Stories from Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Charges were filed Monday against a Carthage man for the alleged murder of a Mt. Vernon man in his home on Sunday. Robert Waite Jr., 50, of Carthage, is facing charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Kevin Strafford, 32, of Mt. Vernon...

A Monett man is being charged with first-degree statutory sodomy in relation to alleged incidents at his home from April 5 to May 5. Derek Shields, 23, of Monett, was arrested on the charge on Aug. 5 and met a $30,000 bond on the same day. According to a probable cause statement filed by Detective Jeffery Martinson with the Monett Police Department, a 13-year-old boy on July 14 reported spending the night at Shields' house, after Easter but before school let out. ...

After years of talks and negotiations, the City of Purdy faces one final hurdle to resolving its conflict with the Missouri Department of Revenue (DNR) over its sewer system. Chris Erisman, the city's engineer with Allgeier, Martin and Associates, announced Monday that the state agency has lined up a grant and loan deal to accompany the city's plan to send its sewage to Monett for treatment...

Smiles were the hallmark of the night as parents and students visited the Purdy schools on Monday for open house, prior to the opening of classes today.

For the second consecutive month, sales tax receipts in July showed a double-digit increase over last year, for a new July record. Monett's two sales taxes for general bills triggered the trend by delivering $221,676.10, up 16 percent or $30,167.81, and a new July record. ...

Technology innovations headed by J.J. Goulbourne, new information technology manager, has expanded a number of available services at branches of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library system. Patrons at library branches have waited mornings for staff that came in early to run anti-virus software daily on computers. Thanks to a re-configuration of the anti-virus software, computers can stay on overnight for scanning, allowing for their immediate use in the mornings...

More than 200 people gathered on the lawn of the historic Kings Prairie School southeast of Monett on Saturday for the 16th annual Kings Prairie Community Center Benefit Concert. The biggest gathering of the year in the Kings Prairie community assembled to hear three musical groups perform next to the old school, accompanied by cicadas, recalling an old-time country revival meeting...

C.J. Uhl, a third-grade student at St. Mary's Catholic School in Pierce City, claimed his locker and placed his book bag inside during Monday's open house at the school.

The Purdy school district welcomed 10 new staff members to its ranks for the 2015-2016 school year.

Cox Monett Hospital will offer a leaner life class to help people lose weight, continue a healthy lifestyle and maintain weight loss. Classes will be offered on Wednesdays for eight weeks, from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. on Sept. 2 in Conference Room A. The class provides week-to-week accountability. A physician referral is needed to participate. Cost is $186. For additional information, people may call 236-2591...

The Monett boys swimming and diving team is hoping to keep the school's trend of firsts going this season. Last winter, the girls team qualified swimmers to the state meet for the first time in school history. The boys are hoping to follow suit this season...

For the truly enthusiastic football fans, jamborees serve as a chance to whet the appetite. They are more of the dining equivalent of an appetizer, something to take the edge off, before the main course arrives. For the players, jamborees are a chance to finally punish an opponent in a different-colored jersey...