Stories from Wednesday, April 22, 2015

The Missouri Attorney General has opened an inquiry into the Barry County assessor's office following a Sunshine Law complaint filed by a Springfield appraiser. According to documents obtained from Attorney General Chris Koster's office, Springfield man Sean Sutton filed a complaint against Assessor Sherry Sears' office in March, alleging the $6 charge for a digital copy of an aerial photo was too much and went against state statutes...

The Purdy City Council leaned toward the purchase of body cameras but asked for more details about protocols for their use before moving forward. "It's probably time to look at them," said Police Chief Jackie Lowe. Four bids offered by Lowe placed the least expensive cameras at $400 each, for the AXON model from the Taser company. ...

Walk to School Week continues through Friday, as children in Monett gather at Cox Monett Hospital and North Park to walk to school.

Three local teenagers were injured Monday night in a single-vehicle wreck on Farm Road 2187, two miles north of Verona. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Aleah Palmer, 16, of Monett, was driving a 1997 Ford Mustang eastbound on Farm Road 2187 at about 9:03 p.m. when her vehicle ran off the roadway and struck several trees...

Viney Creek Recreational Area is tabbed for closure again this year, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has no plans to open it, however, the Corps has seen interest from Missouri state Parks in leasing the area. The State Parks Department has applied for a lease for the park, and Laurie Driver, public affairs specialist with the Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock, Ark., said the Corps is reviewing the proposal and hopes to make a decision within the next week...

Purdy school district's non-certified staff all received employment for the coming year, one of several contract actions approved by the Purdy school board. All non-certified positions have been filled for the 2015-2016 school year. According to Anna Marie Erwin, school board secretary, the district is still seeking to hire an art teacher...

On Feb. 24, Matt Wages suffered a brain aneurysm at Jack Henry and Associates in Monett. He was transported by air to Cox Medical Center in Springfield, where he underwent an immediate surgery to clip the aneurysm and the insertion of a drain to relieve spinal fluid pressure...

Mark Chapman, local singer and songwriter, led a benefit concert that packed the St. Mary's Catholic Church gym in Pierce City on Saturday to raise funds to restore the church's organ.

A steady crowd gathered at the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett on Saturday for the Monett Lions Club's annual steak dinner.

The Monett Chamber of Commerce will host an Eggs and Issues session with lawmakers at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Monett City Park Casino. Speakers will include State Senator David Sater and State Representatives Scott Fitzpatrick and Mike Moon. Steve McIntosh from U.S. ...

Pfitzner re-rewrites Cubs' record book in 400-meter Another meet led to another school record for Monett senior Levi Pfitzner. On Thursday, the senior broke the school record in the 400-meter dash, a record he had just set seven days earlier at Aurora...

The Pierce City baseball team won its third consecutive game on Monday with a 8-0 decision over Pleasant Hope to improve to 7-6 on the season. For Coach Chris Mettlach, the team is starting to come together at the right time as they head into the final third of the season...

Edna L. Poage,96, of Strafford, formerly of Wentworth, died at 1:05 p.m. April 20, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City. Burial will be at Pierce City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the funeral home...

Virginia F. Still, 86, of Exeter, died at 12:55 a.m. Tuesday, April 21. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Exeter First Baptist Church, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter...