Stories from Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Of all the things a parent would expect to pick up in their yard — kids toys, lawn equipment, and the like — the last would be a used hypodermic drug needle. But, that's what Kelly and Glen Johnson found while walking their dogs on the evening of July 14...

Hot weather on Saturday made ice treats especially delightful at the Purdy Festival. More photos from the Festival may be found in a gallery at: http://www.monett-times.com/gallery/30639

Monett Main Street has awarded three grants in its annual façade grant program, providing matching funds to improve the appearance of buildings downtown. Jamie Chavez, owner at 304 E. Broadway, received a grant for a new awning and exterior paint. The building has been used as the Tax Factory office...

The Purdy school district has hired two new teachers for the coming school year and approved the extra duty list. Justin Martin was hired as the new band teacher, succeeding Samantha Burt, who held the job for a year. This will be Martin’s fourth year as a teacher. Superintendent Stephen Chancellor said last year Martin taught in China, so he comes to the district with diverse experience. He has been living in Jefferson City...

Monett has been named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of 10 communities selected to participate in the Healthy Places for Healthy People planning assistance program. Healthy Places for Healthy People is a new initiative that helps communities leverage health care facilities to foster downtown revitalization and economic growth, improve health, and protect the environment. Monett is the only community in Missouri named as a 2017 community partner...

The Monett City Council planned a light agenda for its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Public comment will be heard on the amended ordinance restricting parking downtown and on side streets. The amendment will retain the limit of two hours parking on Third, Fourth and Fifth streets between Front and Bond streets. Action on the amendment is expected...

It was a clear and breezy day for tail waggers in all shapes and sizes to visit Dr. Carol Dahlstrom, right, at the annual rabies vaccination clinic at Pierce City’s South Park.

A total of 35 Barry County 4-H members entered exhibits in the 4-H show at the Purdy Festival on Saturday.

The Monett/Purdy Habitat for Humanity affiliate is making steady progress on its new house on East Nellie Street in Monett.

During the Purdy Livestock Show, part of the sixth annual Purdy Festival on Saturday, Easton Smith exhibited a four-day-old Nigerian dwarf goat named Cookie.

Vision, enthusiasm and a workable plan led the Purdy school district to name Jeremy Dresslaer the new boys basketball coach at Purdy High School. “We felt confidence in the plan that Jeremy laid out in his interview,” said Alan Spencer, Purdy athletic director. “He has enthusiasm and a strong belief in teaching fundamentals. That lined up with what we were looking for in our next coach.”...

Crews at Burl Fowler Stadium have been working feverishly to complete a projected $700,000 of renovations to the field house building.

The 2017 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League T-ball team sponsored by MEA Financial.

Linda Sue Batson, age 70, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away at 9:52 a.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at the Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was born November 10, 1946, in Springfield, the daughter of Jesse Wayne and Vivian Pearl (Elsey) Marti...

Greyson Phillip Jackson, 3, of Aurora, died Sunday, July 16 at the Mercy Hospital in Aurora. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, at the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial will follow at the Mars Hill Cemetery southeast of Aurora. Visitation will be held from 10–11 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, in the funeral home chapel...

Robert B. “Bob” Robbins, 62, of Exeter, died Sunday, July 16. Graveside services were held Tuesday at Maplewood Cemetery in Exeter, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.