Stories from Saturday, March 7, 2015

Dear Editor: As a 1996 Pierce City High School graduate, I would like to say kudos to Superintendent Russ Moreland and the Pierce City School Board for their innovative decision to change the status quo. Society, technology and business has changed dramatically, even since I graduated nearly 20 years ago. ...

A drive across the county this week gave another one of those object lessons for liking Monett. When other towns were starting their snowplowing, the Monett street department crews had engaged in final clean-up. The slogan "Pride and Progress" has characterized much of how the city of Monett has conducted itself with forward-looking thinking for many decades. ...

In high school, I had a great English and literature teacher named Mike Evans. As fate would have it, Mr. Evans is now the principal at Wheaton High School, and I occasionally get the opportunity to speak with him at Bulldog and Lady Bulldog sporting events...

The Pierce City girls basketball team knew it had a difficult task when it was paired with Crane in the sectional playoff round. When the final horn sounded Thursday in Carthage, the Lady Eagles were on the wrong side of a 67-35 decision. Trailing wire to wire, Pierce City fought hard but could not make up enough ground...

Playoff losses for high school teams are double-edged swords for a coaches. Not only does the season end, but coaches must also say goodbye to their seniors. On Thursday, Pierce City Coach Matt Street faced the unenviable task of saying goodbye to five seniors in Kole Kelley, Colton Drollinger, Colin Garner, Aaron Zabala and Logan Deems, and their careers that raised the level of expectations of Pierce City basketball...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates has added a new Internet-based platform to enable financial institutions to provide custom online payment and donation services for business customers. SmartPay Express, part of the Enterprise Payment Solutions product line, processes payments online, hosted by staff from JHA's ProfitStars division who manage security and information technology concerns for businesses. ...

Monett-based Jack Henry and Associates (JHA) has introduced an innovative Internet-based portal to attract more commercial and industrial borrowers for community financial institutions. Commercial Lending Center, introduced by JHA's ProfitStars division, enables financial institutions to immediately compete with alternative lenders, as well as maintaining and expanding relationships with businesses that do not qualify for traditional loans...

Purdy Middle School Students of the Month have been announced by Principal Janet Boys.

Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean's list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during and at least a 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have selected the following students to be named Student of the Week for February 23.

Micheal D. Ash, Marionville, one year supervised probation and obtain a driver's license for driving with a revoked license. Juan Barrientos Perez, Wheaton, two years probation for driving with a revoked license. Sulema A. Barrientos, Wheaton, $80.50 for speeding...

Licenses issued at the Lawrence County Courthouse Craig Allen Grisham, 50, Aurora, to Peggy Jean Williams, 54, Crane, Feb. 21. Casey Allen Ryan, 23, Brookline, to Tamara Rae Sanders, 25, Brookline, Feb. 26. Travis J. Bowling from Jill M. Bowling...

Staff Sgt. Jordan Stubblefield, a native of Monett, beat out nine other non-commissioned officers to earn the title of Best Warrior during a competition sponsored by the 80th Training Command (Total Army School System), in February. The annual contest is designed to identify the best competitors from among approximately 7,000 soldiers within the command...

First-grade students at Monett Elementary School will present a concert at 6 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the school. The students are divided so different groups sing at each concert. The spaghetti dinner and silent auction fundraiser to benefit the Scott Regional Technology Center's JROTC program's Cadet Enrichment Project has been rescheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 at Scott Tech. A wide range of goods and services provided by area businesses...

The Waldensian Presbyterian Church, south of Monett, hosted the opening reception for the exhibit "Jean Pierre Michelin Salomon and Carlo Buffa: Pioneer Waldensian Ministers" on March 1 in the church's Fellowship Hall.

Students at Central Elementary School in Pierce City participated in the annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Construction crews working on the performing arts center at Monett High School progressed at a rapid pace during cooperative weather early this week.

Six people, including three children, suffered injuries in a wreck at the intersection of Highway 37 and Highway W in Butterfield Thursday evening. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Vicky Shockley, 59, of Purdy, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier at about 7:25 p.m. and attempted to make a left turn onto Highway W, turning in front of a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe, being driven by Jarod Stockton, 36, of Cassville, and striking it head-on...

The recycling trailer for Pierce City residents has been moved to 306 E. Washington St. from it's previous location on Elm Street. Julie Johnson, city clerk, said the Missouri Department of Natural Resources had cited rules concerning locating recycling trailers and containers near water wells as the reason for the move...

The Monett City Council has agreed to sell the lighting equipment and donate its sound equipment from the Monett City Hall Auditorium to the Monett school district. The equipment will be used in the high school's new performing arts center. City Administrator Dennis Pyle said the school district is using the same lighting contractor used by the city. The $4,500 sale price was based on the original sale price, less depreciation...

It was back to work for students and teachers in the Monett schools on Friday as classes resumed after two days off for snow.

Monett had the second-lowest crime index among 10 cities of similar size in the state, according to a 2014 year-end report from the Monett Police Department. The largest decrease was in the area of property crimes. "In 2013, Monett had the second-lowest crime index of 10 cities in our region with a population between 7,000 and 15,000," said Tim Schweder, Monett police chief. "In 2010, we had the lowest."...

A new policy is under consideration by the Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District to clarify how crews should respond to emergency and non-emergency calls. According to Jeaniettia Pierce, office manager, ambulance crews face a variety of questions in answering a call. Often, crews have turned sirens and lights on under a we've-always-done-it-this-way directive. On one occasion, the crew heading to a simulated docu-drama pulled out of the station in Monett with lights and sirens on...

One of the most visible changes in capital improvements planned by the City of Monett in its budget for fiscal year 2015-2016 will be a renovation at Monett City Hall. The budget includes $60,000, drawing funds from the electric, water and sewer departments, to alter the collector's office...