Stories from Wednesday, June 29, 2016

For residents who have dreamt of owning their own home, but didn't have the money for a down payment, that dream may become a reality. USDA Rural Development is offering home loan financing options to Barry Countians -- with no down payment. According to Madeleine Watson, Area Technician with the USDA, loan funds are available to assist very-low and low income households in purchasing a home...

The 2016 Monett Youth Baseball Rookie League team sponsored by Acambaro is coached by Jeffrey Fairchild.

The 2016 Monett Youth Baseball Major League team sponsored by Four States Dental is coached by Ed Johnson.

The Ozark 7 Conference took its time, but finally release the list of its top baseball players with its all-conference teams. As expected, undefeated conference champions Purdy was well-represented and claimed the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors with Dusty Videmschek and Joshua Hughes earning the coveted spots, respectively...

Deputies will be out in full force as part of the annual nationwide July 4 "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" substance-impaired driving crackdown. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Lawrence County, will run from July 1-5...

The 47th annual Bailey-Funk Family Reunion was held June 12 at the Monett Senior Citizen's building in Monett with 53 family members and friends attending. Although previous reunions had been held, it became an annual celebration starting on Lottie Funk Bailey's 80th birthday in 1969 at Roaring River Park. It was held there for the following several years until moving to the Monett City Park...

Barry and Lawrence counties retired teachers met on June 9 at the Olive Grill Restaurant for a buffet luncheon for their annual joint meeting. Patriotic entertainment was provided by 3 Little Birds, of Willard. The group is made up of the granddaughters of members Sunni and Kenneth Wilson. ...

New Life Free Will Baptist Church, in Monett, will host revival services with Evangelist Jerry Howell, of Alma, Arlk, starting Sunday, July 10 and continuing through Wednesday, July 13. Service times are 10:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. each evening Monday through Wednesday...

Publisher's note: The following Q&As represent the candidates' views verbatim, as submitted via email in response to our questions, and have not been edited. - JB 1. If elected, where is your geographic focus going to be in the county and why? Right now there is not a specific area other than the ones where the drugs are. ...

Publisher's note: The following Q&As represent this Barry County public administrator candidate's views verbatim, as submitted via email in response to our questions, and have not been edited. The candidates will face off on the Aug. 2 Republican primary ballot. The Republican primary will serve as the de facto general election, barring a late filing by an independent candidate. - JB...

Publisher's note: The following Q&As represent this Barry County public administrator candidate's views verbatim, as submitted via email in response to our questions, and have not been edited. The candidates will face off on the Aug. 2 Republican primary ballot. The Republican primary will serve as the de facto general election, barring a late filing by an independent candidate. - JB...

Publisher's note: The following Q&As represent this Barry County public administrator candidate's views verbatim, as submitted via email in response to our questions, and have not been edited. The candidates will face off on the Aug. 2 Republican primary ballot. The Republican primary will serve as the de facto general election, barring a late filing by an independent candidate. - JB...

The Wheaton Fire Department will present Freedom Jam '16 starting at 6 p.m., Monday at the Wheaton City Park. Local alternative rock band, The Wild Grease Fire, will open the evening's entertainment. The Black Moods, of Tempe, Ariz., led by Wheaton alumnus, Josh Kennedy, will then take the stage...

A Springfield man has been charged with the July 2015 burglary at Country Corner in Purdy. Eric Rousseau, 28, of Springfield, is charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor in two separate cases. In the first case, he is charged with burglary and theft, and in the second case, he is charged with misdemeanor second-degree property damage...

A Purdy man has been charged with four felonies and is being held in the Barry County jail on a cash-only bond of $200,000. Benjamin Paine, 41, of Purdy is charged with two counts of first-degree domestic assault, felonious restraint and first-degree sodomy...

With the nation's birthday party around the corner, calendar girl Torri Davis got into the spirit for the month with the Uncle Sam displayed on Highway 60 in Monett.

Monett school district attorney Ransom Ellis III is waiting to fully respond to a lawsuit by one of the district's teachers until the district is officially served, the Springfield-based lawyer said. A 10-year employee of the Monett school district and eight-year instructor at the Scott Regional Technology Center, Krista Doss, an instructor in the two-year child care provider program at Scott Tech, has sued the district for sex discrimination, demanding she receive three years worth of unpaid salary, alleging she was paid less than her male counterparts.. ...

Joanna Ruth Sheets, 83, of Shell Knob, died Monday, June 27, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 1 in Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob. Burial will be in Painter Cemetery, Shell Knob.