Stories from Saturday, June 4, 2016

Following President Barack Obama's directive concerning the treatment and policy toward transgender students, local school districts are evaluating what policies need to be in place to prevent discrimination and encourage comfort for everyone in bathroom and locker room facilities...

Department heads for the city of Monett may soon have more leeway when it comes to purchases, as the city has proposed doubling the limits needed for department heads to make a purchase without additional oversight by the city council. Previously, department heads could spent up to $500 without additional oversight. ...

Austin Meadows, 14, performs a front flip with a half twist after launching himself off the diving board at the Monett Municipal Pool.

Following an inspection by the state, Lawrence County is making plans to repair two bridges, one of which is heavily-traveled and brings a high price tag. The latest Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) inspection reveals that locally-maintained bridges have improved considerably overall, according to Presiding Commissioner Sam Goodman...

For the second time, the Monett City Council has approved an annexation from the Apple Blossom subdivision, west of the city, thus saving the resident from a change of address. Linda Davis at 10 Redwood Place requested the annexation. Davis and others in the subdivision had been told by the Barry County 911 service that they had to change their address to a farm road, rather than keep their original address. Davis is the fourth resident to annex into the city to avoid an address change...

Monett has its share of unsolved mysteries. Last weekend, former Monett Times columnist Sarah Hudson Pierce visited the home of Rod and Janice Anderson to look for clues to one of those mysteries -- why the Anderson house, built in 1916 for attorney Fielding P. Sizer, is named "Callamura."...

St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce City will celebrate its 29th annual Festival on June 4 and 5. Activities start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. A dance concludes the day from 7 to 10 p.m. Festivities begin on Sunday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ...

Some of this year's activities at the annual Barry County Youth Camp included making ceramic fish.

Teachers were recently honored at the Pierce City school district luncheon.

Cox Monett Hospital is again participating in CoxHealth System's annual Diaper Drive.

Officials at Schreiber Foods in Monett, have announced the retirement of David Houchin after 36 years of service to the company.

Despite his emphasis on being prepared, Pierce City baseball coach B.J. Curry admitted there were times that he coached on the fly. It was not that his team was wild or uncoachable, but Curry said there are some things that you just cannot prepare for in practice...

We occasionally have debates at The Monett Times about what constitutes sports. A year ago, I took a position and even wrote a column stating that I believed fair results were sporty enough to be included in my sports pages. Although my bosses disagree, my beliefs have not changed...

Monett alumnus Will Snider aced the par 3, 120-yard No. 5 hole Windmill Ridge Golf Course with his pitching wedge.

As evenings lengthen and the streets of Monett remain inviting to pedestrians, children and motorists well after 8 p.m., it's impressive to see how many people take advantage of the opportunities available. Some towns seem to curl up like flowers out of sunlight. ...