Stories from Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The baseball season for Monett began with a split decision. On Saturday, Monett dropped a 3-2 affair to Reeds Spring, then bounced back for an 11-9 win over Purdy. “I saw a lot of room for improvement,” said Michael Calhoun, Monett coach. “I thought we hit the ball well against Purdy, but in both games we had running and fielding mistakes. ...

Activity in Monett’s municipal court jumped by 9 percent in 2017, according to the annual summary released by Court Clerk Mechele James, which included rulings that doubled the number of dismissed cases and nearly half the number of subjects given probation...

The first day of spring saw an increase in activity at Monett’s South Park.

The annexation issue requested by the Purdy City Council appears near resolution. Mayor Bo Prock reported to the Purdy City Council last week that he received a call from the Barry County Commission that questions raised about the city’s request to annex the right-of-way to Highway 37 and Farm Road 1080 had been answered...

An Eagle Rock woman is speaking out on behalf of her family, which is in mourning after their three labradors were allegedly shot to death and mutilated while playing in Table Rock Lake about half a mile from their home. Dani Johnson, of Eagle Rock, said her two black labs, Gus, 7, and Tug, 11 months, as well as her yellow lab, Kaycee, 3, were shot to death last week, and she is looking for answers...

The entrance to the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett took on a festive spring look this week at the hands of painter Julie Southard, a coordinator of individual education programs for the Monett school district’s special services department...

Wastewater customers in Pierce City will soon be seeing a jump in their monthly bills. Aldermen have approved a $7 increase to the wastewater base rate, from $18 to $25. That includes the first 1,000 gallons for treatment. Customers will continue to pay an additional $3.75 per 1,000 additional gallons...

A drug bust in Cassville on Monday resulted in authorities seizing more than half a pound of methamphetamine. The Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET) and Barry County Sheriff’s Department arrested Clarence King, 50, of Seligman, and Jason Foster, 38, of Seligman, Monday afternoon. The arrests occurred following a traffic stop near the Baywash Carwash in Cassville...

1. Is the school district doing enough to encourage diversity in its staff in hiring minorities, certified and non-certified? The school district needs to continue to advertise the advantage teachers have in a district such as ours.  We have lots of opportunities for teachers to engage and grow in their career...

1. Is the school district doing enough to encourage diversity in its staff in hiring minorities, certified and non-certified? I know that our school district is encouraging the hiring or minority staff, especially teachers, that can assist with the growing diversity in our schools. ...

1. Is the school district doing enough to encourage diversity in its staff in hiring minorities, certified and non-certified? It is my belief that the Monett R-1 School District does encourage diversity among certified and non-certified staff. There have been many conversations over the years to develop ways to increase minority hires, I know nothing to make me think this desire has waned...

1. Is the school district doing enough to encourage diversity in its staff in hiring minorities, certified and non-certified? To be honest, I try and speak to as many people in the community as I can about the issues our schools are facing and this topic has never come up. ...

Age: 49 Current Occupation: Software programmer Past Experience: Served in past committee’s while in banking Education: B.S. Agricultural business 1. Why do you want to win this position? To give back to the community. 2. If elected, what is your number one goal on the school board?...

Age: 50 Current Occupation: Farm owner Business owner Past Experience: As a business owner I know how to run a business addressing things that arise in certain situations Education: K-12 1. Why do you want to win this position? I’ve been involved in many projects over the last three years as a board member. I have come to understand the process over the last three years as a board member and now I feel that I can be a better asset to Pierce city school district...

Age: 54 Current Occupation: IT Management at Leggett & Platt, Inc. Past Experience: St Mary’s Catholic School Board Member; St Mary’s Parish Finance Council President; St Mary’s Parish Council Education: BS in Computer Information Science, Missouri Southern State University; BS in Business Administration Missouri, Southern State University...

Age: 29 Current Occupation: Clinical Excellence Coordinator Past Experience: Kids First for Proposition 1 Education: Masters in Hospital Administration 1. Why do you want to win this position? My interest in Pierce City’s school district is multifactorial. ...

Members of the Mike Flummerfelt family recently approached Pierce City aldermen concerning placement of welcome signs at three of the four city limits boundaries. The signs, stating “Welcome to Pierce City: Good Neighbors, Strong Community,” will be placed at the city limits on both North and South Hwy. 97 and at W. Hwy. 37, near the John Schnake property on Beacon Light Hill...

The Ozark Festival Orchestra concludes its 38th season on April 15 with a benefit to support the orchestra, featuring music from superhero movies and other special features. The concert will be held at the City Park Casino in Monett, east from the park entrance on Highway 37, just south of Highway 60. This will be the orchestra’s first performance at the City Park Casino since 2015 and revives the OFO’s Pops in the Park series...

Monett Special Road District will meet in regular session at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the Road District Barn on Eisenhower behind the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Barry County Retired Teachers will meet at 10 a.m. on March 23 at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Highway H in Monett. Coffee and snacks will precede Rebecca Merriman speaking at 10:30 a.m. on the GO CAPS program...

For the last four seasons, the Monett girls soccer team has made steady improvements. The Lady Cubs have went from a team that was an easy win for opponents to one that must be prepared for. This year, they have a healthy amount of returning starters in Maddi Brannon, goalie; Naiam Perez, midfield; Teagan Johnson, defense; Tyleigh Allcock, defense; Alice Camp, defense; Veronica Aldaba, midfield; and Victoria Gutierrez, forward...

There is renewed interest in boys tennis at Monett this year. After struggling with numbers of participants, the team has 17 players out this season, up from 10 last year, which means the Cubs have a full varsity and junior varsity squad. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores that have played very little tennis before now,” said Jason Smith, Monett coach. “Once they buy into the system of what we are teaching them, then they and we will improve as a team.”...

The Pierce City golf team took second in a three-team match on Tuesday at Windmill Ridge Golf Course. Lockwood finished first with a 393, and the Eagles recorded a 431. Kaleb Meyer was the top individual finisher for Pierce City with a 96, securing a third-place finish...

On Friday, for the first time in school history, Cassville will host a girls soccer match. The Lady Wildcats are playing a junior varsity schedule this season with the goal of being a full-fledged varsity program next season. Cassville’s first game is a home contest against rival Monett at 4:30 p.m...

William “Bill” Edward Miller, 94, of Pierce City, died Sunday, March 18, at Bentonview Health and Rehab in Monett. Rosary is being held on Wednesday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pierce City, with visitation to follow Rosary until 8 p.m. Funeral Mass is being held on Thursday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pierce City. Burial will be at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Pierce City...

Katherine Leonhart, 99, of Eagle Rock, died Monday, March 19. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Winfield, Kan., under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville.

Rickey Wayne Tate, 61, of Monett, Mo., passed away on March 18, 2018, while at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Rick was born on July 22, 1956, son of the late Charles W. and Wanetta Marie (Vance) Tate. Rick was a graduate of Monett High School with the Class of 1974. He was a retired truck driver. He enjoyed spending his time farming, primarily raising different types of exotic and domestic animals. He attended the Hill Creek Church in Pierce City, Mo...

Jerry Lasley, 71, of Springfield, passed away on March 12, at Point Lookout Nursing Home in Hollister. After graduating from Purdy High School he enrolled at SMSU. Later he worked in sales and earned several work-related awards, prior to his retirement in 2010,...

Mary Margaret Lamberson, 94, of Monett, went to be with her Lord in Heaven on Saturday, March 3, 2018, while staying at Lacoba Homes in Monett. She was born in Monett on March 19, 1923; the daughter of the late Vance and Gladys (Linney) Davis. She was united in marriage on June 4, 1955 to Joseph Otis Lamberson; he preceded her in death on December 5, 2011...

Walker H. Craig, Jr., age 91, of Monett, Mo., passed from this life on Friday, March 16, 2018, following a lengthy illness. Walker was born on December 14, 1926, in Aspinwall, Penn., son of the late Walker Harvey Craig, Sr. and Carrie Grace (Pease) Craig. ...