Stories from Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has ordered that the flags of the United States and the State of Missouri at all state government buildings in the counties of Barry and McDonald be flown at half-staff on Thursday in honor of Master Sgt. Carl Cosper, of the Barry County Sheriff’s Office...

The hearts of employees at the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, and of many people throughout the county, are flying half mast this week after the loss of the man behind badge No. 76. Master Sgt. Carl Cosper Jr., 56, of Pineville, died Friday when his patrol vehicle, en route to a domestic disturbance call in Seligman, struck a school bus turning on to Highway 37 at Farm Road 1060...

Voters in the Sugar Creek Special Road District in the Seligman area rejected an attempt to double the district’s property tax levy on Tuesday, leaving the district’s financial outlook very uncertain. The district had a property tax levy of $0.1542 per $100 of assessed property. Commissioners proposed increasing the levy by an additional $0.1676. Voters rejected the proposal by a 93-71 vote margin, offering only 43 percent support...

Local Barry County Girls Kimber Keller, Joscelyn Dover and Cammie Olson came home from the 2017 Midwest International Girl Finals with huge wins. But, they weren’t the only ones in the county to win an award and make new friends. Girls from all across Missouri and Kansas competed against each other at the event, which was held March 24-26 in Branson at the Clarion Hotel...

The Verona school board accepted a resignation and moved one teacher to tenure in recent personnel action. Jeanne Willden resigned as English teacher for third and fourth grades. She also served as yearbook advisor. Superintendent Tony Simmons said Willden's husband is seeking a job at a school district in the Kansas City area...

Parents of English Language Learning and migrant education students at Monett Elementary School attended a fundraising effort Monday evening, in which they could purchase items crafted by their students.

About 1,000 people attended the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s Business Showcase on Saturday at the Monett City Park Casino.

The Monett High School fashion class held its third annual fashion show on Friday at the performing arts center.

As a treat to the Pierce City community, Decatur Lodge No. 400, AF&AN, provided free pulled pork dinners for the community on Saturday during the annual steak supper sale.

The Monett Ministerial Association will host its last Lenten services at noon today at the Chapel of Grace, 1153 Farm Road 1060, south of Highway 60. Paul Lanning from First United Methodist Church will be the speaker. A light lunch will follow the services, around 12:30 p.m., at the host church...

With a brutal opening to the baseball season behind them, the Purdy baseball team is starting to show its potential. The Eagles, 3-6 overall, have won two of their last three and host Jasper and College Heights in a rare Friday doubleheader. Two wins would position the Eagles (3-6, 2-0) for a top-two district seed as well as in the driver’s seat for a conference title...

The hottest team in southwest Missouri is located in Purdy. In 15 games this spring softball season, the Lady Eagles (14-1) have allowed just 16 total runs. Nine times the squad has shut out their opponents, and twice this season they have defeated last year’s state champion Mt. Vernon in convincing fashion, outscoring the Lady Mountaineers by a combined count of 21-2...

The Pierce City track team heads to East Newton on Thursday and hopes to maintain the trend of rewriting personal bests. At Aurora, the Eagles took third and the Lady Eagles finished sixth, with athletes setting a total of six personal bests in the events...

Dr. Wayne Farmer Priest, of Berryville, Ark., was born Aug. 19, 1941, in Berryville, Ark., the son of Floyd Wayne and Mabel Farmer Priest. He departed this life Wednesday, April 5, in Fayetteville, Ark., at the age of 75 years. Dr. Priest was a member of the Freeman Heights Baptist Church, Rotary, Bobcat Booster and a Mason. He was an avid sports fan and even went to SMS on a football scholarship...

Janice Corinne Carter, 76, of Mt. Vernon, died Monday, April 3, at her home. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Private burial will be at the Garoutte Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon...

Betty Jean Cornell, 88, of Mt. Vernon, died Friday, Feb. 24. A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Fossett-Moser Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be at a later date at the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery.

Jeffie LoyDene Martin, 94, of Cassville, died Sunday, April 9. Graveside services were held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Glen W. Scott, Sr., 87, of McDowell, died Sunday, April 9, at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 at the White Funeral Home and Crematory. Full military honors provided by the U.S, Navy and American Legion Post #91 at the Corsicana Cemetery...

Steven Lee Wallace, 40, of Branson died Friday, April 7. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 14 from 12 to 2:00 p.m. at the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Graveside services are being held Friday, April 14, at 3:00 p.m. at the Monett I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Monett...