Stories from Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The Purdy school board hired a new teacher and added a paraprofessional recently. Brandon Funkhouser was hired as a new fifth-grade teacher and will start on Dec. 20. This will be Funkhouser's first teaching position. Funkhouser is a Missouri State University graduate, taking many of his classes at Crowder College through its consortium with MSU...

She’s a dog on a mission. Sweetie is a familiar sight to employees working on various projects for the construction firm of R.E. Smith, out of Joplin. She accompanies her owner, Preston Patton, on his deliveries of equipment and supplies every day, bringing smiles to the workers who watch for the appearance of the friendly pup...

A man charged with murder who escaped custody at the Lawrence County jail Monday night was found less than two hours later near a home on Cherry Street in Mt. Vernon. Brad DeLay, Lawrence County sheriff, said Michael Jones, 49, of Mt. Vernon, was being held in Vernon County...

Purdy school board members approved a contract for its FEMA shelter and preschool building construction project and laid the groundwork for rapid action as crews for R.E. Smith Construction mobilize to start work. Superintendent Steven Chancellor reported the general contractor had its trailer office on site and had set posts to outline the construction zone. This week, he expected to see the fence set to isolate the work area, after which earthwork would start, including the removal of trees...

Aldermen in Purdy have voted to change the names of the municipal wards but resisted making any other alterations in the voting districts. Mayor Bo Prock said the borders, numbered 1 and 2, had become too vague and meaningless. He presented an ordinance renaming the wards as east and west, maintaining the division point at the town’s railroad tracks...

Beef herd owners from four other states took home replacement heifers from the Show-Me-Select sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards, Nov. 17. The 315 heifers — future mama cows — averaged $1,867, with top prices at $2,200 per head. This compared to a sale of half that size the same day at the Kirksville Livestock Yard. There, 147 bred heifers sold at an average price was $1,872, where the top priced heifers sold of $2,100 and $2,025...

George Daoud, Monett police chief, speaks to the Monett Young Professionals Network Tuesday afternoon about the Shop With A Cop program at Angus Branch.

The annual Old-Fashioned Christmas at Jolly Mill will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 2 at the mill, located 10 miles southwest of Monett off Farm Road 2025. Refreshments will be provided. Children will have a chance to have a photo taken with Santa Claus. Children are also invited to bring an ornament to hang on the Christmas tree...

Trailing 50-48 with less than two minutes left in the opening round at the Pierce City Invitational, Kolton Pinkly, Verona junior guard, looked at Coach Brad Stewart and asked if they should go to a man-to-man defense. Stewart said no and to trap. Pinkly then picked the pocket of an East Newton defender and raced to the basket for a layup which resulted in an old-fashioned 3-point play...

A 27-point, 65-38, win over Greenwood to open the Pierce City Invitational tourney on Monday was exactly the type of result Pierce City Coach Matt Street want to see. Last week, the Eagles slipped past Marionville, 47-42, and Street questioned his team’s effort...

Lonnie Paul Wiseman, 86, of Monett, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at his home in Monett. He was born in Butterfield, Missouri, on July 4, 1931, the son of the late Thomas and Agnes (Newman) Wiseman. He was united in marriage on June 15, 1956, in Purdy, Missouri, to Beverly Patton; she survives...

Lee “Allen” Duncan, 76, of Exeter, died Saturday, Nov. 25. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial with military honors will be at Chitwood Cemetery in Wheaton. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. Thursday at Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville...

Marion Lee Hull, 90, formerly of Monett, died Monday, Nov. 27. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1, at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield. Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield...