield in critical but stable condition. Ryan Fertig, 30, and Gregory D. Fitzgerald, 36, both of the Monett area, have been charged with first degree assault by Lawrence County Prosecutor Don Trotter. Both men remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous...

A former Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District paramedic says a report filed by a Barry County Sheriff's Deputy is not accurate, and he does not know why he was fired from his position with the district. Randy Haycook, who was fired on Jan. 9, said he followed all protocols, policies and procedures when he responded to the home of 59-year-old Pedro Martinez on Jan. ...

For Cathy Townsend, losing her daughter and father in an alleged double-homicide has been a challenge, but keeping her going are the good memories of both Casey Brace and Herbert Townsend. Cathy Townsend, of Washburn, said the relationship between her daughter and her father was a great one, and both will be fondly remembered...

The Wheaton Board of Education has recently accepted a $31,913.37 health insurance claim to settle a suit with a third-party catastrophic insurance coverage company that was ordered to liquidate in 2003. "I am glad to see the board make that decision, and it gets our taxpayers some money that we didn't think we'd ever have an opportunity to reclaim," said Lance Massey, superintendent of the Wheaton School District...

To meet higher college expectations, the Purdy Board of Education is considering increasing the math requirement for graduation. High school principal Bob Vice recommended increasing the graduation requirement from three math credits to four. Vice said Purdy has offered algebra 1 as an eighth grade class. ...

WHEATON -- The Wheaton Board of Education recently extended the district superintendent's contract by one year. Massey has been the superintendent for four years. His current salary is $81,500 per year, and his salary will increase by 1.75 percent each year of his contract, which is a similar increase to teachers and other administrators in the district who gain another year of experience...

The Monett City Council will hold a special session at 9 a.m. today to introduce an ordinance hiring TranSystems Corporation as consultants for the city's long-range transportation improvement plan. TranSystems has prepared a master transportation plan for the city of Harrisonville and a transportation study for Republic. ...

The annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-up fundraiser at the Scott Regional Technology Center generated more than $17,500 on Thursday. Close to 50 "jailbirds," went behind bars to help in the fight against neuro-muscular disease in the Ozarks. The annual event was sponsored by the Distributive Education Chapters of America, which has been a national sponsor of MDA since 1981...

A workshop on "Learning To Love Your Job" will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the Family Room Steakhouse, 641 W. Hwy. 60 in Monett. Life coach Ann Leach will offer 10 steps to getting more customers, publicity and dollars for your business. The session is sponsored by the Monett Chamber of Commerce. Cost is lunch for attendees. Participants are asked to register by calling the Chamber office at 235-7919...

Despite having 20 people in the room, there is not any socializing going on in the Monett Athletic Center as the Cubs prepare for the district tournament on Friday and Saturday. The rock sounds of Metallica, Journey and AC/DC blast over the radio with the occasional call of a coach instructing the team to change drills...

Monett's Girls Basketball Coach Kelly George seems to have improved half of her team's problems. Over the course of last two games, George said the Lady Cubs' defense has been much improved, and she believes their 40-26 loss to Cassville on Monday may have been their best effort this year...

Shirley May Munday, 86, Aurora, died at 10:17 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at her home. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the First Presbyterian Church of Aurora. Visitation will follow the service at the church. A private family burial will be at Maple Park Cemetery...