Stories from Wednesday, August 17, 2016

The Purdy Police Department will soon add two body cameras and a taser to its arsenal. Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe asked the city council to consider purchasing two of the Action cameras from the Taser Company. Having reviewed several brands, Lowe said Taser seemed to offer the best brand...

Melissa Hayslip, elementary teacher and Title I coordinator at Wheaton Elementary School, was recently named co-Southwest Regional Teacher of the Year for Missouri from a field of 12 finalists. As a Regional Teacher of the Year, Hayslip will have the opportunity to compete for Missouri Teacher of the Year for 2016-2017, which will be announced in August, and the winner honored at a ceremony in Jefferson City in October 2016. ...

Excitement was evident in the smiles on faces of children emerging from buses at Monett Elementary School on Tuesday morning.

A Monett man was arrested on Aug. 9 and charged with drug trafficking following multiple controlled buys of methamphetamine by state law enforcement. Damian Arreola-Chico, 26, of Monett, is charged with First-degree drug trafficking within in a motor vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon...

The first official preseason football poll was released on Wednesday morning, and it contained good news for Cubs fans. Monett checked in at No. 7 on the Class 3 list, with Lamar heading the top of the Class 2 state rankings. California, which comes to Monett on Saturday, is receiving votes in the Class 2 division...

Nominations are now being accepted for the annual Dale Taunton Helping Hand Award. The award, created to recognize neighbor helping neighbor, is in honor of the late Dale Taunton, who lost his life in the May 4, 2003, tornado while trying to assist friends and neighbors into the former Pierce City Armory, located at 104 Main St. in Pierce City...

A Green Forest, Ark., man has been charged with two felonies after allegedly stealing more than $1,300 worth of property from a garage at a home near Aurora in Barry County. Michael McCormick, 51, of Green Forest, Ark., is charged with second-degree burglary and theft...

There's just something fun about casting a line out into a river and the challenge of catching something on the end of it, and on Saturday, children of all ages will get to do just that, as they can fish all day for free at Kids' Fishing Day at Roaring River State Park...

Students had the opportunity to start their morning off with a filling breakfast at Pierce City's Central Elementary School.

The new pavilion, erected as a joint project by the Knights of Columbus No. 7130 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce City and Decatur Lodge No. 400, AF&AM, was dedicated on Saturday by Father Peter Morciniec, center.

Three people were injured Monday in a wreck at 5:45 p.m. on Highway W, three miles southwest of Wheaton. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Joanna Bell, 28, of Wheaton, was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 northbound when her vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a fence and an embankment...

The men from the First United Methodist Church in Monett will meet at 7 a.m. on Aug. 19 at the Angus Branch Steakhouse. Crowder College in Neosho will host its fourth annual Roughrider Rodeo at 8 p.m. on Aug. 19 and 20. Muttin Bustin' will be held both nights at 7:30 p.m...

Over the last five seasons, the Monett and California football teams have combined for an 88-34 record with five Class 3 semifinal appearances. Both teams spent multiple weeks ranked in the top 10 and thrilled fan bases with postseason runs. With Carl Junction dropping out of the Big 8 Conference, the opportunity to play each other became a reality. With kickoff just four days away, both teams see the importance of getting a win on Saturday to start the season off right...

Pierce City's football coach painted a sullen picture when he described the Eagles' football opponent for Friday night. Pierce City travels to Diamond to face a team many have predicted to be the conference champions. "They're big, fast and physical," said Brad Hocker, Eagles coach. "They can spread you out and hit you with short passes, but they also like to throw deep. They'll get big at the line and then pound the ball at you."...

11: The number of starters Monett graduated off last year's team 11: The number of returning starters for Monett this season 326: The number of points the Cubs scored last year in 14 games (29.6 points per game average) 243: The number of points California scored last season (24.3 points per game average)...

California at Monett Cassville at Lamar Mountain Grove at Aurora Lighthouse Christian at East Newton Salem at McDonald County Mt. Vernon at Reeds Spring Pierce City at Diamond Seneca at Nevada 1. Lamar, 8-0 2. Carl Junction, 7-1 3. Monett, 6-2 4. Aurora, 4-4...

Sue Ann Roller, 70, of Monett, died on Sunday, Aug. 14, at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 at New Site Baptist Church in Monett. Burial will be at the Pierce City Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett...

Robert Lowell Robley, 82, of Aurora, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Aurora Nursing Center. A graveside service under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, Aurora, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Springfield...

Jimmy Lee Michel, 88, of Springfield, formerly of Aurora, died Wednesday, Aug. 10. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora.

John Copeland Dodson, 77, of Purdy, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2016, at Cox South Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri. Mr. Dodson, son of Herbert and Ruby (Keeling) Dodson was born on August 29, 1938, on the family farm near Purdy. Mr. ...