Stories from Wednesday, March 7, 2018

A structure fire east of Purdy destroyed the home of John and Linda Keckler on Tuesday. According to Purdy Fire Chief Nick Mercer, Purdy firefighters responded to a call at 11612 Highway C at 3:54 p.m. on Tuesday. Flames were visible through the roof as firefighters arrived. The house was completely destroyed...

Two Barry County deputies were involved in a shooting on Wednesday afternoon, where the suspect in the case was injured. According to Sgt. John Lueckenhoff, Missouri State Highway Patrol public information and education officer, two Barry County deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a home on Channel Cat Lane...

Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren had been undecided if he would run for his post again this year, saying he would make his decision on filing day — and he did. County Clerk Gary Youngblood announced his intention to file for presiding commissioner in January, and local businessman John Hendricks had also made his intentions clear about the position...

The Monett City Council introduced its budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, beginning on April 1, approving a recreation services agreement with the Monett Area YMCA and cost share deals with FEMA and the Missouri Department of Transportation. City Administrator Dennis Pyle introduced the next fiscal year budget, which will be open for public comment at the March 20 meeting. ...

Matt Wilson gave daughter Mallory a swinging dance to keep up her expectations for a good time at the Daddy-Daughter Dance at St. Lawrence School.

Celebrity guest Nick Mundt, co-host of the Outdoor Channel’s “Bone Collector” television show and spokesperson for Whitetails Unlimited, reminded guests to get their tickets in for one of the several drawings that took place at the sixth annual Whitetails Unlimited banquet, held Saturday in Pierce City...

High winds on Tuesday created a wide range of threats answered by area firefighters.

Age: 48 Current Occupation: General Manager Past Experience: Monett Chamber of Commerce Board Member Education: Bachelor Degree from Missouri State University 1. Why do you want to win this position? I want to have the opportunity to provide guidance and work with other Board members to help set vision and goals for our schools...

Age: 46 Current Occupation: Pharmacist Past Experience: Board member for Monett R-1 since 2012 Education: College graduate (B.S. Biology, B.S. Pharmacy) 1. Why do you want to win this position? I have entered the election for board member for Monett R-1 School District because I continue to feel strongly about the importance of excellent schools for our children and our community. ...

Age: 40 Current Occupation: Shelter Insurance Agent Past Experience: I spent most of my early professional career in the juvenile justice field. I started out working for the Missouri Division of Youth Services, as a Youth Specialist, at the Mount Vernon Treatment Center. ...

Age: 51 Current Occupation: IT Director Past Experience: 2-term (6-year) member of Monett R-1 Board of Education (2011-2016) Education: No resoponse provided 1. Why do you want to win this position? My original reason remains my current reason. I love this community. ...

The Purdy school board adjusted its school calendar for the remainder of the year and voted to phase in the new Latin system that will halt valedictorian and salutatorian designation in three years. Superintendent Steven Chancellor reported that since the January school board meeting, the district lost class days on Feb. ...

Aldermen in Pierce City chose to decline a water and wastewater agreement with their public service superintendent, Alan Frantz, who has formed his own service provider company, Frantz Water Solutions, LLC. Frantz made the proposal at the regular council meeting in February, but the board chose not to make a decision at that time...

Sales tax to bi-county city and county governments saw a sharp rebound in February, in contrast to typically the smallest disbursements of the year, as if the Missouri Department of Revenue wanted to prove the red ink in January did not reflect a deduction to make December numbers bigger...

A new approach to expanding the high school accompanied the continuing discussion in February by the Monett school board about how to address growth in the district. The high school, while not the immediate pressure point for growth, will within a few years become one of the major concerns. In January, board members suggested exploring a southern expansion from the commons...

The Verona school board has hired Naomi Austin as the new principal for Verona High School. Board members conducted an interview and hired Austin for an 11-month contract at the middle school and high school principal at a salary of $67,500. She will succeed Terry Winton, who resigned in January after 10 years of service at the end of the current school year...

Filings opened Feb. 27 for the August primary, and thus far, most seats are uncontested. Incumbents have filed for open seats in Missouri House of Representative Districts 157 and 158, currently held by State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove and State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick. R-Shell Knob, respectively...

Tickets are available for the Monett Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 8 at the Scott Regional Technology Center. Community service Award and Pride and Progress Award will be announced. Information is available by calling 235-7919...

It is 3:45 p.m. on Monday, and the sound of basketballs banging off the floor fills the hallways at Purdy High School. Never in the history of the boys hoops program has an Eagles team played a varsity game this deep into the season. Yet, the gym has 20 players, drenched in sweat and working toward a Class 2 semifinal showdown with Hayti on Thursday...

For the boys and girls Classes 1, 2 and 3 basketball teams, the season has come down to a four-team, three game tournament. Beginning Thursday morning, the top four teams from each of the three classes descend upon JQH Arena and vie for the right to be called state champion...

With a 46-35 district loss to Aurora on Feb. 27, the Monett boys basketball team saw its season come to a close. While no team wants to end its year with a loss, the Cubs have several factors to look at and have their heads held high. For starters, the team, which only won three games last year, finished this campaign with nine victories. They also lost seven games by five or fewer points...

Robert Lee Gage, 79, of Republic, died Saturday, March 3. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 7, at Faith Full Gospel Church in Aurora, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Burial was at Mineral Springs Cemetery in Cassville.

Billy Joe Marshall, 86, of Shell Knob, died Monday, Feb. 26. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 6, at Fohn Funeral Home in Shell Knob. Burial was at Painter Cemetery in Shell Knob.

Donna Marie Martin, 80, of Aurora, died Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A graveside service, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora was held Tuesday, March 6 at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

Gaylon Henderson, 83, of Monett, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett, following a lengthy illness. Gaylon was born on June 15, 1934, in Barry County, Mo, son of the late Aubrey and Mildred (Boyd) Henderson. Growing up in Purdy, Gaylon graduated from Purdy High School with the class of 1952. ...