July 2022

Poll worker training

Lawrence County Clerk Tammy Riebe conducts the first of eight poll worker trainings Monday morning, July 25. The poll workers will operate polling places throughout the county on election day Tuesday, Aug. 2. Riebe is opening her office at the Historic Courthouse for absentee voting from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 30. Voters may also cast absentee ballots there during regular hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Monday, Aug. 1. Contributed photo
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News in brief

The Pierce City Senior Center will be serving lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Everyone is welcome and lunch is $5 for those ages 55 and older, and $6 for those under 55. Carry-out meals will be available to those who contact the center at 417- 476-5006 before 10:30 a.m. Also, Nell’s Nails will be serving seniors for a nominal fee at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month.
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Purdy School District approves raises for nearly half of staff

Purdy schools have approved raises for nearly half of the school staff Following a pay scale increase for teachers last year, School Superintendent Travis Graham said he and the school board wanted to ensure that the school’s classified staff, which includes non-teaching positions like maintenance, janitorial and paraprofessionals, receive a competitive wage from the district. “We live in very volatile times and we believe it is good to pay a fair wage and we had the financial availability,” Graham said.
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Use tax question approved for November ballot

Monett Council Commissioners have approved putting the use tax question back on the Nov. 8 ballot, asking residents to approve to impose a local use tax at a rate equal to the rate of the total local sales taxes, at 2.25 percent. Unlike sales tax, which requires a retail sale within the state boundaries, a use any given tax jurisdiction. Use taxes are levied on goods or services bought in one state or municipality, then transported into, consumed in, or resold in another municipality or state.
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BCFO vouchers underused

The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (BCFO) partners with 18 hospitals in southwest Missouri to provide vouchers for free mammogram screenings, but the organization is not issuing as many as it would like.
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Mighty Mites get mightier

Marcus Young, high school football player, teaches Mighty Mite Camp attendee Lincoln Wright, 11, how to properly catch a football above his waist. The Camp was moved into the middle school gym on Wednesday due to high temperatures. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cherryroad.com
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Family favorites return to Stones Prairie Picnic

TOP: And Bingo was his name-o. Guests young and old at the Stones Prairie Picnic, held Friday, had the opportunity to win prizes at Bingo, one of the many games offered at the annual event. ABOVE: This vintage Chevy may not have been out “straightenin’ the curves or flattenin’ the hills,” but it still attracted the attention of Barry County Deputies David Harris and Clinton Bray as they admired several of the vehicles on display Friday evening at the annual Stones Prairie Picnic in rural Purdy. LEFT: Charlie Cornelius took dead aim at the bean bag toss Friday evening at the annual Stones Prairie Picnic, hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Purdy. The event offered a host of games, along with food and music for the community’s enjoyment Melonie Roberts/mroberts@cherryroad.com
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Shirley Ann Willard

Shirley Ann Epperson Willard, 90, of Aurora, died on Monday, July 18, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. A funeral service under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Aurora. Burial will follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Aurora.
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