News

A total of 57 residents had to be evacuated from Bentonview Park Health and Rehab after remodeling crews accidentally pulled up flooring containing asbestos. David Compton, Barry County Emergency Management director, said he received the call for the issue at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, coordinated a response plan at about 6:30 p.m. and moved all patients from about 9:30-11 p.m...

The massive expansion project of the Monett Regional Airport is nearing the halfway point of the first phase of the approximately $9.2 million undertaking. Rivaling the new Cox Monett Hospital in its scope, the addition of a new 6,001-foot runway is expected to provide significant advancements in air travel for Monett-bound planes...

Monett Police Chief George Daoud was the guest speaker at the January meeting of the Monett Kiwanis Club, providing information on activities trending in the community. Daoud said in 2019, there were 16,611 calls for service, compared to 15,892 in 2020. The value of property stolen in 2019 totaled $236,590, compared to $195,058 in 2020...

The Monett Rural Fire Department is calling 2020 a successful year, with a total of 244 calls for service and no injuries to firefighters. Of the 244 calls Monett Rural responded to, 48 were fire related, 97 were responses to emergency medical situations and 41 involved vehicle collisions...

Apogee Enterprises, the parent company of Monett-based EFCO Corporation, on Jan. 13 announced a 7 percent increase in its quarterly dividend, indicated stronger health in the corporate giant that manufactures enclosings for commercial buildings and framing art...

Two Aurora women have died following a fiery head-on collision on Highway 400, about a mile west of the junction of Highways 400 and 39 in Kansas. According to a Kansas traffic crash report, the incident occurred at 6:21 p.m. on Jan. 18, when the driver of a westbound 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, Curtis D. ...

Area media outlets were invited to visit the nearly completed Cox Monett Hospital on Tuesday before the facility opened for business at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Pierce City Senior Center will be closed in January and February due to COVID. The center will evaluate the situation at the end of February to consider opening for March. Throughout the month of January, the MU Extension Family Nutrition Education Program will be presenting Healthy Change virtual workshops that will discuss simple ways to make healthy food choices and changes. For more information, contact the Dade County OACAC Neighborhood Center at 417-637-2701...

The number of active COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases have been cut almost in half since last week, but two new deaths have been announced and the positive test rate remains at 14 percent. According to the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 2,760 (+89) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...

Barry County department heads are seeking an additional $600,000 in funding in 2021 over what was requested in 2020 and nearly $1 million more than what the county actually spent. County Presiding Commissioner Gary Youngblood said county revenues out-matched county expenses in 2020, and some county departments are hoping to bank on that growth and increase their budgets in the coming year...

Barry County’s newly elected Sheriff Danny Boyd is settling into his position with the county, and he is making some changes to the office as he assumes his role. The biggest change to the Barry County Sheriff’s Office is the rank of its deputies, as Boyd has pulled all ranks and is implementing his own promotion process...

Lawrence County Commissioners approved the county’s 2021 budget Thursday, awarding each department its requested budget, while also maintaining a healthy reserve. Heading into the 2021 budget year, the county has a reserve of about $1.5 million. After expenditures, the county is projecting to maintain about $1.4 million in its general fund...

Questions still remain unanswered for a proposed processing plant in Pierce City. Bert Bond, water superintendent, spoke to council about his concerns on the impact such a project could have on the wastewater treatment plant, primarily the aeration ditch...

Freistatt is considering ways to cover its costs associated with the village community building and solve a staffing issue related to city management. Freistatt has been operating without a city clerk since December, and local leaders have gone without reports on city activities regarding the treasury and billing...

Freistatt’s Trinity Lutheran School is gathering funds to construct a new storm shelter adjacent to its gymnasium and hopes to have the project completed by June. The school has raised $22,000 of its $30,000 goal and hopes community donations can cover the remaining balance before the end of this school year...

Camp Barnabas is preparing for its seventh annual Snow Ball, scheduled for Jan. 23, and this year, the camp is taking the event into the virtual realm. Because COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to be a concern throughout the nation, and large gatherings have been limited due to safety concerns, Camp Barnabas is hosting its annual dance via Zoom and invites all campers and staff to the party without having to ask them to leave the safety and comfort of their homes...

Olivia Crim, 11, of Monett, did not let Friday’s snow storm pass unnoticed. She and her brother, Owen, 8, made the most of the snow that was left on Saturday to do some sledding on Cleveland Avenue.

Pierce City Senior Center will be closed in January and February due to COVID. The center will evaluate the situation at the end of February to consider opening for March. The Freedom Dream Center, 17044 Hwy. 39, north of Aurora, offers a support group for persons or families struggling with addiction. The support group meets at 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month. Additional information is available by calling 417-678-6909...

A Monett teacher and a Monett man were injured in a two-vehicle head-on crash on the Highway 60 bridge at Verona at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. According to a report from Verona Police Chief Jereimy Allen, Susan Childress, 50, of Springfield, who teaches at Monett High School, was driving a 2017 Infiniti west on Highway 60. Her car collided with an eastbound 1999 Ford F-150 pickup driven by José Flores-Balderas, 37, of Monett...

The Monett Police Department has two new tools in its enforcement arsenal that will help motorists be more aware of their speed and collect traffic data for officers to evaluate in an effort to enhance driver safety. “We purchased two EVOLIS Radar Speed Signs from Elan City in Long Island City, N.Y.,” said Lt. Dennis Camp. “The signs, which cost $5,829, were purchased and paid in full through a Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety’s Blueprint Grant. They cost the city nothing.”...

Area residents can see progress being made in the first phase of Pierce City’s water system improvements, as workers with Goins Enterprises, of Joplin, continue working northward along Walnut Street digging out lines and installing new water valves...

Feral hogs and black vultures have been named by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) as two of the state’s most pervasive pest species. MDC Agent Andy Barnes recently discussed what they are and how to deter them. “Black vultures are different than turkey vultures,” he said. “They can be identified by their black heads, distinctive white or light feathers on their wingtips and their short tails.”...

December’s absence of Salvation Army volunteers ringing those cheery bells in front of their iconic red kettles has impacted at least one local charitable organization. MaLinda King, director of Crosslines of Monett, reported receiving approximately $1,000 in mailed-in donations, since local donors were instructed to mail their offerings directly to the organization...

Dr. Mark Costley has been part of rural health care since before he was born – literally. Costley, CoxHealth’s Medical Director of Regional Services, was born at Cox Monett Hospital – back when it was St. Vincent’s Hospital – in 1954. That day led to a childhood spent in the rural Missouri community, a career as a physician leader, and ultimately, helping other medical students follow similar paths as Associate Dean of the Springfield Clinical Campus of the University of Missouri School of Medicine.. ...

Pierce City Senior Center will be closed in January and February due to COVID. The center will evaluate the situation at the end of February to consider opening for March. The Freedom Dream Center, 17044 Hwy. 39, north of Aurora, offers a support group for persons or families struggling with addiction. The support group meets at 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month. Additional information is available by calling 417-678-6909...

The number of active COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases have gone up since last week, and the positive test rate is now double what it was in November 2020. According to the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 2,671 (+145) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...

Lawrence County is keeping a conservative track as it prepares for the 2021 budget, despite a nearly $600,000 increase in general revenue funds in 2020 compared to 2019. The county kicked the year off with a cash balance of $1,558,940.39 on Dec. 31, 2020. At the end of 2019, the county had $962,835.53 on hand...

The U.S. Census Bureau, having encountered delays in counting in 2020 due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, has announced plans to release information about town sizes in May and June. Historically, estimates released late in the counting year have provided an indication of what local towns can expect...

Six months into a new power purchasing agreement that gives the city more control over its supply of electricity, the city of Monett is saying it made the right choice. On June 1, 2020, Monett began receiving power supplies from its new supplier, the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC) following the expiration of its power purchasing agreement with Liberty Utilities...

Classes at Monett school district will be dismissed on Jan. 18 as teachers undergo scheduled professional development training. At Monett Elementary School, discussion will include conscious discipline, math with manipulatives and English/language arts comprehension...

Residents who are looking for a quicker, easier and safer way to register their vehicles need look no further than the Monett License Bureau. As. of Dec. 11, the license bureau is accepting registration renewals via text message, which will allow residents to skip lines and avoid spending time inside a building during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic...

The Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) has contracted with SEMA and the Barry County Commission to prepare a five-year update to the Barry County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. A plan update kick-off meeting will be held virtually on Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m...

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office has released the total list of traffic violations and calls for service for the month of December 2020. Deputies made a total of 119 stops, resulting in 13 citations and 111 warnings issued. Topping the list of traffic violations was speeding, with 64 motorists clocked exceeding the limit, followed by 19 failures to register. One traffic stop was for investigative purposes and two resulted in warrant arrests...

Eighth Street between East Bond Street and Broadway was closed Tuesday morning as Monett City Utility workers repaired a water leak under the roadway.

Monett resident Derek Goudie works on a resumé at the Monett Branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library.

Pierce City Senior Center will be closed in January and February due to COVID. The center will evaluate the situation at the end of February to consider opening for March. The Freedom Dream Center, 17044 Hwy. 39, north of Aurora, offers a support group for persons or families struggling with addiction. The support group meets at 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month. Additional information is available by calling 417-678-6909...

Donors to Cox Monett Hospital’s $7 million fundraising campaign to build a new hospital received a VIP tour at the new facility on Wednesday as construction moves into the final stages and moving begins on Jan. 21. Tours were offered throughout the day, some beginning at the main entrance in the center of the complex off Highway 60, others starting at the emergency room at the west end of the hospital. ...

There was potential unrest in Monett Thursday evening as officers with the Monett Police Department responded to several calls of shots fired in the area of Rosewood and Ninth. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m., and according to Det. Jeff Martinson, several witnesses and neighbors were interviewed, and an investigation took place...

The virtual events for Dining for Diabetes were a huge success this year, bringing in a record amount of donations. “This year, our net proceeds were $100,892.20, which is the most to date of which I am aware,” said Lisa Ramirez, with the Center for Health Improvement at Cox Monett Hospital. “We have a large family of generous sponsors, both local businesses and community members, that have continued their support this year, and we had a good showing at our virtual silent auction.”...

The city of Aurora and the city of Marionville’s fire and police departments are now consolidated into the county-wide dispatching system operated by the Monett-Lawrence County E911 system, resulting in all calls for emergency service being dispatched from one location...

COVID-19 has not dampened the spirits of the Monett Chamber of Commerce, as it is planning to celebrate it’s 75th anniversary with its traditional Chamber Banquet and awards ceremony. Chamber Director Jeff Meredith is seeking nominations to consider for the Chamber’s Community Service Award, Pride and Progress Award and Business of the Year award...

Monett Police reported ringing in a quiet New Year's holiday weekend with little in the way of crime or disturbances. Monett Police Lt. Dennis Camp said officers made one arrest for driving while intoxicated on New Year's Eve, and the final police report of 2021 was a citation for someone driving on a suspended license...

Work has begun on the $4,980,112 water system project in Pierce City. Mike Shoemaker, project manager with Goins Enterprises, of Joplin, inspected the installation of two new water mains at the intersection of Walnut and Washington in Pierce City, which is part of the delivery system phase of the improvements plan...

Lawrence County Clerk Tammy Riebe conducted swearing-in ceremonies for those county officials elected or re-elected in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Pierce City Senior Center will be closed in January and February due to COVID. The center will evaluate the situation at the end of February to consider opening for March. The Freedom Dream Center, 17044 Hwy. 39, north of Aurora, offers a support group for persons or families struggling with addiction. The support group meets at 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month. Additional information is available by calling 417-678-6909...

The number of active COVID-19 (coronavirus) has nearly doubled in the first week of the new year, and the positive test rate continues to climb. According to the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 2,526 (+130) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...

Monett City Council Commissioners held a busy December session, approving several bills and resolutions for the city. Commissioners approved the second reading amending the hierarchy of the city’s fire department to include a deputy chief and a fire marshal, as well as extending the residency requirement from 10 miles within the city limits of Monett to 30 miles...

The new Cox Monett Hospital, located at 1000 E. Highway 60, will open at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22.

With filings open until Jan. 19 for the annual municipal, school board, road district and other government entities election on April 6, several more have announced their candidacy for open seats since filings opened on Dec. 15. A significant number of other seats remain open with no candidates at present, leaving open the possibility of election by write-in...

Monett rang in the New Year with icy conditions that killed power for an estimated 200 residents Friday, Jan. 1. Monett Utilities Supervisor Skip Schaller said the two power outages were minor compared to reports coming from utility customers in the Springfield area, but added that some residents in the area of Cale and Euclid were without power for a couple hours, but residents near 13th and 14th streets were without electricity from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m...