Stories from Wednesday, May 23, 2018

commencement ceremony Pierce City High School seniors, their parents, teachers and mentors marked the end of an era Sunday evening, with commencement ceremonies celebrating the Class of 2018 taking place in the high school gymnasium. Jackie Nelson, high school counselor and class speaker, noted students had earned more than a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships...

The new Monett Aquatic Center will open for business at 1 p.m. on Saturday, meeting the target date of opening for Memorial Day weekend. The community will have a chance to view the new facility at an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday. Final installation of features has been underway this week. ...

Nine people turned out to discuss what qualities the Monett community wanted to see in a new school superintendent on Thursday, leading up to the first meeting of the school board today in an effort to whittle the field for interviews next week. Superintendent Brad Hanson announced his retirement last month, as he planned to take the assistant superintendent post at the Pittsburg, Kan., school district, where he attended school as a youth...

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library board, after earlier second thoughts, voted Thursday to renew its commitment to a feasibility study to see if the historic First National Bank building at Fourth and East Broadway, now owned by U.S. Bank, could serve as a new home for the Monett library branch...

Purdy City Council members have made preparations for summer activities, including work at the city park and scheduling the Purdy Festival. Aldermen decided to replace the bedding in the park playground with smoothed river rock. Kay Concrete in Monett was the only bidder at $28.50 per ton. Council members chose to buy 44 tons and to have the playground upgraded with the bedding by the seventh annual Purdy Festival, slated for Saturday, July 21...

Summer activities around by Monett area get underway as May ends and move into full gear in June, as several traditional activities have been scheduled. The Lawrence County Youth Fair, open to young people from across southwest Missouri, will run May 31 through June 3 at the fairgrounds on the Freistatt Lions Club Ernte-Fest grounds on the north end of Freistatt. Additional information is available by calling 417-466-3102...

Pierce City's water woes continue as aldermen determined that a proposal from Alliance Professional Water and Wastewater Operations, out of Columbia, was not financially feasible. Terry Merritt, director of business development for the company, offered a proposal that would have removed management of the water system, distribution and water treatment along with the wastewater system, collection system streets and parks, and the city employees that are currently managing those works. ...

Organizers of the 53rd annual Barry County Youth Camp, taking place at Camp Smokey at Roaring River State Park, have released the bus schedule to pick campers up in Monett, Purdy and Cassville. This year's theme is "Sail Away to Barry County Youth Camp."...

On April 14, Barry County 4-H Council held the annual scholarship banquet and auction, raising $3,298.20 through the generosity of community members and helpful volunteers. "Thank you Barry County," said Reagan Bluel, dairy specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "Your support of 4-H is unwavering."...

It was a whooping good time on Friday for the second annual Trivia Night fundraiser, hosted by the Monett/Purdy affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.

One of the most popular new places in Monett has been the splash pad at the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park on Front Street.

Legionnaires with Hobbs-Anderson Post No. 91 of the American Legion will be joined by Boy Scouts from Troop No. 38 and Cub Scouts from Pack No. 140 on Friday to distribute more than 1,000 flags to those who have served in the military who are buried in the Monett IOOF, Cox, McCormick-St. Johns, Mt. Calvary and Oakdale cemeteries in Monett for Memorial Day...

The three Monett Middle School choirs concluded their year with a concert in the Monett High School Performing Arts Center on May 15 under the director of Deborah Breon.

Angels for Children of the 39th Judicial Circuit, a support organization to help foster children and their new families, hosted their second annual picnic for children and families on Friday at the Monett Area YMCA.

Monett Ministerial Association will hold a farewell lunch for Father Hank Grodecki, St Lawrence Catholic Church, at 11:30 a.m. today, May 23. All pastors and chaplains are encouraged to attend. Father Hank, who is preparing for his new assignment in Alaska, has been very active in the community. Lunch will be at Lai Lai’s on Bridle Lane, south of Walmart in Monett...

There will be a slightly more purple hue to the jersey colors at the Class 4 state track meet this year. The reason for the tinted pallet is Monett will be featured in four girls’ and one boys’ events. “Every day, these girls show up to practice determined to get better,” said Kelly George, Monett girls track coach. ...

The heartache was easy to see in the faces of the Purdy baseball team (20-7) after a tough 8-5 loss to New Covenant in the Class 2 sectional round on Monday. The Eagles watched a 3-0 lead evaporate and turn into an 8-3 hole heading into their final at-bats...

Purdy’s Cierra Moore, center, and McKenzie Renkoski exchange the baton during the 4x200 relay at the Class 2 state track meet in Jefferson City.

Wheaton’s Rachel Lacey, right, had a busy weekend at the Class 1 state track meet in Jefferson City.