Stories from Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Barry County commissioners adopted a budget that filled most requests by officeholders and even increased the amount sought by the sheriff during one of the least complicated budget hearings held in recent memory. Commissioners approved a budget of $4,580,738.71, nearly $9,000 more than what had been requested. The total represented a $62,731 increase over last year’s budget and a 14 percent increase from spending in 2016. Most of the officeholders received all the funds requested...

Sales tax revenues for Barry and Lawrence counties showed a 17 percent rise in January, a dramatic contrast to the 9 percent drop in December, eliminating that month’s red ink for a number of recipients, especially the City of Monett. Monett’s two sales taxes for general expenses and the capital improvements sales tax, which received $9,346.65 less in December than a year ago, generated $73,202.32 more or a gain of 32 percent in January. ...

Train traffic was stopped at the viaduct on Highway 37 just north of Highway 60 Tuesday afternoon when a northbound 2000 Chevrolet Impala traveled off the east side of the roadway, behind the guardrail and vaulted off the embankment, coming to a rest on the tracks...

The Purdy City Council has approved a $3,190 expense for a cultural resource study of land crossed by the proposed sewer pipeline to Monett. Mayor Steve Roden said grant funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program requires the cultural study. Of all the Native American tribes contacted, the Osage Nation alone responded to the USDA inquiry and asked for the study...

The Purdy City Council has adopted a new nuisance ordinance with greater detail than the earlier version, though aldermen still expressed concern that it may not be specific enough. Mayor Steve Roden said the earlier ordinance was “more generic,” and the new one would clarify issues that in the past were interpretations...

Purdy High School is celebrating homecoming this week, using themes from “The Wizard of Oz” film for the “There’s No Place like HOMEcoming” celebration. Each class has nominated representatives to serve on the homecoming royalty. Purdy has two different contests, continuing its unique tradition...

Students at the Eagle’s Nest preschool at the Purdy School District start their day with table work, from puzzles to letter activity and Play-Doh.

The SilverTeens seniors singles group will beet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 at Acambaro restaurant, 505 Plaza Dr. in Monett. For additional information, people may call B.J. McCaulley at 393-9212. The Monett Artists’ Guild will present a stage version of the children’s book classic “The Velveteen Rabbit” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 4 and 2 pm. on Feb. 5 at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center...

The following defendants plead guilty or were found guilty of the charge listed. An Alford Plea does not admit guilt but indicates defendant believes there is enough evidence for a conviction, SES is Suspended Execution of Sentence, SIS is Suspended Imposition of Sentence, ITC is Intensive Treatment Center, SATOP is Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program, CVCF is Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund, LERF is Law Enforcement Restitution Fund. ...

It is hard to imagine the Cubs baseball program improving upon a 23-4 record from last season, but that is exactly what the team is planning to do this year. Monett advanced to the district title game before falling to Carl Junction, and the goal is to advance further toward state title contention...

The Purdy boys basketball team welcomes Southwest to town on Friday for its annual homecoming and Hall of Fame induction evening. Prior to the Homecoming coronation, Brenda Keeling McNeil will be inducted into the Purdy High School Athletic Hall of Fame...

With the basketball season winding down and spring just around the corner, the grass will soon be turning green and the high school baseball season will commence. For Monett, the journey begins on March 18 with a double-header against Purdy and Spokane...

Sharon Kay Heffernan, age 54, of Aurora, Missouri, passed away at 10:37 a.m. on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born October 3, 1962, in Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin and Marianne (Buttner) Flint...

Sharon Kay Evans, 53, of Ash Grove, died Sunday, Jan. 29 at her home. A memorial service, under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Paris Springs United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Antioch Cemetery in Everton...

William Frank Hudson, 81, of Crane, died Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the Aurora Nursing Center. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial will be at the Mars Hill Cemetery at a later date...