Stories from Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Sales tax income to the bi-county area continues to deliver erratically to local cities and counties. Total income dropped by 8 percent in June, the same percentage gain seen in May. Most recipients show a drop in income during the first half of 2017, though almost half of them had a small dip of 2 percent or less...

The Purdy City Council has appointed a new alderman and a team to lead the emergency management program. Bobby Baker has been named to succeed Brad Bunnell representing the East Ward, following Bunnell’s resignation in April. Baker is a four-year employee of the City of Monett in the cemetery department. He will serve until the election in April 2018, which would have been the conclusion of Bunnell’s term...

A large crowd was on hand at the new Monett Museum on Saturday for formal dedication of the new facility at 418-422 E. Broadway in Monett. “This just adds to the wonder and the glory of this community,” said Gale Huffmaster, head of the Monett Historical Society’s building committee, in his introductions...

A Purdy man is charged with a class B felony after allegedly turning himself in for having sexual contact with a victim less than 17 years of age. Zachary Whiteley, 38, of Purdy, is charged with second-degree child molestation. According to a probable cause report filed by Chief Deputy Leonard Collins, with the Barry County Sheriff's Office, Whiteley came into the sheriff's office on Saturday and stated he wanted to turn himself in for having sexual contact with the victim on June 1 at his home in rural Purdy.. ...

Jason Navarro, history teacher at Wheaton High School, is proud of his students, who will soon be receiving medals for achieving a great victory in a national contest. “A special year for Wheaton National History Day students came to a spectacular conclusion on June 15 at the national contest in College Park, Md.,” Navarro said...

The Purdy City Council approved job descriptions introduced in May with modifications discussed at that monthly meeting. Additions for the job descriptions included adding duties for police officers stemming from bailiff duties for municipal court. Transportation of prisoners back and forth from the county jail to face the municipal judge were added. ...

Generation X'ers are the generation of the latchkey kids. The 'latchkey kid' refers to a child who returns from school to an empty home because their parent(s) are away at work or because they are living in a single parent home. Latchkey kids surged from the 1970s to the early 1990s due to economic changes that required two incomes to get by and societal changes where an increased divorce rate created more single parent homes...

The office of Barry County Collector Janice Varner is preparing for the annual Barry County real estate delinquent tax sale. Missouri law requires that land with three years of delinquent taxes sell on the fourth Monday of August each year. The first publication of this sale will appear in the Cassville Democrat the week of July 19, at which time copies will be available in the collector’s office. ...

It was one of the toughest meetings Eli Ernst ever endured. The Purdy girls coach summoned his players to his room near the end of the school year and blindsided them with the news that he would not be their coach for the 2017-2018 season. “They thought they were coming in to get their summer workout schedule,” Ernst said. “It was heartbreaking for me to look them in the eye and tell them I was moving on from the program.”...

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League Major League team sponsored by Monett Sales and Rentals.

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League 8-and-under softball team sponsored by Jack Henry & Associates.

Jo Lynn (Dacy) Ford, 58, of Monett, Mo., went home to peace and comfort with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 25, 2017, while in Cox-South Medical Center in Springfield, Mo. Jo Lynn was born on October 9, 1958, in Monett, Mo., daughter of the late Robert J. Dacy, Sr. and Norma J. (Young) Dacy...

Donald Lee O’Banion, 76, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Friday, June 16, 2017 surrounded by his family at his home in Monett. He was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., on Nov. 6, 1940, the son of Lee Joseph and Mildred Lawanda (King) O’Banion. He was a retired tooling engineer for Rohr Industries in Sheridan, Ark. ...

Dorothy Ruth Sigman, age 63, of Springfield, Mo., passed away on Monday, June 26, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family. Dorothy was born on February 22, 1954, in McPherson, Kan., daughter of the late Howard and Irene (Ray) Baxter. She was a graduate of Monett High School and furthered her education in Oregon where she studied at Portland Community College. ...

Darlene J. Murphy, 73, of Cassville, died Sunday, June 25, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 30, at the White Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cassville. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 29, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home...