Stories from Saturday, April 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Monett baseball team will put its unblemished conference record on the line, as the Cubs welcome Lamar to North Park for a Big 8 showdown. Including being a perfect 5-0 in the conference, Monett will have at least 16 wins on the season going into Tuesday. Results from Friday night's game with Parkview were not available at presstime...

The Monett boys track and field team is preparing for its home meet on Tuesday, but the Cubs are still reflecting on their fourth place finish at Cassville this week. "We may not have scored as many points, or placed as high as I would have liked, but we still had a pretty good night," said Tyler Rickard, Monett coach. "Different individuals stepped up and played a big role in us placing fourth."...

Pierce City's Ross Thompson took second place at the East Newton Relays in the 100-meter hurdles.

Shifts in staffing practices by neighboring ambulance services have created unexpected challenges for the Barry-Lawrence Ambulance District. Operations Director Andy McCaslin said during March, crews turned over six calls to other services due to ambulances being busy, and picked up three calls for mutual aid. ...

The Verona City Council has refused to reconsider a city ban on pit bulls. Council members agreed to public discussion of the longstanding ban following a request in February by Georgina Rapert, a new resident who moved to town unaware of the city ban on pit bulls as a breed. ...

State lawmakers reviewed recent legislative activities for the Monett Chamber of Commerce during an Eggs and Issues breakfast Friday at the Monett City Park Casino. In reviewing progress during the 2016 session of the Missouri General Assembly, State Rep. ...

Monettans will have a chance to vote on Aug. 2 to secure sales tax for the city on the purchase of vehicles out of state. The Monett City Council approved an ordinance seeking the renewal of the local sales tax on motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors purchased out of state, then titled in Monett. The tax applies to purchases from a source other than a licensed Missouri dealer, and it is designed to prevent out-of-state dealerships from holding an advantage over local vendors...

A former Monett man serving time in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., has issued an apology to the Monett community for his admitted misconduct. Justin J.R. Compton pleaded guilty in 2011 to defrauding four banks of $160,672 by writing bad checks on accounts that had no money in them. ...

Demolition work advanced rapidly on Thursday and Friday removing the former Singleton's eatery building at the southwest corner of Fifth and Broadway.

Monett School Resource Officer Jay Jastal spoke to the Monett High School students along with Highway Patrol Trooper Zack Bryan on Thursday during a "Safe and Sober" assembly.

The Ozark Festival Orchestra presents its Young Artists concert, at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center. Three soloists will play with the orchestra. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors. The Monett City Council will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. ...

Maddy Lee, a ninth-grade art student at Monett Middle School, received an honorable mention for her rendering of a historical Monett postcard in the student exhibit at the Missouri Art Education Association Spring 2016 Conference in St. Louis.

Twenty-two piano students of Ruth Burnside participated in the Piano 88's Music Festival on April 10, held at Countryside Christian Church in Monett. Haley Mullins judged each student, selecting an outstanding performance in each category as well as rating each rendition...

Five piano of Ruth Burnside performed at the Marie Guengerich Music Festival in Joplin on April 2, held at the Forest Park Baptist Church.

A collaboration between Barry County Master Gardeners, University of Missouri Alternative Break and the Monett Senior Center resulted in a vibrant improvement in the community. Seven undergraduate students from a variety of majors hopped into a van on April 15 to provide manpower and enthusiasm to an established landscaping plan...

Students of the Month at Purdy Middle School have been named for March.

Sujeiry Jimenez, a 2016 graduate of Verona High School, was named as a Washington Duke Scholar upon her acceptance to Duke University. Jimenez will receive a scholarship of $70,990 per year which covers all tuition, books, fees, room, board, and a stipend for participation in the Washington Duke Scholar program. She will attend a summer program for this scholarship beginning July 3...

Concepcion Lara, a 2016 graduate of Verona High School, has been accepted to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Lara will be receiving a full scholarship of approximately $61,500 per year which will cover all tuition, books, fees, room, and board. She is involved in varsity cheerleading, FBLA, National Honor Society, FFA, Upward Bound and STEPS...

Brett Meek, $150 for stealing. Stephanie L. Alejo, $10 for a seat belt violation; $24.50 and six months probation for no proof of insurance. Pablo Alvarez Sanchez, $100 for no valid driver's license/accident; $100 for no proof of insurance/accident...

Rick and Lisa Scott, of Purdy, announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Shelby, to Marcus McCaffrey, son of Jim and Judy McCaffrey, of Monett, and Tim and Robin Brodie, of Monett.

Dennis and Leah Heidlage, of Pierce City, are delighted to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Jessica Lea Heidlage, to Jonathan Scott Wagner, son of Pat and Anita Wagner, of Pierce City.

The Monett girls track and field team heads into Tuesday's home meet with the added advantage of a meet title from Cassville. The meet victory was the first for the Lady Cubs this season. "We are scoring more points and competing well in each event," said Kelley George, Monett coach. "I am so proud of the girls for doing what is best for the team. I had to make some changes at this meet, and the girls were willing to step up and do whatever needed for team points."...

The Verona track team heads to Diamond on Tuesday fresh off a third-place finish in the Ozark 7 Conference meet. Scoring points for the Wildcats were: 110-meter high hurdles: Chris Jasso 4x200-meter relay: Cade Miller, Chris Jasso, Eddie Gutierrez and Colten Schultz...

The Purdy High School softball and baseball teams will host two Military Appreciation nights in conjunction with upcoming games. The softball team will honor those serving or who have served in the Armed Forces on April 27, at the game against Pierce City. The first pitch will be thrown at 4 p.m. The Purdy and Wheaton baseball teams will show their gratitude and respect to servicemen and women on May 3 at 5 p.m...

The Monett seventh grade girls track team won the Aurora Middle School Relays with 112 points on Thursday. Abby McCaffrey took first-place honors in the shot put with a throw of 28-10. Kaity Ingle led the team with 20 individual points, and she was part of the third place 4x200 relay...

The annual Monett Industrial Appreciation Golf Tournament will be held on June 3 at the Windmill Ridge Golf Course. The event will offer hole sponsorships and conclude with a steak dinner for the participants. For additional information, people may call the Monett Chamber of Commerce at 417-235-7919...

This weekend the proms for Monett, Purdy and Verona high schools will be held, and Pierce City will have its special night next weekend. While proms may seem like an annoying amount of social folderol at the time, looking back, they offer students helpful and very educational experience in how to interact in formal customs. It's the kind of thing adults take for granted, but something they had to learn somewhere...