Stories from Wednesday, March 18, 2015

A gathering to help the family of Dakota Mobley drew more than 100 people to Monett's North Park Monday. Mobley, who last attended Monett High School in the 2011-2012 school year, died on Sunday at age 20...

Two New Jersey residents and one New York resident were injured Wednesday morning in a single-vehicle wreck on Highway 248, six miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Dillon Lynn, 25, of Canandaigua, N.J., was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Box Truck westbound on Highway 248 at about 5:15 a.m. when his vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned...

Public support has been strong this school year for the backpack program in the Monett School District. Counselor Leslie Henry, reported that in the three years she has coordinated the effort, the district has not succeeded in fully raising the $25,200 needed to pay for the 72 students who take home a supply of food to bolster learning...

A.J. Rhymer was a study in concentration as he decorated his kite during a kite-making program held Saturday at the Monett Branch Library.

The Barry County Prosecuting Office has charged a man and a woman from Aurora with two felonies and a misdemeanor in connection to the March 5 burglary of a Purdy residence. Melissa Holmes, 32, and Darryl Lands, 34, are each facing charges of second-degree burglary, class C felonies, stealing, class C felonies, and second-degree property damage, a class B misdemeanor...

The Purdy school district has committed funds as pledged to the acquisition and support of more technology for education. Anna Marie Erwin, school board secretary, reported the district has received the bulk of its property tax income for the 2015 cycle. Higher receipts have gone into a new fund to support the district's technology initiative, which began this year...

The Monett City Council will accept public comment and adopt its $41 million budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year at its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at Monett City Hall. In addition to the budget, council members plan to revise the 2014-2015 budget to match actual spending. Plans also call for reviewing bids for mowing services and purchase of a sanitation truck...

In an effort to help Monett Rural firefighter John Sperandio, who was injured last year in a farming accident, Wayne Ridenour launched his own fundraising initiative, giving away in a drawing a segmented walnut bowl he made.

VFW Post No. 4207 Ladies Auxiliary will host a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 18. The menu will include Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, green beans, salad, dessert, biscuits and beverage. Cost is $6.50. Post luncheons will now be offered monthly...

On paper, the Monett baseball team is loaded for the 2014-2015 season. The Cubs went 18-10 overall last season and 6-1 in Big 8 Conference play. They won their first ever sectional playoff game and advanced to the quarterfinal round before falling to Logan-Rogersville...

The Ozark 7 Conference released its 2014-2015 all-conference team. Purdy led the way with three first-team members including Eli Ernst being name co-Coach of the Year. The list is as follow: Coaches of the Year: Eli Ernst, Purdy; and Jeff Atchison, Southwest...

Linda Sid Whittington, 54, of Crane, died at 3:29 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Reavisville Baptist Church. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora...