Stories from Tuesday, July 3, 2018

A public meeting meeting has been scheduled by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on July 10 to discuss major improvements on Highway 37 between Monett and the Arkansas state line. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. ...

In May, the state of Missouri made a bit of wrestling history when it became the ninth state to make girls wrestling an individually recognized sport. Prior to this year, girls were allowed to wrestle in the state, but they had to compete in the boys division. Thanks to a 202-41 vote by the members of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), female wrestlers will now have their own division...

The Monett school board formulated its financial strategy for the coming school year at its June meeting, including giving raises to teachers and administrators. Retiring Superintendent Brad Hanson reported the district ended the year on June 30 in far better shape financially than expected. Revenue topped expectations by close to $500,000 and spending ran under budget by around $500,000 as well...

The five-year Healthy Schools/Healthy Communities grant program made possible through grant money from the Missouri Foundation for Health concluded last Saturday with a final celebration held at the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park. “We had a great turnout at our Healthy Schools Healthy Communities (HSHC) Celebration,” said Alex Severs, wellness coordinator for the Monett school district. ...

The final First on Front Street concert, hosted by First State Bank of Purdy, will be held at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park in downtown Monett on Friday. The final concert will start almost an hour earlier than its two predecessors, as music by the acoustic duo Screen Door Serenade will begin shortly after 5 p.m...

Age: 79 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Presiding Commission and farmer Past Experience: Incumbent presiding commissioner, Banker, Farmer Education: Bachelor of Science Missouri State University Website: N/A 1. Why do you want to be presiding commissioner?...

Age: 66 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Barry County Clerk Past Experience: Served 8 years Missouri Army National Guard in the 203rd, Company B, at Carthage; 14 years employment with MFA Plant Food Division as plant lead man at the Carytown Plant north of Carthage; Promoted to plant Manager of the Exeter Fertilizer Plant in 1978 and moved to Cassville; 10 years at Cassville schools as director of maintenance and building grounds; Barry County Clerk since winning election in November 1994. ...

Age: 60 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Consultant and Farmer Past Experience: Business Owner, Manufacturing, Contractor Education: Life Experience Website: https://www.facebook.com/johnhendricks4allcitizens/ 1. Why do you want to be presiding commissioner?...

Plans moved forward with the new Shell Knob library branch and for another date to seek a tax levy increase have been made by the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library System board. After hiring Paragon Architecture in May, board members looked over four possible designs prepared for consideration. ...

The Roaring River State Park’s spring pool will offer a different scenery this fall, as a $1.9 million project at the Roaring River Hatchery will replace flood gates and the pipeline into the hatchery. Paul Spurgeon, manager of the Roaring River Hatchery, which is under the umbrella of the Missouri Department of Conservation, said the project will replace all flood gates in the spring pool, the pipeline into the hatchery and a traveling screen will be installed to catch debris from the pool before it enters the hatchery.. ...

About 20,000 area military veterans may have been surprised, and then concerned, when they received a letter informing them that a pathologist at the Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark., was found to be “impaired,” and had misdiagnosed some patients, resulting in at least one death...

In support of the Monett school district's efforts to improve the health of its employees and the addition of activities promoting wellness, the Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan (MEUHP) has presented the district with $5,820. A formal check presentation was made at the administrative office this week...

Shasta Sanders, right, 20, of Washburn, in her last year of showing hogs at the Barry County Fair, took first place in her market hogs division and overall grand champion at the event Saturday.

Despite his prediction that no one would come, David Honeycutt faced a roomful of well-wishers on Friday who turned out for the 80th birthday and retirement party for the Monett dentist at the Monett Museum’s Events Center. Honeycutt chatted with Christy Brown as she arrived...

The American Job Center, 100 S. Maple in Monett, will offer a workshop on interview and resume skills from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on July 6. Pre-registration is needed by calling 235-7877. First State Bank of Purdy is again sponsoring an Independence from Hunger Food Drive all this week at all the bank’s branches. ...

A total of 46 donors contributed blood to the American Red Cross during June 25 blood drive at St. John's Lutheran Church in Monett. First-time donors were Craig Reavis and Jessica Smith. Milestones reached during the drive included Donna Beckett at 23 gallons, Ronnie Veith at 11 gallons, Dennis Wade at six gallons and Jon Funk at two gallons...

With the varsity high school baseball season complete, the postseason accolades for a job well done are being released. Pierce City, Purdy, Southwest, McAuley, Miller and College Heights comprised the Class 2, District 12 tournament this season. Purdy was the eventual champion...

One of the best small high school conferences for baseball recently handed out it top awards in its All-Conference accolades. The Ozark 7 Conference team title race was a tie between Purdy and Southwest this season. Individual awards are as follows:...

The Ozark 7 Conference has long had a tradition of producing quality talent. Nowhere is that talent anymore recognized than with the release of its annual All-Conference softball team. Purdy, Exeter, Southwest, Verona and Wheaton comprised the entirety of this year’s squad...