Stories from Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The two Barry County sheriff candidates squared off in a debate Tuesday night in Cassville, with major issues circling around funding and tackling the drug problem in the county. Former FBI Agent Gary Davis, R-Cassville, and Justin "David" Ruark, D-Cassville, each said grants are important to building upon funding for the sheriff's office, but differences of opinion rose on the office's tax funding...

Candidates for Barry County sheriff both believe training is crucial to how deputies do their jobs throughout the county, and each are hoping to put an emphasis on specific areas, mainly interpersonal communication and investigation. Former FBI Agent Gary Davis, R-Cassville, said if elected, the types of training he will seek is based on what he has heard from those in the community during his campaign...

Issues with campaign signs have affected both candidates for Barry County sheriff, and each candidate said they discourage such activity. Former FBI Agent Gary Davis, R-Cassville, and Barry County Deputy Justin "Dave" Ruark, D-Cassville, each also said they would support prosecution of anyone caught tampering with campaign materials...

Live music for the Monett FFA chili supper and auction on Saturday was provided by the bluegrass band Ripplin' Creek.

Major progress has been reported in communication between the Purdy schools and its Hispanic community, credited to efforts by Sarai Salazar, the district's Hispanic liaison who also works as the school nurse. Superintendent Steven Chancellor reported an experience at a preschool graduation provided insight into a lack of communication with Hispanic families. ...

September sales tax receipts, usually the largest of the year for bi-county cities and counties, dipped slightly from a year ago, but year-to-date tallies after three quarters show most tallies running better or very close to last year. Monett's two sales taxes for general bills, collecting 1 percent, generated $192,083.51 for the month, down $31,796.62 from a year ago. ...

Two Cassville residents were hurt in a two-vehicle collision around 3:12 p.m. on Monday at the intersection of Highway 37 and Highway C in Purdy. According to Police Chief Jackie Lowe, Bryce Clayton, 17, of rural Purdy, was driving a 1994 Ford F-250 flatbed truck east from Highway C across Highway 37 and pulled into the path of a northbound 2010 Dodge Caravan mini-van, driven by Becky West, 50, of Cassville. ...

Adults over the age of 21 are invited to shine up their dancing shoes and join the crowd at a Fright Night Masquerade Dinner and Dance taking place at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, at Monett VFW Post No. 4209, located at 540 Highway 60, west of Monett...

The 2016 Summer Reading Program offered by the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library proved quite successful, drawing large numbers of participants for programs and activities. According to Janea Coker, program coordinator, branches offered 354 programs, attended by 13,020 people, compared to 240 programs in 2015 attended by more than 8,000 participants. ...

Numerous prizes, from firearms to art prints, were available in an auction at the annual Barry-Lawrence County Ducks Unlimited annual member dinner.

A new Christian bikers organization, Overcomers of Monett, hosted a Spooktacular Bike and Car Show on Broadway Saturday evening.

The final public forum on the future of the Monett swimming pool will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Monett City Park Casino. Tickets are now available for the Monett Historical Society's Historical Home Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. on Oct. ...

Three wins to some teams may not seem like a lot, especially eight games into the season. However, to the Patriots of East Newton (3-5), the win total equals the total number of victories the team achieved in the 2010 through 2015 seasons. During that time, three coaches attempted to turn the once proud and tradition-rich team around, but those coaches either failed or were not given enough time to accomplish the mission...

The Pierce City football team is hoping to finish the season strong with a Week 9 victory over Sarcoxie. The Eagles (3-3) know the Bears (5-2) present a formidable threat, especially with their option attack. "Our boys got a chance to go see them play Lockwood," said Brad Hocker, Pierce City coach. "They know how fast the Bears are, and after a loss to El Dorado Springs, we understand how important it is to finish every play."...

Entering the final week of the football regular season, the playoff picture is clearing up a bit for Monett. There are a few quirks that could mess with the Cubs' tranquility. Currently, the district is seeded as follows: No. 1 Reeds Spring, 47.86; No. 2 Monett, 42.98; No. 3 Cassville, 41.36; No. 4 Mt. Vernon, 35.45; No. 5 Hollister, 29.03; No. 6 Seneca, 26.14; No. 7 East Newton, 24.98; and No. 8 Aurora, 19.34...

42-0: The final score of last year's Monett win over East Newton. 2002: The last time East Newton defeated Monett, 36-21. 87: The number of points the Patriots have scored in their last two games -- more than they scored in the 16 previous games combined...

East Newton at Monett Mt. Vernon at Cassville Seneca at Lamar Aurora at McDonald County Sarcoxie at Pierce City Cassville at Aurora, 7-45 Monett at Seneca, 35-14 McDonald County at East Newton, 34-56 Lamar at Mt. Vernon, 49-14 Pierce City at El Dorado Springs, 26-44...

Charles Robert Worley, 75 of Marionville, died Friday, Oct. 7 at the Ozark Methodist Manor in Marionville. Visitation will be held from 1--2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Funeral services will follow at 2: p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with burial to follow at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora...

Mary Emma Wasson, 94, of Lee's Summit, died on Saturday, Oct. 8. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora. Burial was at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

Patricia Ann Jines, 74, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away Friday, October 7, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was born May 17, 1942 in Wheeless, Oklahoma the daughter of Warren L. and Annabel (Jarnagan) Walker. On August 26, 1961 in Perryton, Texas she was united in marriage to William "Bill" Jines, who survives. ...

Today's Monett-West Plains sectional softball game has been postponed until Thursday at 4 p.m.