Stories from Saturday, June 16, 2018

Monett police are moving closer to finding candidates for the Monett school district in its search for a second school resources officer (SRO) and possibly two more armed, district-paid employees to cover each of the district’s campuses. Police Chief George Daoud said he hopes to begin testing for the school resource officer position later this month. ...

Members of the inaugural class of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Academy are learning about a new illegal drug that is sweeping down from the northern states, the abuse of fentanyl. Fentanyl is an opioid 50 to 300 times more potent than morphine...

Consideration of the historic Monett National Bank building at Fourth and Broadway as a new home for the Monett Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library have been dashed, as the potential donors have withdrawn the $3 million offer to rehabilitate the bank for library use...

A Miller woman has requested a change of venue regarding the April 22 hit-and-run death of Nichole Barker, 42, of Mt. Vernon, following an altercation at a Mt. Vernon bar. Lerenda Campbell, 36, who has pleaded not guilty in the case, appeared in Lawrence County Circuit Court this week with her attorney, Roger Jones, of Springfield, who filed for the change of venue. That motion has not yet been taken up by the court for consideration...

Muralist Raine Clotfelter expects to finish the mural next to the parking lot at Fifth and Broadway next Tuesday.

Barry-Lawrence Ambulance leaders continued discussions this week about the still vacant board position for rural Monett in Barry County, while continuing to seek a resolution on a land donation. Robert Wiley, tapped by write-in vote for the District 1 seat, did not show for his third consecutive board meeting this week, though he had indicated to Office Manager Paula Brown that he was willing to serve. ...

Pierce City Special Road District commissioners found themselves uncertain about how to best approach their major road issues heading into the summer. According to Foreman Tom Green, roads faced a typical amount of potholes over the winter, and the lack of snow kept plows from adding any heavy wear from the season. ...

Glorinda Jackson, of Sarcoxie, a veteran employee of the Monett Post Office, took the oath of office on Thursday to become the new postmaster in Monett. Jackson took the oath from Thomas Flynn, manager of post office operations, while her predecessor, Frances Bowman, held a family Bible. Bowman officially retired on May 29, 2017. Jackson has been team leading the Monett facility since July 8, 2017 until her assignment as postmaster became official...

Pierce City aldermen once again voted no on a water and wastewater systems contract offered up by former Public Works employee Alan Frantz, who was the only bidder in the latest round of contracts. Frantz, who resigned his position on April 27, has repeatedly bid to service the city's water and wastewater systems, with prices ranging from $4,400 per month, or $57,200 annually, to the latest bid opened Monday night, of $3,500 per month, or $42,000 annually...

Few things refresh like flavored ice on a hot summer day. Joei Guido, who will be a freshman this fall at Monett High School, cooled off Wednesday evening with a Pink Flamingo from Sno Biz on Highway 60 in Monett, managed by Kaden Propps.

A Celebrate Monett commemoration of the city and school district’s participation in the Healthy Schools/Healthy Communities grant will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23 at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the Glen nd Sharon Garrett Park on Front Street. A light breakfast will be provided. Activities will include a scavenger hunt, Zumba on the grass and goody bags for the first 100 visitors...

Sarah Elizabeth Volkl and Levi John Mareth were united in marriage in an outdoor wedding at Historic Fire House No. 2, in Springfield on Oct. 6, 2017. Sarah is the daughter of Pam and the late Charles Volkl of Pierce City. Levi is the son of John and Janet Mareth, Mt. Vernon, and the grandson of Bernard and Kay Means of Lockwood, and Bob and Marlene Mareth, Monett, and the great grandson of Ted Lilienkamp of Lockwood...

This week, the Monett Lions Club dedicated a new drinking fountain inside of a giant plastic lion, which has been installed at the new Monett Aquatic Center.

Signage went into place on Wednesday identifying the new Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park on Front Street.

Exeter High School Class of 1957 met for a reunion on Memorial Day at Roaring River Lodge, for dinner and visiting.

The Mt. Vernon Community Theatre will present "La Rue's Return or How's a Bayou?" The play is a reader's theatre melodrama by Scott Cherney and Edward Thorpe, at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 22, at the Monett Historical Society's Museum at 418 E. Broadway...

At the age of 74, Sondra Probstfield, of Monett, decided it was finally time to retire. She was honored Thursday, May 31, with a reception and a skyline acrylic corporate award for her 27 years of service with the Mercy Health system. There, she worked taking dictation, working patient accounts and insurance...

Mariah Halstenberg, right, received the 2018 Brian Andelin Memorial Pierce City Arts Council Scholarship of $500.

Officials at Monett High School have announced underclassmen honors for the 2017-18 academic year. • American government top five: Anna Pham, Marithza Reyes, Erin McCaffrey, Trinity Poynter and Josh Lopez. • Maddy Lee, AP/DC Government President’s Award...

Honor roll for the second semester has been announced at Purdy High School for grades seven through 12. The following student were named to the A honor roll: Seniors — Betty Berry, Zoe Brown, Megan Hibbard, Tyler Keeler, Ryan Pack, Mikey Schad, Layne Skiles, Cailyn Spears and Emily Webb...

With the voting complete and the awards announced, five Monett baseball players secured six spots on the 2018 Big 8 All-Conference baseball team. For the Cubs, pitcher Corey Spain earned First Team status for his play this season. Landing on the Second Team was Zach Blevins, designated hitter...

In an attempt to address a growing need, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has launched a campaign to recruit more high school officials for every member sport. The Missouri State High School Activities Association was formed in 1926 to give direction to amateur interscholastic competition between member schools. One of the functions of the MSHSAA in this area is the registration and training of athletic game officials...

The International Dehydrated Foods (IDF) Cal Ripken T-ball team of the 2018 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League.

The Monett Sales and Rentals 12-and-under softball team of the 2018 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League.

This week, a road crew for the Missouri Department of Transportation laid a hot asphalt strip over a section of Highway PP, between Monett and Pierce City, where a section of roadway had come apart in big potholes. A road crewman commented a couple months ago when the holes were patched that MoDOT would return and make a more permanent repair. That’s what the latest work represented...

Marian LaVerne Hamm, 97, of Verona, Missouri, went to be with her Lord in Heaven on Sunday, June 10, 2018, while staying at Lacoba Homes in Monett. She was born in Westboro, Missouri, on November 21, 1920, the daughter of the late Franklin Pierce and Ruby Belle (Billups) Chambers. She was united in marriage on May 26, 1943, in California to Eldon Loyd Hamm; he preceded her in death in 1998...

Ora Richard “Dick” Rollins, of Monett, Missouri, died Monday, June 11, 2018, in his home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 17, 2018, at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, 305 West Spring Street, Neosho, Missouri, Father Dan Erdman officiating...

Brian Utter, age 43, of Monett, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Mr. Utter, son of Larry and Pam (Harrell) Utter, was born on March 12, 1975, in Monett, Missouri. He was a 1993 Wheaton High School graduate. Brian was employed with Jack Henry and Associates of Monett for eighteen and a half years where he began as a computer programmer, and went on to being a Q&A Analyst Advisor...

Lanny Charles Homesley, 77, of Cassville, died at his home on Monday, June 11. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, at Victory Baptist Church in Cassville, with Pastor Russell Bishop officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at Maplewood Cemetery in Exeter...