Stories from Friday, May 26, 2017

After several months of discussions, Freistatt Mayor Mike Ortwein has proposed adding fire hydrants in the village and proposed a strategy for improving fire protection for the north half of the village. Ortwein presented a map to board trustees drafted by Jeff Ceperley with Anderson Engineering to show possible locations for new water lines. ...

After implementing a new nuisance ordinance recently, Purdy aldermen discovered the city’s restrictions on livestock are no longer in place, and they have been scrambling to determine options. Melissa Horn, who lives on Edina Street, expressed concern to the city council about the disposition of her property. The backside of her property abuts the agricultural frontage along Highway 37. The Horns purchased the former Estes house...

Sarah Martin, a ranger with the George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, visited with youngsters at the Pierce City Branch Library on Wednesday about the National Park System and stories of how children living in the 1800s entertained themselves...

Verona firefighters, assisted by the Aurora Rural Fire District, battled a fire on a mobile home at 504 Old Aurora Road in Verona on Monday. Firefighters were called around 11:30 p.m. in response to a call from a neighbor. According to Firefighter Michael W. Rice, the fire appeared to start at the gas stove and got inside the walls of the home. Firefighters cut a number of holes in walls to reach the hot spots. Fire damage itself was minimal...

The Monett school district has hired four new teachers for the coming school year. The board approved the resignation of Julie Dalton, instructional coach at Central Park Elementary, who took the job as principal at Purdy Elementary School. Resignations were also accepted from Delana Munsterman, a third grade teacher at Central Park Elementary, and Lynne Cowherd, an English teacher at the middle school...

While waiting for the summer reading program to kick off at the Pierce City Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library on Wednesday, Evelyn Holmes, 1, entertained herself by coloring a picture of a dolphin.

Central Elementary School’s fourth graders Ginger Leavitt and Lara Jones took to the spring toy at Pierce City’s South Park during the Last Great Recess, which took place Thursday morning.

Residents in and around Pierce City this week may have noticed work crews digging around utility poles in town and on rural roads.

Tom Wolfe Memorial Post No. 4207, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will hold a Memorial Day service at noon on May 29 at the Monett IOOF Cemetery. The public is urged to attend The Monett Rural Fire District will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30 at the fire station No. 1 on County Road...

It was not the end to his season Michael Calhoun, Monett baseball coach, had hoped for on Tuesday. The No. 3 state-ranked Cubs (21-5) saw their campaign end in a 5-0 loss to No. 2 Aurora (26-3) in the Class 4 sectional. “Give them credit,” Calhoun said of Aurora. ...

There were no signs of jitters or sayings of “just happy to qualify” coming from the trio of Monett track stars on Tuesday. In fact, freshman Kaesha George was matter-of-fact when she said her goal was to win the event. It was not arrogance or cockiness that led her to make the bold prediction, but a confidence in herself that she could reach the top level this weekend...

Danny Old Laster, 63, of Neosho, died Tuesday, May 23. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at Rocky Comfort Cemetery, Rocky Comfort. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Saturday, at McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton.

Hollis Leroy Andes, 85, of Monett, died Wednesday, May 24, at Oak Pointe of Monett. Visitation is being held on Tuesday, May 30, from 12-2:00 p.m. at the Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett. Graveside services are being held at 3 p.m. at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora, with Rev. Jimmie Copley officiating...