News

The Monett community covered miles of ground on Thursday searching for a 12-year-old boy that was missing for about 6 hours. Danny Boyd, Barry County sheriff, said the family laid down for a nap at about 3 p.m., and shortly thereafter, woke up to find the boy, who lives with autism, gone form the home west of Highway 37 on Farm Road 2020...

It’s official — the little Gillioz Theater above the Monett Museum is complete and open to the public. The Monett Historical Society got its first look at the finished product during an unveiling ceremony held Tuesday, following the society’s regularly scheduled meeting...

Stepping into the role of new superintendent for the Monett School District would be a challenge for anyone, especially with new construction of a middle school facility, ongoing curriculum changes and other day-to-day tasks that are deadline-oriented and plentiful...

Freistatt is hoping to get the ball rolling on new community developments that will benefit the village and local residents. The village board on Thursday appointed a new resident, Mrs. Bramen, to fill a vacant seat on the Freistatt Community Development Corporation, joining village board trustees Holly Haynes, Richard Knight and Elmer Conway...

A Springfield man has been found guilty of second-degree robbery and felony resisting arrest for events that took place in Mt. Vernon on March 2, 2020. A Lawrence County jury found Christopher Ford, 43, guilty on June 10 following two hours of deliberation...

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Challenge is now accepting registrations. This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales,” and will feature a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the library district. Those who would like to attend may sign up at the library or online at www.blrlibrary.org...

Barry County added 29 new COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in the last week, and officials say the Delta variant of the virus is now the dominant strain in southwest Missouri. The Delta variant, first identified in India, shows increased transmissibility and is believed to be the reason for a recent rise in cases in the United Kingdom. ...

A 12-year-old Monett boy reported missing Thursday night has been found. Danny Boyd, Barry County sheriff, found Claudio Suates, 12, at his house unharmed.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new $21 million Monett Middle School facility took place on Thursday at the construction site adjacent to Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett. Kent Medlin, interim superintendent for the district, said it was a good day...

With longtime Monett City Administrator Dennis Pyle retiring early next month, Monett Main Street has had a changing of the guard. Pyle, who has served as a city representative on the Monett Main Street Board of Directors, will be replaced by new City Administrator Chris Weiner when he takes up his post with the city in the coming months...

A Conway man will serve a minimum of 20 years with the Missouri Department of Corrections after being sentenced Tuesday in Lawrence County Circuit Court for first degree drug trafficking and felony resisting arrest. Carl W. Dill, II, 27, was found guilty by a Lawrence County jury on April 22 for trafficking methamphetamine and resisting arrest...

Trial dates have been set for two of the four suspects in connection with the alleged kidnapping and rape of a Springfield woman on Aug. 20, 2019. The four-day trial for Donnie Lee Willis, 58, of Everton, has been slated to begin at 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 27 in Barry County Circuit Court before Judge Johnnie Cox...

Camp Barnabas has made camping memories for 27 years in Barry County, and after a challenging year, campers are being welcomed back. Whether it is their first camp experience or their 27th with Camp Barnabas, the staff aim to make it a memorable one...

The Barry County Health Department will conduct a vaccine clinic on June 26 at the Health Department’s Cassville office. All Missouri residents aged 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. There is no cost to individuals receiving the vaccine. Residents must call 417-847-2114 to schedule an appointment...

Paul Bradshaw shows off his 1977 Corvette at the first annual Fresitatt Lions Club Car Show Saturday.

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Challenge is now accepting registrations. This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales,” and will feature a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the library district. Those who would like to attend may sign up at the library or online at www.blrlibrary.org...

A Marionville teenager was injured on Monday in a wreck at 11:35 p.m. on Farm Road 1190, eight miles south of Aurora. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Tanner Wilson, 18, of Marionville, was driving a 1992 Ford F150 southbound when his vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, drove off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree...

A Monett man was arrested following a wreck involving a police vehicle on Sunday at 6:59 a.m. on Highway 37, half a mile south of Purdy. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Kelvin Salas, 24, of Monett, was driving a 2009 Chevrolet truck southbound at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of a Highway Patrol 2019 Ford Police Interceptor, being driven by Josie Long, 41, of Springfield...

Monett is one step closer to construction of a new, modern library. The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library District Board of Trustees approved the sale of $6 million lease certificates of participation to its municipal bond underwriter, L.J. Hart & Company of St. Louis during its Thursday, May 20 meeting...

Pierce City public works employees are still dealing with the aftermath of flooding on May 27, when Clear Creek breached its banks and flooded the city’s municipal pools. Justin Noone, public works superintendent, said Tuesday afternoon that the large pool had collected somewhere between 2.5-3 feet of mud in the deep end...

Area GOCAPS students will be getting an invitation to dive into the shark tank this fall. The Monett Chamber of Commerce Foundation is planning a new program that will allow future entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a community board for a chance to earn real capitol to start their own business...

Drivers can expect lane closures and occasional traffic delays on various routes in Barry, Barry, Barton, Jasper and Vernon counties for resurfacing projects beginning the week of June 14, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Routes impacted by this project include:...

The Monett Area YMCA, Monett Library Teen Ambassador Group and the Clark Center set up shop in Monett’s South Park Friday to sign youngsters up for summer programs.

Waymark and New Site Churches teamed up to host a Summer Block Party Saturday at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in Monett.

The Monett Industrial Golf Tournament drew staff from many of the area’s biggest businesses.

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Challenge is now accepting registrations. This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales,” and will feature a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the library district. Those who would like to attend may sign up at the library or online at www.blrlibrary.org...

Barry County added 19 new COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in the last week, keeping the total number of active cases consistent. According to the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 3,213 (+19) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...

A former Purdy teacher is set to have his teaching license revoked by the State Board of Education and be banned from seeking another in the state after he gave an inappropriate letter to a student in 2018. According to a Missouri State Board of Education agenda item document for the June 15 meeting, Dalton Breshears, 28, of Springfield, held a professional certificate in the area of Music-Instrumental, grades K-12, initiated on May 29, 2015 and expiring on May 29, 2019. ...

A Monett woman died on Tuesday in a wreck at 11:47 a.m. on Highway 37, one mile south of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, John Maddux, 47, of Springfield, was driving a 2009 Freightliner UPS van southbound and failed to yield, turning in front of a southbound 2015 Ford Taurus, being driven by Linda Gunter, 74, of Monett, causing the Ford to strike the rear of the Freightliner. ...

A Crane man died on Tuesday in an accident at 1:38 p.m. on Farm Road 2012, five miles south of Aurora in Barry County. According to a Missouri State Highway patrol report, Burl Baum, 69, of Crane, was driving an Alice Chalmers farm tractor westbound when the vehicle started to roll backward. Baum fell off the tractor and was run over...

Two more men have been charged in connection to the alleged murder of a Monett man in Butterfield on May 28. Carlos Gutierrez, 19, and Jonathan Renteria-Marquez, 20, both of Carthage, each face charges of second-degree murder, second-degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence...

Sales tax payments to bi-county cities and county governments took a sharp upswing in May. The widespread downturn of sales tax payments in April ended the 12-month trend of constantly rising numbers, likely stemming from a reduction in travel during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Numbers in May shrugged off the April slide as an anomaly, bouncing upward by 22 percent over a year ago. Only two bi-county recipients failed to best last May’s totals...

Independence Day celebrations are back in 2021, and Monett is celebrating the Fourth of July in a big way this year with the recognition of the Monett Chamber of Commerce’s 75th anniversary. “To celebrate our 75th anniversary, we are bringing Monett back to the ‘80s, and we’re expecting to have several thousand people come celebrate,” said Jeff Meredith, Monett Chamber of Commerce director...

The city will soon be sporting a host of those brightly colored tents holding a plethora of fireworks choices, but local law enforcement officials offer a word to the wise: there are but a few days to legally enjoy the fizz bangs, ‘crackers and shooters during the Independence Day celebrations...

While the community gears up for another Freedom and Fireworks celebration at Monett’s South Park, officials with the Monett Police Department have issued some helpful information to make the holiday a happy and safe one for everyone. “The police department will have a command tent set up near the tennis courts,” said Lt. ...

Ellie Grimes had a wonderful time playing with sidewalk chalk Sunday afternoon at the St. Mary’s Picnic.

Approximately 35 area youth descended on Pierce City’s South Park on Saturday to participate in the annual Fishing Derby, sponsored by The Dacy Foundation.

The Lady Cruisers of the Ozarks Chapter of Women on Wheels (WOW) hosted the 21st state rally on Saturday, with bikers from southwest Missouri, Kansas City, St. Louis, Clinton, Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas taking part in the event.

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Challenge is now accepting registrations. This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales,” and will feature a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the library district. Those who would like to attend may sign up at the library or online at www.blrlibrary.org...

With more than 30 years experience in his career as a city administrator, Dennis Pyle, of Monett, has announced his retirement, effective at the end of June. Prior to coming to Monett, Pyle had served three communities in 16 years and had been the City Administrator in Butler for almost 10 of those years...

Monett City Commissioners unanimously approved appointing Angie Irwin as acting city clerk, replacing Lisa Crawford, who died on April 15. “We appreciate Angie being willing to do this during this difficult situation down there with Lisa’s passing,” said Mayor Mike Brownsberger...

Misty Calhoun and Teresa Huntress, representatives for the Community Teachers Association (CTA), recently spoke to Monett School Board members concerning the sick leave pool. “We have a 95 percent participation rate by staff,” Calhoun said. “The sick leave pool is under the oversight of human resources, and is highly confidential.”...

Teachers in Pierce City continue to wait to find out if they will be receiving an additional raise for the 2021-22 school year. In April, the school board approved a $500 increase to the teachers’ base salary, but some school board members are pushing for an additional increase...

Members of the Tom Wolfe Memorial VFW Post No. 4207 honored their fallen comrades during the Memorial Day observance at Monett IOOF Cemetery on Monday afternoon.

Capt. Dewayne Irwin retired from the Monett Fire Department after 29 years of service. In recognition of his service to the department and the community, his colleagues presented him a plaque that stated: “Presented to Captain Dewayne Irwin in recognition of your 29 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Monett and the Monett Fire Department as a career and volunteer firefighter. Served May 13th, 1992 to May 21st, 2021.”...

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library Summer Reading Challenge is now accepting registrations. This year’s theme is “Tails and Tales,” and will feature a mix of virtual and in-person events throughout the library district. Those who would like to attend may sign up at the library or online at blrlibrary.org...

Barry County added 24 new COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in the last week, the highest number of new positives in any week since mid-February. According to the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 3,194 (+24) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...

A Monett man has been killed and a Pierce City man is in custody after an incident near Butterfield on Friday night. Dylan Rixon Williams, 21, of Pierce City, is charged in Barry County Circuit Court with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection to the death of Daylon Michael Anderson...

Longtime Kansas City-area leader Chris Weiner has been selected to replace Monett City Administrator Dennis Pyle, who is set to retire on July 2. The city of Monett began a lengthy recruitment process to replace Pyle in December 2020, when it hired the firm Strategic Government Resources to help screen candidates...

Board members for Barry-Lawrence County Ambulance District recently decided against pursuing a new position of SWAT medic. Frank Foster, emergency services attorney, weighed in with his thoughts on a SWAT medic at the district. “The program requires special certifications and training,” he wrote in response to the district’s query concerning its responsibilities in providing personnel to the SWAT team. ...