Stories from Friday, August 28, 2015

Issues between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the village of Freistatt appear resolved following intervention by water operator Alan Obermann. In June, the village received a letter from Mark Rader, chief of the drinking water section at DNR, listing recommendations following an inspection by Andrew Crow. ...

Construction will begin in late August for a new 22,540-square-foot glass-cutting addition at the main EFCO Corporation plant in Monett. The building will be located off Bridle Lane, south of Callan Drive, south of the loading docks. "The footprint is being added to make additional room for glass production," said Doug Dieleman, vice president of operations. "The investment in our Monett plant is driven by sales growth."...

A Monett woman died in the hospital Wednesday after suffering serious injuries in a wreck at 5:29 p.m. on Highway 37, one mile north of Pierce City. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Wanda Barton, 64, of Monett, was driving a 2005 Honda southbound on Highway 37. ...

Monett Police Chief Tim Schweder has received the Patriot Award, a recognition by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. The award was presented in a ceremony on Wednesday at the Justice Center. Col. Steven Vanderhoof, retired, chairman of the ESGR for Area 4, said the award is given to employers that show exemplary support of employees serving in the National Guard and reserves...

Wednesday was a special day for LaVerna Dierker, who turned 104.

Cox Monett Hospital has announced the addition of Ryan McDowell, MD, to its inpatient team. McDowell received his bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry and Spanish from Missouri State University. He attended medical school at St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Family Practice at the CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency program in Springfield, where he served as chief resident, supervising junior residents and medical students...

Volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity house in Monett will concentrate on painting this week. Work begins at 8 a.m. at 117 E. Nellie. Anyone interested in volunteering may call Ron Overeem at 235-7710. Supporters of the Children's Center in Monett are invited to attend a check presentation ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 4 at the facility on West Highway 37. The Monett Lions Club and the Monett Community Foundation. For additional information, people may call Vickie Dudley at 417-623-2292...

After losing several talented seniors to graduation last season, Monett softball coach Ty Goetz knew he had a huge hole to fill this year. Through the first two games, Monett looks to have found some unlikely answers in the form of three freshmen. Maddi Coones, Kelli McCallister and Miya Washburn did not just crack the Lady Cubs' starting lineup. They earned their spots...

Monett's Cameron Cody sticks out like a sore thumb on the Monett soccer team. First of all, Cody, the team's goalie, is dressed in blue while his teammates are in white uniforms. Secondly, the junior is the only one who may use his hands to thwart an opposing team's attack...