D1 Community Reflections

Community Reflections

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF

The Monett Times

Page 4

Family and fans of David Moncivaiz made plenty of noise as his name was called during graduation ceremonies at Burl Fowler Stadium. Kyle Troutman/editor@monett-times.com

Inside: BUSINESS:

Sales taxes high in year of pandemic — Page 3

EDUCATION:

Monett schools progress with new superintendent, middle school — Page 4

AGRICULTURE:

Ag industry overcomes pandemic, drought — Page 5

Moving Forward Page 5

HEALTH:

COVID-19 dominates health news — Page 6

COMMUNITY:

Community thrives in past year — Page 7

Advertisers: CoxHealth — Page 2 WinTech— Page 2 First State Bank of Purdy — Page 2 Shelter Insurance — Page 3 Buchanan Funeral Home — Page 4 Meeks Building Center — Page 5 IMEC — Page 6 Hospice Compassus — Page 7 Tyson Foods, Inc. — Page 9 Jack Henry and Associates — Page 10 VisionHealth Eye Center — Page 12 Main Street Feeds — Page 12 Freedom Bank — Page 13 Lacoba Homes, Inc. — Page 13 Schrieber Foods — Page 13 Hydro Aluminum — Page 14 EFCO Corporation — Page 14 Race Brothers Farm and Home Supply — Page 14

Local cattle ranchers and dairymen were well-represented at the 2020 Ozark Empire Fair. Cobie Kleiboeker, 6, daughter of Jared and Shannon Kleiboeker, of rural Pierce City, part of the MiWil Holsteins and Jerseys dairy operation, cuddled with Looney, a Guernsey March calf, during activities at the fair in Springfield. The lack of other area fairs drew a large number from local farms to Springfield, though there were no horses, chickens or rabbits exhibited. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Page 3

A view of earthmoving around the stormwater drainage system under construction at the Monett Regional Airport, as crews worked in the snow on Jan. 15. Weather issues remain a factor during winter projects. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Page 2 • Saturday, March 27, 2021

The Monett Times

The Monett Times

Community Reflections

Saturday, March 27, 2021 • Page 3

Sales taxes high in year of pandemic

Airport seeing growth; GO CAPS helps with area industry

Despite a global pandemic, or possibly helped by less travel and dollars staying local, the last year has seen gains in sales taxes, and the Monett Airport and PlayPower are expanding, plus local students are gaining insight and helping at Monett industries.

Sales tax revenues end year with doubledigit gain

For the seventh time in eight months, since the economic impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began showing itself in monthly sales tax, revenues to local cities and county governments ended the year with a double-digit percentage gain, showing gains for all but three recipients.

Year-end totals surpassed expectations, jumping more than 5 percent in most cases, while all three towns nearest to Monett dipped for the year.

For the eighth consecutive month, Monett saw sales tax revenues grow over last year. The city’s two sales taxes supporting the general fund at 1 percent generated $196,709.36, the second largest sum in 14 years, up $15,124.30, or 8 percent, over last December.

The total was still nearly $22,000 under the 2017 record.

Monett’s nine-month fiscal year total hit a new record at $1,661,163.02, up 9 percent from a year ago. It was the third consecutive year for the ninemonth total to increase, and the first time it has ever topped $1.6 million in December.

Around Monett, the news was not nearly as good, especially in Pierce City. That town’s two sales taxes bolstering the general fund at 1.125 percent added $8,304.31 to city coffers, down $4,814.70, or 37 percent, from a year ago. It was the lowest December sum in 10 years, when the second tax was added. With receipts down in four of the last five months, Pierce City’s eight-month fiscal year sum of $79,694.91 still squeaked ahead of last year’s pace by nearly $1,700 and remains at a record level.

Purdy’s 1 percent tax supporting its general fund produced $3,597.08, the second smallest amount in 11 years, when the city dropped to one tax for paying general

bills. The sum was down $1,431.43, or 29 percent, from a year ago, leaving the six-month fiscal year total at $33,092.68, about $1,400 under last year’s pace, the lowest level in four years, but at the median amount — five years higher and five lower — for what Purdy has seen over the last 11 years.

Verona saw receipts from its 1 percent sales tax paying general bills drop for the fourth time in five months. The $2,373.06 sum was down $749.42 from last December. That put the city’s nine-month sum at $27,856.04, the smallest amount in three years, though larger than every year before that except for 2006.

Sales tax for all the bi-county cities and the county governments in December totaled $2,311,704.51, up 16 percent from a year ago, the second largest percentage jump in 25 years, behind the 28 percent jump in 2017. Those were the only two years in the past 25 to muster gains on that level.

The seven Barry County cities taking in sales tax received $736,096.38, up 12 percent from last December, with only Purdy failing to best the mark a year ago.

Cassville’s 1 percent tax took in $104,453.60 for its general fund, up $15,937.54, or 18 percent. Seligman’s 1 percent general fund tax generated $10,868.85, topping $10,000 for the eighth consecutive month. That reflected a $2,386.48, or 28 percent gain for the month.

Wheaton showed gains for the second month, after three consecutive months of drops, taking in $6,380.78, up $2,627.80 or nearly two-and-a-half times last December’s amount.

Washburn’s 1 percent tax received $3,695.32, up $326.79 from a year ago. Exeter’s 1 percent tax produced $2,690.98, a gain of $514.18.

Lawrence County’s six cities collecting sales tax collected $553,543.25, up 14 percent from a year ago. Only Pierce City and Verona fell short of last December’s numbers.

Aurora’s 1 percent sales tax for its general fund generated $116,583.88, up $19,791.39, or 20 percent, from a year ago. Mt. Vernon’s 1 percent tax for paying general bills produced $81,914.78, up $7,481.15, or 10 percent, from last December.

Marionville’s 1 percent tax received $20,417.77, a gain of $3,036.80, or 17 percent. Miller’s two sales taxes at 1.5 percent provided $14,034.80 for the general fund, up $2,308.40, or 20

A view of earthmoving around the stormwater drainage system under construction at the Monett Regional Airport, as crews worked in the snow on Jan. 15. Weather issues remain a factor during winter projects. Murray Bishoff/times-news@ monett-times.com

percent, above a year ago.

Countywide taxes took full advantage of the municipal gains to boost their own sums. Barry County’s two .5 percent taxes for paying general bills and supporting road and bridge maintenance each took in about $216,985, each up about $35,408, or nearly 20 percent.

Lawrence County’s .5 percent sales taxes for the same purposed each yielded about $159,140, each up by more than $21,880 or 16 percent. The .5 percent law enforcement sales tax received $159,070.37, a gain of 17 percent.

Barry County’s separate .375 percent sales tax for its 911/central dispatching service received $162,699.24 for the month, up $26,539.31, or nearly 20 percent over a year ago.

Lawrence County’s .5 percent sales tax supporting 911/central dispatching received $158,906.33, up $64,559.76 from the second month of collections a year ago.

Monett Airport Manager Howard Frazier pointed to a map that showed the area for the runway expansion at the airport, with the present airport at the top. Spots marked in red specified where culverts were needed to support stormwater runoff away from the new construction. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Monett airport expansion moves into high gear

As of January this year, the massive expansion project of the Monett Regional Airport was 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.

Working largely at the south end of the runway, out of sight of the general public, has been a 28-person work crew for the southern Illinois-based

Jack Fox, for whom Fox Field has been named at the airport, a retired pilot and longtime supporter of airport development in Monett, visited the construction at the Monett Regional Airport recently to take in the scope of the project that includes employment for more than 100 people in the process. Photo by Steve Boyd/Sierra Bravo construction company Sierra Bravo. Their task has been to move 1.25 million cubic yards of earth for a new 100-foot wide runway, wider than the current 75-foot wide runway, which will become the new taxiway.

Unlike the last airport expansion, this time

air service to Monett will remain open throughout construction. The current runway will stay in use, requiring coordination between construction planning and city airport crews with incoming and outgoing planes.

Steve Boyd, the owner of Sierra Bravo, said his

firm brought four people from Sesser, in southern Illinois, and the rest of the crew was hired from local union halls. They began work in October and are scheduled to wrap up the first phase in July, depending on the weather.

Monett’s airport has CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Page 4 • Saturday, March 27, 2021

Community Reflections

The Monett Times

With the full support of Monett School Board members, from left, Dr. Jeff Carr, Ken Gaspar, Yesy Perez, Brian Hunter and Board President A.J. Bahl, staffers welcomed current Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mark Drake, as the new superintendent of the Monett R-1 School District starting July 1. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

Monett schools progress with new superintendent, middle school

Drake tapped for Monett School Superintendent

Mark Drake, the current assistant superintendent of the Monett School District, has been tapped to take the reins as superintendent of schools starting July 1.

Drake will succeed Kent Medlin, interim superintendent, who stepped in after the death of Russ Moreland in November 2020.

“I would like to thank the Monett Board of Education and the Monett School District for allowing me to serve this community,” Medlin said. “I am honored to have joined the Monett team for a short time.”

Drake has been in education for 22 years and in his current position since 2020. As the current assistant superintendent for Monett, Drake assists the interim superintendent in providing leadership in developing, achieving and maintaining the best possible educational programs and services.

“Out of a high number of applicants, Dr. Mark Drake is the transformational leader the Monett School District needs,” said A.J. Bahl, school board president. “The Board of Education gained input from collaborative groups made up of staff and community members. We used the information received to carefully evaluate candidates for the Monett superintendent role. Dr. Drake’s background and experience proved he is the right candidate to lead Monett schools. He understands the importance of community building and acquires an unyielding commitment to students’ success.”

Drake has significant experience in administration as the high school principal at Liberal for four years, middle school principal at East Newton for four years, and elementary school principal at Webb City for eight years.

After Webb City, he joined the Monett School District as the assistant superintendent.

“We have faced trials and tribulations this year,” Drake said. “We have proven that we can persevere, overcome and meet students’ needs in trying times.

I look forward to working with students, staff, and our Board of Education to continue advancing the mission and vision of the Monett School District.”

“Dr. Drake goes out of his way to make the lives of others better,” Medlin said.

Drake has no experience as a superintendent and will continue under the mentorship of Medlin until he takes the reins on July 1.

“Dr. Medlin has done a good job of mentoring me,” Drake said. “I also want to thank the school board for their faith in me, and my family, especially my wife, Karly, who have supported and encouraged me

to chase my dreams. We, as a district, are going to persevere and overcome, make things right and do what is right for the kids.”

Drake is married to Karly Drake. They have four sons: Javis, the oldest, who attended MSSU majored in criminal justice; Braden and Nathan, both MSSU students interested in history and education and becoming educators in the future; and Silas, the youngest, who is a student at Webb City.

Drake enjoys outdoors hiking and going on Mission trips with his wife.

New Middle School construction shaping up

Bonnie Crawford, of Sapp Design Architects, has presented Monett School Board members a revised design and development plan for the new Monett Middle School facility, having shaved off $300,000 from the previous models proposed.

“High school lockers are not utilized now, and there is not as much need for lockers at the middle school,” said Dr. Kent Medlin, interim superintendent. “There is an evolution in school building construction because lockers are just not as needed.”

That is due, in part, to most of the district’s curriculum being computerbased at this point.

“By eliminating the lockers in the hallways and adjusting classroom size, we can shave $280,000 from construction costs,” Medlin said.

Medlin has challenged Crawford to shave an additional $500,000 from the budget as well.

“We still have the remediation at Central Park Elementary, moving the administrative offices and other projects to be figured in,” he said.

Currently, RE Smith, the construction manager at risk, is compiling bid packages, with hopes of breaking ground on June 1.

Showing surprising strength in a moment of economic uncertainty, Monett school patrons voted in June 2020 to approve the Proposition CARE (Community Action Reinvesting in Education) to build a new middle school, establish an early childhood center and reorganize the district’s campuses to relieve expected crowding as the student population grows.

The $21 million bond issue, representing an increase in the district’s debt service, carried the day with 61 percent of the vote, reaching the needed 57 percent to pass by 62 votes. The bond passed 887 in favor (479 Barry, 408 Lawrence) to 560 (296 Barry, 264 Lawrence), or 1 percent higher in Barry County.

Board members in April decided to at least test the water of public sentiment, knowing it was too late to withdrawn the proposal

after the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began pinching the local economy. With interest rates at record lows, the cost to the district would be less.

In lieu of building a new high school, which has the greatest space pinch as the upper grades top 800 in student numbers, the bond issue will fund construction of a new middle school on the west end of the Scott Regional Technology Center that could be expanded over time into a new high school.

The middle school would house grades six through eight, enabling the middle school campus to be emptied, removing another pressure point.

The intermediate school would then expand across the campus on the east side of Ninth Street, adding the fourth graders from Central Park Elementary.

At Central Park, the third graders would switch places with kindergarten at Monett Elementary, enabling Central Park to become an Early Childhood Center, expanding services to prekindergarten students.

The existing middle school building would become the new administrative office. The buildings located along Scott Street would be removed for more parking. Ninth Street would then be reopened for through traffic, rather than remaining closed during the school day until 4 p.m.

New Scott Tech director excited by opportunity

Six weeks into the 2020-2021 school year, Eric Roller, the new director at the Scott Regional Technology Center, was pleased with the opportunities and resources he’s found at the Monett career center.

“I’ve told a lot of people I’ve never had to work a day in my life because I like what I do,” Roller said. “This job takes it to an entirely different level.

I’ve always had a strong connection with education by doing. After growing up

Monett Interim Superintendent Kent Medlin, left, speaks with district Communication Coordinator Ana Espinoza prior to an administrative meeting. Medlin is contracted to the superintendent position through the end of this school year, when he will be replaced by Mark Drake, Monett assistant superintendent. Kyle Troutman/editor@monett-times.com on the farm and 13 years of teaching high school agriculture, it’s a natural fit for me to be around like-minded people and students who chose that path.”

A Wheaton High School graduate, Roller taught vocational agriculture in Clever, Wheaton and McDonald County, earning his college degrees from the University of Arkansas and William Woods University. His initial impressions of Scott Tech have been positive.

“To be with wonderful sending schools, students and instructors who love teaching, this is a fit beyond my wildest dreams. They’re a joy to be around,” he said.

Like most educational strategies, Scott Tech’s hands-on learning has undergone specific challenges during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Roller agreed there is no substitute for hands-on learning.

Teachers must document a student’s achievement. No level of video instruction substitutes for a student tearing down and rebuilding a diesel carburetor, for example. Teachers have to sign off on a student’s skill before a master classification is earned.

Shop doors have been open when possible. Exhaust fans are used as much as possible.

Students have been traveling with windows down in the buses as much as possible. Students are urged

to maintain social distancing when not in the lab.

Where possible, students from the same sending schools, who ride in on the same bus, have been assigned as partners, and mask wearing is strongly promoted. Students in the welding lab, for example, have specifically assigned tools, buckets and lockers.

Students are also working two per table.

“We already have staggered arrival and departure times, depending on the individual sending school schedules, which helps,” Roller said.

Numbers of students at Scott Tech have held within the average over the last five years. Roller noted that before the pandemic hit, enrollment for the 20202021 school year reflected a sharp increase. The current number of a little under 500 students comes close to last year’s numbers, with some classes a bit higher and others a bit lower.

Roller declined in September 2020 to speculate on his vision for other programs at the school, preferring to wait out the current conditions and see how current staffing and student levels ride out these unusual days. Roller sees a big part of his role as director in establishing partners locally and regionally, seeing where businesses have jobs and to eyeball careers that don’t yet exist. Roller took advantage of an invitation to attend the most recent Industry Council

meeting in Monett to introduce himself to local business leaders. He said they received him well and openly offered whatever help and advice they could to help develop Scott Tech for the future.

“I think there are programs out there to meet student needs, as funding becomes available,” he added.

The faculty at Scott Tech has impressed Roller the most.

“To a person, they are a consummate group of professionals who see their obligation to help students who will then help society,” he said. “I’m impressed with how they see what they teach as a vehicle to teach kids to build a better America. Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Knowing vocational agriculture well, Roller called the vo-ag program at Scott Tech “basically a sleeping giant with tremendous potential.”

“I could envision this being a multi-teacher program,” he said. “It could become a model for the state and nationally. With the ag business and production agriculture that make up the school district, there’s a wide array of programs that can benefit.”

That “sleeping giant” assessment Roller did not hesitate to ascribe to much of Scott Tech. He noted that the entire shop wing, from CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

The Monett Times

Community Reflections

Saturday, March 27, 2021 • Page 5

Ag industry overcomes pandemic, drought New Southwest Center leader takes reins

Agriculture is notoriously unpredictable in normal years, but the past year presented numerous challenges previously unseen by producers, but there were also bright spots along the way.

Pandemic impacts dairy, beef industries

As early as April 2020, with restaurants closed and public traffic curtailed, food producers nationwide found themselves in a pinch, either moving the product they make or finding an open market for it.

According to Reagan Bluel, dairy specialist for the University of Missouri Extension Service, that crunch extended even to local dairy producers.

“We have dairies in the area who have recently had to dump their milk,” Bluel said in the spring of 2020. “It is a combination of issues to create the ‘perfect storm’ scenario.

Retail, restaurant, export, processing and production all play a role. This is a very delicate time for the dairy industry, and all of ag.”

Bluel explained the future market for milk sales had turned “bleak.”

“We haven’t seen prices like this in over a decade,” she said. “Furthermore, this is all occurring following a series of challenging years — price and weather related — causing pressure on the overall balance sheet.”

Some producers put herds on a diet to help control their costs. Others resorted to decreasing the number of cows they milked, which had a reciprocal effect of further reducing their cash flow.

Dairy specialist Stacey Hamilton and veterinarian Scott Poock recommended the following strategies for all dairies, developed with the help of Chris Heins of Heins Family Farm: • Dry off cows early.

On their normal dry date, move them to the dry cow pen. This saves labor costs by milking fewer cows. It also means some loss of income.

• Cull low-production and problem cows. Sell cows with low reproduction rates, high somatic cell count and other health complications.

Consider drying off midto-late-lactation do-notbreed animals, and put them on pasture or surplus feed if available.

• Reduce feed costs and ask a nutritionist to adjust diets accordingly.

• Target milk solids versus volume. Within the Central Order, buyers pay producers based on components.

• Feed milk to calves.

Producers who not have a pasteurizer are advised to divert the milk to older calves, but discuss risks with the local veterinarian before feeding unpasteurized milk. Feeding milk to calves for a longer period before weaning moves milk away from the bulk tank, Hamilton advised.

Other options at the time were: • Consider feeding milk to all calves, heifers and bulls. This can reduce milk shipped and may add value to calves that are not needed as replacements later.

• Milk less often. Move all or part of confinement herds that are milking three times daily to two times. This would decrease production 10-15 percent. This also could ease labor shortages. For pasture-based herds, consider moving to once-a-day milking.

• Consider total grass

feeding. If pasture is available, pasture-based dairies may benefit from total grass feeding and elimination of supplement. If pasture is short, the producer should monitor body condition closely.

Also, look at reducing the stocking rate by selling non-pregnant, older or low-producing cows.

Cattlemen continue operations despite pandemic

Also in April, 2020, cattlemen started seeing impacts in other ways, but not through the closing of the livestock yards.

Eldon Cole, livestock specialist for the University of Missouri Extension, said the Joplin Livestock Yard was open for business in March. The Springfield Stockyard was also open, but with the restrictions on gatherings of 10 people or less, conditions were more difficult.

Sales had also been continuing at the Four States Stockyards in Exeter.

Cole said more significant was a dive in market prices before the pandemic took hold. The drop was so significant, he noted, that some packers were offering reimbursement to people who marketed at that time, an almost unprecedented occurrence.

Cole said in April the market bounced back, as people were stocking during stay-at-home orders and beef was again in high demand.

The Extension sponsored two bull breeding soundness clinics in March 2020 in Aurora.

Cattlemen came as usual to have their animals checked, keeping numbers down to four to five people there at any one time, which was considered an acceptable gathering. He said the clinics proceeded as expected, despite a few “mud incidents” that challenged transportation, requiring a trip at another time.

Bluel brings new vision to Southwest Center

Reagan Bluel, who has served as dairy specialist of the University’s Extension Office in Cassville since 2014, is serving as interim superintendent of the Southwest Research Center.

B l u e l succeeded David Cope, who retired in the summer of 2020 after six years on the BLUEL job.

Cope oversaw a retooling of the research farm, the dissolution of the in-house dairy and the opening of the long-awaited new meeting facility that will expand the center’s potential for hosting agriculture-related workshops and events.

Bluel continued to work half-time as the area dairy specialist and half-time as the center’s director.

“For years, we have been known as Southwest Center (SWC),” she said.

“However, our ‘formal’ name is Southwest Research Center (SWRC).

I am working on bringing back the ‘R’ both formally and physically. Basing management practices on sound science is critical to success of local farms. We are committed to providing the research needs of our neighbors.”

In her first weeks as director, Bluel concentrated on increasing communication about the center with local producers and the public.

As someone whose primary focus has been the dairy industry, Bluel admitted that as she traverses the 898-acre research farm, she continues thinking about

The Ka-Hen Farms in rural Monett brought 14 head of dairy cattle to the Ozark Empire Fair. Kylin Wagner, left, won second place in her class in the junior show, and Sophie Wagner won first in her class. They are the children of Duane and Colleen Wagner. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com dairy, though it is no longer a focus at the facility.

“As the SWRC’s interim superintendent, I lean heavily into the advisory board to determine the action items we focus our efforts on, to ensure we remain relevant and reliable to our constituents,” she said.

“We are currently conducting forage research in partnership with local dairies.

Additionally, soon I plan to release a bid inviting producers to have their dairy heifers custom raised here at the center – the bid will be posted soon. I hope to look at grazing behaviors and rates of gain with that ‘partnership’ herd.”

Bluel is the first Monett resident to serve as director of the Southwest Center. She acknowledged that the potential remains for broader partnerships within the Monett community and industries, still heavily rooted in agriculture with Tyson Foods, Dairy Farmers of America and International Dehydrated Foods.

The Monett school district’s agriculture strain in the GO CAPS program, which meets at the Southwest Center, offered a first link between the community and the center over the past two years.

“My favorite part of working for the university is the community service aspect,” Bluel said.

“Our entire goal as a land grant university is to distribute information that folks need. I would love to expand our interactions with the Monett community. The ‘gate is wide open,’ so to speak, as far as entertaining ideas and developing partnerships.

“The Southwest Research Center, established in 1959, is tasked with delivering education and outreach in the southwest region. One of the 16 Ag Experiment stations located across the state, we serve as a lifeline of the University for Missouri to maintain relevance across this vast state by conducting research on all aspects of animal- and plant-based agriculture and natural resource stewardship. This site-specific research allows agriculturists to be certain management practices can be repeated on their farms with similar growing conditions. For over 60 years we’ve evolved to serve the emerging topics needed to SW Missourians and will continue to do so. I am eager to put every acre inch of this 898-acre farm to work creating solutions.”

Bluel added that the Southwest Research Center also provides a hub for activities through the University of Missouri for the southwest area on many different topics.

Programs on healthcare, nutrition training and the arts may be available CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Rachel Callison, with the Fire Sweep Simmental’s ranch in rural Verona, sat with Hera, one of two show heifers she brought to exhibit at the Ozark Empire Fair. Her brother, Seth, brought three head and won grand champion with his bull, Neptune, in the junior show. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Reagan and Calvin Voskamp, with the Voskamp Dairy in Mt. Vernon, brought eight head of Jerseys and Holsteins to show at the 2020 Ozark Empire Fair. In the junior show, Reagan won three first places, two seconds and two thirds. The cows stand with the children’s uncle, Adam Voskamp. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Blake Wright, with the Wrightvale Farms in rural Monett, won grand champion in the junior show with his Holstein, one of three head he brought to exhibit at the Ozark Empire Fair. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

The New Dawn Farm of Mt. Vernon brought a full crew of exhibitors to show their dairy cattle in the Ozark Empire Fair’s open show. From front to rear, J.D. Sivils, Hunter Myers, Hanna Sivils and Wesley Myers won two second places and two third places in the junior show. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Page 6 • Saturday, March 27, 2021

Community Reflections

The Monett Times

COVID-19 dominates health news

Locals overcome serious health setbacks

The past year in the health industry has been unquestionably dominated by the arrival and spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), which had an effect on nearly every aspect of life locally.

However, there were some positive health stories in the past year, including the opening of the new Cox Monett Hospital and the implementation of a telehospitalist program new to the area.

COVID-19

The virus began garnering attention in March, as the first set of emergency declarations were passed and Gov. Mike Parson urged all residents of Missouri to stay at home as much as possible.

Uncertainty about the pandemic led to, among other things, a mass shortage of toilet paper, multiple businesses shutting down or closing their lobbies for the end of spring and early summer, school closing and spring sports being canceled, and heated debates over the effectiveness of masking to control the spread of the disease.

In Barry County, the first positive case was announced in mid-March, and through July, almost case-by-case updates, as well as possible community exposures, were being delivered by the Barry County Health Department.

The county did not rise above 50 total cases until the week of June 29, and counts exponentially ballooned from there.

Schools, though they closed in March, opened for summer school with protocols aimed at slowing any spread, then prepared to open again for the normal 2020-2021 year, adopting even more protocols to encourage safety.

By the time school started in September, the county had more than 350 confirmed positive cases.

By Christmas, the figure had risen to 2,396 total cases, with some weeks seeing more than 200 active cases.

Also around the end of the year was the arrival of vaccinations to the county.

As of the end of March, the state was in Phase 1B, Tier 3, which is for emergency personnel, anyone over 65 years old, and more high risk residents.

At the end of February, possibly helped by vaccines and also by two weeks of ice and snow limiting travel, cases had fallen to only about 30 active, though the total number climbed above 3,000. Deaths in the county were more than 50 at that time, as well.

Doors to new Cox Monett Hospital now open

Cox Monett Hospital’s $7 million fundraising campaign to build a new hospital met its goal this year, and the facility opened its doors to patients in January.

Tours of the facility a couple weeks before opening provided insight to the upgrades at the hospital.

Visitors entering the emergency room will find a security office and the triage center for newly arrived patients, on the way to the 10 emergency room bays. Most will be used for minor procedures, though there are innovations for more major issues. One bay has extra built-in resources for addressing trauma cases.

One room has negative air pressure equipment to evacuate the atmosphere, ideal for dealing with tuberculosis patients or those with COVID-19, which hadn’t been on the radar when the hospital was designed.

Planning for a wide range of needs, the hospital has new rooms for specific concerns. Tanya Straw, registered nurse and nurse manager of the medical-surgical unit, pointed out a room for managing psychiatric cases separate from others in the ER. Another room is specifically designed for handling exams for sexual assault cases, which can now be done in-house.

Straw said the new ambulance bay, big enough to pull two vehicles inside the enclosed garage, bumper to bumper. Inside the bay, a new hazardous materials decontamination shower has been included, especially valuable in Monett’s industrial environment where chemical spills remain a constant concern. The locker room-sized shower offers a major upgrade from the tent-based hazmat decontamination system in use for years at the hospital.

Straw pointed out the hospital’s new helipad, located not far from the ambulance bay on the lawn. This established committed concrete space, lighted and striped for aerial viewing, will free Monett firemen from the duty of setting up a perimeter for copter landings, now done next to the hospital at Euclid and Scott, or next to the west end of the Monett Walmart.

Among the new pieces of equipment under assembly was a computerized tomography (CT) scan machine that offers 64 different views of the portion of the body under review.

Straw noted this machine represents a major upgrade from the 16-cut CT scan machine presently in use.

The in-house machine also upgrades service from the present hospital, where the CT scan machine has been on a mobile trailer outdoors, tucked between sections of the building.

She observed that in case of technical difficulties, the hospital has been configured to have a second mobile CT scan machine brought in to a nearby exterior doorway.

The nuclear medicine area, where many patients will come for mammograms was notably more spacious than present facilities in the center of the current hospital.

Several sections of the hospital have acknowledgements for sizable gifts given to support those services. For example, the lab and radiology department notes a gift in memory of Jerry D. Hall, a cofounder of Jack Henry and Associates. The medicalsurgical department credits a gift from Dayton and Pearl Mackey. Both bear photos of the donors.

Throughout the hospital are dozens of large scenic exterior photographs of the Monett area, many taken at Jolly Mill. Photographers Will and Lisa Roberts took the pictures.

Future visitors to the hospital will most often come to the medical-surgical wing, with its 18 rooms for patients. Thirteen of those rooms are for medsurg patients, Straw said, four for intensive care, and one bariatric room with special equipment for moving plus-sized patients. These spacious rooms have exterior windows. The nurse’s station for the wing is especially large, more typical of modern hospitals. None of the computer equipment for the staff had yet been installed, thus leaving a more open view of the space involved.

The labor and delivery wing, Straw observed, will be a locked down area that non-patients or non-immediate family will not routinely see. There are seven mother-baby rooms, with space available for overflow.

Straw noted the spacious

Darren Bass, Cox Monett Hospital president and vice president of Community Hospital Group at CoxHealth, led media representatives on a tour of the new Monett facility before the hospital officially opened. Bass explained some of the features of the secured labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms, which allows new moms to remain in familiar surroundings throughout the entire birthing process without multiple room changes as labor progresses. Each birthing suite has a Panda warmer for newborns, as well as comfortable couches and recliners for family members to share time with the new additions. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com rooms will serve as delivery and recuperation spaces for patients. Mothers requiring cesarean delivery for their babies will find an operating room on the wing, allowing convenient care without being moved to another part of the hospital. Straw said Cox Monett physicians are very busy, more than in the past, in an effort to serve a broader geographic area. At the end of the mother-baby patient rooms is a large enclosed waiting room, which the current hospital has not offered as a separate space for those families.

Straw noted that the new Monett hospital has been constructed to meet the federal guidelines of a critical care facility. That calls for matching room numbers in the present hospital, rather than expanding patient rooms to meet all potential future needs.

She observed Cox Monett acquired significant acreage east of Monett, some of which will likely be sold in the future, but offering plenty of space to expand as needed in the future.

From there, the tour moved around the backside of the building complex, through the staffing section where employees have lockers and administrative offices. This area also holds a board room, separate from public conference rooms, where staff can meet and consult. Straw pointed out the new building has a loading dock for delivery of supplies, something the present hospital never had.

A extended outdoor patio will provide space for staff celebrations and outdoor cookouts around the rear of the building.

Presently such functions are held under a tent in the public parking lot off Benton Street. This one will remain out of sight from the public, directly connected to a driveway for easy access by food trucks or other services.

From there, tourists came into the new clinic building on the northeast corner of the complex.

Here all the Cox-affiliated doctors will have offices

As Cox Monett Hospital’s new facility took shape, so did the new equipment. This new CT scan machine provides a 64-cut view of the human body, up from the current 16-cut scanner in use, one of several major pieces of equipment being installed at the new hospital. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Several Cox Monett Hospital employees were at their stations at the new hospital days before opening, inputting data and making sure things were on track. Melonie Roberts/

reporter@monett-times.com

and 42 patient rooms. Two long hallways have desks and office stations set up for separate doctors and their staffs, who will have convenient access to each other for the first time.

The clinic has a spacious entry with a high ceiling and many seats plus a central desk. This entry connects to a hallway along the perimeter of the facility that leads to the general entrance for the hospital, past a series of windows facing the parking lots.

Along this hallway a very large conference room has been located that can be divided into two rooms for public education activities.

Near the main hospital entrance will be a new gift CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Area media outlets were invited to visit the nearly completed Cox Monett Hospital before the facility opened for business. With work all but completed on the $42 million project, the critical access care facility contains 25 patient beds, four of which are critical care rooms and seven of which are dedicated to labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum patients. Darren Bass, Cox Monett Hospital president and vice president of Community Hospital Group at CoxHealth, led media representatives on a tour of the 100,000-square-foot facility. Melonie

Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

The Monett Times

Community Reflections

Rayne Clotfelter, taking a break from painting, shows of his prototype for his eagle mural, which has further evolved since he began painting. His wife, Tricia, right, has captured the creation of the mural on film for a future documentary film. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Saturday, March 27, 2021 • Page 7

A drone photo shows Rayne Clotfelter’s mural taking shape above the height of the historic grain silo next to the railroad tracks in Monett. Contributed photo

Community thrives in past year

Eagle mural rises in Monett; community kitchen celebrates 10 years of service

The Monett area community has thrived in 2020, celebrated accomplishments like the new eagle mural on Front Street, the community kitchen celebrating a decade of service, the Linn Thornton Christmas dinner having another successful year, and the return of First on Front this summer.

First on Front returns in July

First on Front is returning to Monett in 2021 for one big event scheduled for July 2.

First on Front, which is traditionally held the first Friday of the month in May, June and July, was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The event’s host, First State Bank of Purdy, has announced that First on Front will be back for one big event on Fourth of July weekend.

“I’m excited,” said Amanda Lee, event organizer. “All things are looking good right now.

Normally, we would do three, but this year we are just doing the one in July.”

Larry Moennig, retired First State Bank president, credited Lee for coming up with the idea for the concert series, and for coordinating its organization back in 2018.

“This is not an event just for the Monett community,” Moennig said when the first event was announced in 2018. “We want this to be for the area. We want to bring you something you don’t have to drive an hour to see.

“We wanted to find a

way to bring the community together and drive a celebration. This is our community celebration.”

In light of COVID-19, Lee said First on Front will be following local recommendations from the health department to ensure proper safety precautions are taken and guidelines are met.

Though it is too early to tell, that may mean social distancing and masks will be required.

The overall goal is to bring the community together for a good time.

Lee said that because there will only be one First on Front event this year, she is planning a bigger, longer shindig than in previous years, including four full sets from four local bands and one additional hour of music, running from 6-11 p.m.

“We’re making plans now because we want people to put it on their calendars,” she said. Musical acts for the evening have been lined up, but Lee said they will not be released until a later date.

“We are going to have a mix of food trucks and vendors,” she said. “Anybody can apply online, and we try to make sure that we have a good variety.

We have a focus on local.

That means the southwest Missouri region. Our focus is on locals because we are a local community bank.

Local food and local music for a local experience.”

First on Front is a family-friendly all-ages event, open to everyone in the community.

“We get a lot of families, and all generations,” Lee said. “That’s because we do a variety of styles of music and food and try to have something for everyone.”

The event will be held in its traditional location, the Glen and Sharon Garrett Downtown Park on

Front Street between 4th and 5th streets. The main stage is located beneath the 8,000-square-foot covered Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion.

Food trucks will be setup along 5th and Front streets and traffic will be blocked on Front street and 5th street near the event.

“This is our fourth year, but the third year was canceled,” Lee said. “So we’re just excited to be back and see how many people want to come out.”

Eagle mural rises above Monett skyline

Rayne Clotfelter is pleased with how his patriotic mural on the historic Monett grain silo at Seventh and Front has turned out.

One of his most massive projects, Clotfelter, who bills himself as America’s muralist, was back in Monett in the summer of 2020, two years after finishing the scenes of historic Monett mural at Fifth and Broadway. Even then, Monett Main Street had begun talking to him about doing a second mural.

In the meantime, Clotfelter was creating murals in Montana; Marmarth, North Dakota; St. Charles and Branson.

When he started talks again with Monett Main Street, he discouraged a second historic scene mural, since that had already been done. He suggested something patriotic. He proposed something with an eagle and flag, and after several variations, settled on a design.

“I’ve done a lot of eagles,” Clotfelter said.

“I was an illustrator and draftsman in the Navy.

I’ve never done an eagle that big. It’s 35 feet tall, and the beak is probably 17-18 feet.”

Clotfelter laid out a flag at home for his prototype,

The America-themed eagle mural painted by Rayne Clotfelter on the historic grain silo at Seventh and Front is completed, establishing a new landmark that can be seen from two bridges over the train tracks that run parallel to Broadway. The silo is 88 feet in circumference, 55 feet tall and 66 feet to the top of the cupola. Initially, it was suggested Clotfelter paint all of the top, but later the city said it will reroof the silo and paint the cupola. Photo courtesy of Charles Beck, of Monett Aerial Photography but found it had “so many folds and crinkles” that it became unworkable.

When he began painting, Clotfelter worked in his

own folds and ended up with a much more satisfactory solution, complete with shading on the flag and blue shadowing on the feathers.

“You don’t know what this looks like until you come down to the ground,” Clotfelter said. “The feathers — you’d think they are two to three feet tall looking up at it. Each one is eight feet.”

When he started, Clotfelter drew a grid in chalk to create the flag.

Each ring making up the vertical sections of the silo, is five feet in height. He added primer on the sections he would paint, leaving the rest, then reapplying his chalk lines.

“The silver and black patina of the silo have been 130 years in the making,” Clotfelter said. “I didn’t want to disturb that.”

He noted that with some murals, a design can be projected onto a wall as a model for the painter to

follow, a time saver that reduces cost.

“This thing is round,” he said. “That brings on whole different kinds of challenges.”

The silo itself is 88 feet in circumference, 55 feet tall and 66 feet to the top of the cupola. Initially it was suggested Clotfelter paint all of the top, but later the city said it will reroof the silo and paint the cupola, which was a relief to Clotfelter, who admits having reservations working at that height. He estimated the project would take 20 days to finish.

This is Clotfelter’s first mural using Benjamin Moore paint. The company embraced Clotfelter’s efforts after he has tried for years to secure a sponsor for his projects. Benjamin Moore had a product called Rust Arrestor that provided a solid surface on the back side of the silo that had rusted to the top where the CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Page 8 • Saturday, March 27, 2021

Community Reflections

GO CAPS Stem students Gunnar Bradley and Karina Salas listen as Eric Merriman, plant manager for IMEC, explains the process of how work orders flow through the plant, going from raw material to finished product for their customers. Contributed photo

The Monett Times

Gov. Mike Parson visited Monett in December 2020 to announce the addition of 82 jobs that will come with the expansion of the Playpower facility in Monett. Contributed photo

Business: PlayPower expands; GO CAPS students wrap project with IMEC

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

long faced topographic challenges. The land rises sharply to the south, past the terminal building, which required National Guard equipment to level it in the 1990s to make the current runway possible.

Beyond that, the ground drops off then again rises sharply. Sierra Bravo crews, using 10 40-ton dump trucks with two more due in, have been cutting into the terrain for a half mile south of Farm Road 2025 and hauling it north to level the runway. Tractors have pulled off the top soil to place it over the ground for fill. As many as 800 truckloads a day of earth have been moved in the process.

According to Howard Frazier, airport manager, the earthmoving goal will raise the ground so that the earth will rise one foot over a distance of every 50 feet. Presently, the ground rises one foot every 34 feet.

Frazier said the change will enable faster, bigger and heavier jets to land in Monett safely, while presently those planes may go elsewhere.

The project at this phase also includes installation of three stormwater retention ponds to the west of the runway, fed by 42-inch pipes to carry the stormwater. Much of this work has been finished.

Boyd said Monett’s job is one of the bigger ones tackled by Sierra Bravo.

The firm also worked on a portion of Lambert Field in St. Louis. The company began in 1913 and Boyd’s son, also in the firm, makes the fourth generation of the family working in the business.

The major challenge to this project, he noted, has been tackling the various pieces in proper sequence.

Workers at the north end of the project have stayed busy while the earthmoving fed their work and continued building the new level from the south.

Boyd said the process was even more complicated.

The first step focused on clearing and tree removal across approximately 40 acres, the second on demolition of several farmsteads, then building the stormwater retention basins, then clearing and grubbing, stockpiling the top soil, running peripheral tests on the subgrade to prove it can support the weight of the earth going on top of it, then moving the massive amounts of dirt onto the new runway itself. Crews placed gravel bedding in places where concrete culverts were needed to channel the stormwater, as well as under the stormwater pipes.

“Conditions have been good for us,” Boyd said.

“We’ve had some weather and not a lot of frost. I’m impressed that a community like Monett has been able to garnish the month to do this. It explains why

there’s zero unemployment here. You’ve got people working on it.

“I’ve enjoyed working in this area. People are all very helpful and cooperative. They’ve gone out of their way to help me.”

Unlike erecting a building, which progresses steadily, Frazier observed the airport project requires the earth to settle. Work crews have set up checkpoints across the scope of the project, much like the Missouri Department of Transportation uses on its major highways. The construction zone will be left to settle for much of this year.

Dave Mitchell, project manager with Jviation, the engineering firm overseeing the project, the next step will be for his firm to complete the design specifications. Mitchell is working on site with engineer Jason Wehmeyer as the work progresses.

A farm house just of Farm Road 2025, purchased by the city with the land, was preserved for this stage of work. The Illinois crew for Sierra Bravo lived in the house, while Mitchell and Wehmeyer worked on a trailer next to it. Mitchell called the farmstead “ideal” as a base for its proximity to the project, very close to the excavation area and at the south end of the runway.

Mitchell is resided for the interim in a fifth wheel, while Wehmeyer has took up residence in the Super 8 Motel in Monett.

“Our teams have worked well together,” Mitchell said. “The biggest issue was the weather. There have been no surprises. I’ve very much enjoyed the area. All the people have been very hospitable.”

Once the design is completed, the concrete work will go to bid for work in 2022. Mitchell said whichever contractor receives the job will likely employ around 75 people, again drawing on local unions for staffing. At the end of the construction, erection of fencing will put around the property and other finishing work.

A camera has been set up to take a photo every hour of the project. That will create a photographic record to show how the airport rises from the ground by the time the project concludes.

Playpower announces Monett plant expansion

PlayPower Inc., a leading global manufacturer of outdoor recreational products, announced plans in December 2020 to expand its facility in Monett.

This expansion represents an investment of more than $2 million and is expected to create 82 new jobs in the area.

“PlayPower’s expansion in Monett is exciting news for Missouri,” Gov.

Mike Parson said. “This is a great opportunity for our citizens and economy, and we look forward to PlayPower’s continued success.”

Monett is the manufacturing home for many of PlayPower’s premier brands, including Miracle Recreation, Little Tikes Commercial, and EZ Dock. This investment will enable the company to expand manufacturing capabilities in Monett for its Wabash Valley site amenities products.”

“Missouri has been an outstanding partner for PlayPower,” said Bryan Yeazel, PlayPower’s chief executive officer. “We are grateful to Governor Parson for his strong collaboration with Missouri’s businesses to encourage investment and the development of the state’s workforce.

“We are also very grateful to Monett Mayor Mike Brownsberger, City Administrator Dennis Pyle, and DED Director Rob Dixon. PlayPower is proud to be a key part of the community fabric of Monett. We are excited to make this investment in Missouri and further commit to our extraordinary team in Monett.”

“Congratulations to PlayPower, and we thank them for investing in Missouri,” said Rob Dixon, Missouri Department of Economic Development director. “Businesses continue to choose Missouri because we focus on workforce development, infrastructure, and maintaining our pro-growth business climate.”

PlayPower is using the Missouri Works program, an incentive tool to help companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation.

In addition, PlayPower is partnering with Missouri One Start, a division of the Department of Economic Development, to provide training and recruitment assistance that is tailored to meet the specific workforce needs of the company. Missouri One Start’s professional training network ensures companies have the right workforce with the right skill set, when they need it.

People may visit PlayPower’s website to learn more about Missouri Works and Missouri One Start.

PlayPower, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of outdoor recreational products and the world’s largest, fully integrated manufacturer of commercial playground equipment, surfacing solutions, floating dock systems and lifts for boats and personal watercraft, shade solutions and site furnishings.

The company has facilities in Monett; Huntersville, Lewisburg, Pa.; N.C.; Englewood, Colo.;

MHS GO CAPS students Karina Salas, Spencer Bryand and Jonathan Hughes share their results of their study of the flow of material and jobs through IMEC during a presentation to Eric Merriman, IMEC pant manager. Contributed photo Silverlake, Ind.; Dallas; Nogales, Mexico; Selby, England; Perth, Scotland; Sosnowiec, Poland; and Aneby, Sweden.

PlayPower’s goal is to lead the market in all areas in which it competes and to continue to bring innovation and fun to the marketplace.

For more information, people may visit www. playpower.com.

GO CAPS continues tackling business challenges

Monett High School’s Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (GO CAPS) program has continued to work with local businesses in finding solutions to problems and challenges.

“In GO CAPS we don’t simply say ‘think outside the box,’” said Rebecca Merriman program coordinator. “We tell students to ‘kick over the box.’”

Students in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) strain of GO CAPS wrapped up a project for Monett manufacturer IMEC in April 2020. Students analyzed the existing floor plan and the manufacturing plant as part of an efficiency review. They created an Excel spreadsheet that uses machine locations and processes showing how more than 2,000 specific job orders flow across the plant, documented on a spaghetti diagram. Each of the job orders in the spreadsheet corresponded to machine locations on the actual plant floor. The team worked weeks to develop a program within Excel that would create a map — or workflow — of the jobs for IMEC. With this tool, IMEC management can now use the spreadsheet to examine existing workflows and consider changing machine locations within their

building to reduce material transport back and forth, minimizing wasted time and money. Merriman reported IMEC also plans to use the mapping tool to design the layout of any new additions and new product orders they might have in the future.

The business and technology solutions strand spent several days job shadowing at Jack Henry and Associates. Each student was able to spend time with professionals in multiple areas based on their interests: marketing; order processing support; help desk, handling both computer hardware and software; aviation mechanics, call center, and the data bunker.

“The IMEC flow project was a very great project for our team and allowed us to learn many things about business and manufacturing,” said GO CAPS student Gunnar Bradley. “First, we learned a lot about Excel spreadsheets. We also learn that it takes a team to work on a project like the IMEC project. I learned that in manufacturing, it’s all about efficiency and productivity on the manufacturing floor. More foot traffic means that it will take longer for that product to get out the door. With the flow project, we eliminated more foot traffic within IMEC which will save them time and money.”

“This experience has been a highlight for our students who gained a tremendous amount of insight by learning more about the day-to-day work that takes place in their areas of interest,” Merriman said.

The agri-business and food systems strand toured the processing facility for Vital Farms, an egg company that focuses on pasture raised eggs, located in Springfield.

“Our students learned that by 2025, 70 percent of

consumers will be engaged in online grocery pick-up and delivery services,” Merriman said company experts projected. “This has sparked interesting discussions within the agribusiness strand as they continue to learn innovations in food systems.”

Merriman observed that as ethnic diversity has brought changes in the Monett community, the GO CAPS program has also grown through more involvement by ethnically diverse students.

“Jennifer, Ruby, and Jimena are three cousins and members of the Peralta family, and all three are members of GO CAPS,” she reported. “Jennifer is part of the medicine and health care strand. Ruby is in the agri-business and food systems strand.

Jimena is a second-year member of our teacher education strand, and also in our agri-business and food systems strand.”

Merriman noted that in growth of interest in GO CAPS reflects a increasing interest among Hispanic students in attending college. She noted Yesy Perez, coordinator for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Drury University’s Monett campus, shared that the current student body at the Monett Drury Campus is a little over 50 percent Hispanic. Perez credited the multi-generational community of Hispanics settled in Monett with contributing to the growing interest in growing with the community, as well as guided help from Drury staff in seeking student financial aid.

“We have no doubt that Jennifer, Ruby and Jimena will continue to be positive leaders not only in their school, but among their peers and community. We’re excited to see what their future holds,” Merriman said.

The Monett Times

Community Reflections

Saturday, March 27, 2021 • Page 9

Agriculture: Parts of county face extreme drought; Creamery weathers pandemic

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

through the center in the coming months.

Parts of county faced severe drought

A lack of rain in late summer and September 2020 in parts of Barry County caused the central and northern parts of the county moved into a D3 (extreme drought) status.

Nick Mercer, Purdy fire chief, said his district and Monett City issued burn bans, and others followed suit.

Mercer said it had been a few years since the county experienced that type of drought. Several fires were reported in the Purdy District, and at least one was from someone throwing a cigarette from a vehicle.

D3 impacts include: • Corn is high in nitrates; major crop loss is reported; hay and water for cattle is limited; hay is expensive; producers are hauling water • Burn bans are common; fires spread easily • Mature tree death is common; insect populations decrease; fish kills occur • Building foundation damage occurs • Ponds are dried; wells are drying; large lakes and reservoirs are extremely low; mandatory water restrictions are implemented D4 impacts include: • Agriculture loss is widespread • Cattle sales increase; cattle are lighter at auctions; producers are culling; premature birthing is reported • Bird hunting decreases • People are in a state of desperation • Landscape goes dormant • People are digging deeper and more wells,

Grace Stephens, who helps complete orders, tags halfgallons of Edgewood Creamery milk at the store. Kyle Troutman/editor@monett-times.com

extending pipelines; Lack of hydropower causes electrical failures While half of the county is in D3 status, the southern part of the county remained in D1 (moderate drought). Rusty Rickard, Central Crossing fire chief, said the Shell Knob area did not seen many issues.

D1 impacts include: • Topsoil is dry; corn yield is small; pastures are not growing; crops are stressed • Urban watering is extensive • Fire threat increases; burn bans begin • Pond and river levels decline.

Edgewood Creamery ‘moo’ves right along

Pandemic or no pandemic, cows still produce milk.

That is what Edgewood Creamery Owner Kelli Stephens said when addressing how COVID-19 (coronavirus) has impacted her business.

Located on Highway C east of Purdy, Edgewood Creamery specializes in milk and cheese produc-

tion and sales, both retail and commercial, serving about 50 restaurants and operating its own small grocery store.

Stephens said when the pandemic started, restaurant sales were affected, but production from Edgewood’s 150 dairy cows remained constant.

“There was a hit on our cheese sales because the restaurants had closed down,” she said. “But, production-wise, cows just keep producing milk. They don’t know there’s a pandemic.”

Stephens said with about 90 percent of sales gone for a time, the Edgewood team took the opportunity to stock the shelves of its temperature- and humidity-controlled “cheese cave” with new cheddar for aging, which she said will be sellable product in the fall and around Christmas.

“We took the opportunity to let some of our cheese age longer,” she said. “We also didn’t lose very much, maybe about 50 pounds, and that was curds that would go bad. The cheese in the cave can stay in there

Valery Ellison, a Jill of all trades in the Edgewood Creamery facility, bags up cheese curds during her work shift. Kyle Troutman/editor@monett-times.com for a long time.”

While commercial sales were low, Stephens said another market took its place, as there was a large uptick in customers to the grocery store.

“Our storefront business tripled,” she said. “We are like a small grocery store because we have eggs, milk, bread, cheese, sweet stuff, jams and some vegetables.

Our retail side helped to offset grocery stores that may have run out of items.

We had them here, and all from local farmers.”

Edgewood was also still producing so much milk still that Stephens said she had to call local grocery stores carrying the product and tell them not to limit the amount people can buy.

“When we came out of it, I’ve seen a lot more people leaving the big box stores and going back to buying from the producers,” Stephens said. “We don’t run out. And, a lot of people who may not have before get to see the process, which leads to less of a disconnect between people’s food and knowing where it comes from.”

Dalton Stephens, head bottler, fills and caps half-gallon jugs of milk at Edgewood Creamery. Kyle Troutman/editor@

monett-times.com

Stephens did say there was one trouble spot during the pandemic, and it was a common one.

“About the only thing we had to worry about is there for a while, we couldn’t find any gloves,” she said.

Page 10 • Saturday, March 27, 2021

Community Reflections

The Monett Times

Education: All 5 schools in Monett district nationally recognized for health efforts

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

automotive technology to diesel, welding and construction have been high in student numbers for many years, representing careers in constant need of people. Enrollment in health occupations in the last few years has tripled, resulting in the addition of two more instructors.

Students can complete a certified nurse’s aide certificate and go straight to work, or get training for a veterinarian technician or a dental health technician.

The marketing program continues to grow, opening doors with internships.

Scott Tech’s building rated in Roller’s mind as “one of the top in the state, second to none.”

The connection of the building with Monett High School will change as it becomes linked to a new middle school, based on plans under development by the Monett school board, plans that will eventually turn into moving the high school into that new addition to the west of the Scott Tech building. The question of interconnection came up in Roller’s interview process, showing faculty were already thinking about the future.

“I think of it more as an opportunity than anything,” Roller said.

“Student safety is always a primary concern. The parking lot has well marked pedestrian areas.

I’m surprised how little traffic there is. Going back to the traditional schedule helped. [School Resource Officer] Jay Jastal helps being in the lot, keeping an eye on everything.”

Looking ahead to the end of the pandemic, Roller plans to increase his outreach to the sending schools. He would like to take a teacher and a former

student from each district with him to speak to those school boards, enabling them to place a name and a face on the program. He’d like to go to open houses at the sending schools to meet with parents and let them know what offerings Scott Tech has available.

Teachers now meet annually with eighth graders, informing them of career opportunities.

“Not only is it important to reach out to administrators in schools, but to also contact lower level teachers on professional development days, even elementary teachers,” Roller said.

“The more we can share, the better off we will be.

“Any time I get to interact with students, a professional group of people and parents, I’ve been fortunate that 99 percent of my experiences have been positive. This position is one of service leadership.

The day-to-day interaction with like-minded people and students is hard to replicate.”

Roller said patrons can see education at work at Scott Tech.

“In any classroom you walk in, you will see students preparing for careers that impact your lives every day, even though you may not know it. From a welder to a health professional, a person who builds a home, the military, graphic designers and marketing, every program in this building is training kids for a career. If you walk in, you will see engagement, hands-on learning and a staff that’s second to none that enjoys what they are doing here every day.

“Every kid is meant for the opportunity to be successful. I believe we have the opportunity for them to do that.”

Eric Roller, new director at the Scott Regional Technology Center, chatted with Anessa Garner, career service coordinator, by the entrance of building where students arrive. Murray Bishoff/times-news@monett-times.com

Monett schools make national health list

All five schools in the Monett school district were among the 517 schools nationwide in 2020 to earn a spot on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s (Healthier Generation) 2020 list of America’s Healthiest Schools for their commitment to promoting quality nutrition, regular physical activity and strong wellness policies.

Though Monett Elementary School, Central Park Elementary School, Monett Intermediate School, Monett Middle School and Monett High School were evaluated on practices taking place prior to the COVID-19 school closures, they leveraged their strong foundations in wellness and were positioned to prioritize healthy habits throughout the pandemic.

The district has continued to sustain and promote good health by following

steps toward creating a healthier environment by: • Continuing the implementation of Breakfast in the Classroom for all students (pre-K – eighth grade), continuing this program into the 20202021 school year and offering grab-n-go breakfast to high school students to provide all students a healthy and safe breakfast during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

• Implementing farmto-school efforts through indoor and outdoor school gardens that allow for integration of classroom curriculum, partnership with the high school GO CAPS program that helps the district integrate these gardens into school meals.

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, all garden harvest during school closures were taken to little pantries across the community to benefit local students and families. As of August, all produce har-

vested is going directly into school meals.

• Additionally, during the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district’s food service department worked tirelessly to provide breakfast and lunch to students daily through bus delivery.

Additionally, produce and food boxes were provided to students and their families during this time. The district served 77,524 meals from March to June, and have provided 4,100 food/ produce boxes through Ozarks Food Harvest June through August.

• Continuing a working partnership with the City of Monett to help improve pedestrian transportation efforts and established safe routes to school for students via Walking/Biking School Bus events. Those events are currently postponed until Spring 2021.

• Continuing to implement an insurance-based employee wellness program that encourages staff to act as healthy role models for students. The district also caters the program to provide staff with more virtual options and more opportunities for their overall wellbeing and mental health during this time.

For nearly 15 years, Healthier Generation’s annual recognition program has honored schools that are implementing best practices that support children’s learning and development, including meeting or exceeding federal standards for nutritious school meals and providing regular opportunities for students and staff to be active throughout the school day. It remains one of the country’s longest-running, nationwide recognition programs honoring schools for achievements in nutri-

tion, physical activity and wellness policies.

“The teachers, parents, students and staff at Monett R-1 recognize the critical role that health play in learning,” said Alex Severs, district wellness coordinator. “We’re honored to receive this national recognition for our dedication to supporting the well-being of students and staff, and remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering environments where all members of the school community can succeed.”

“We comthis cohort mend of school leaders for prioritizing the essential health needs of students and staff in a time of great challenge and with limited resources at their disposal,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

“Over time, these awardees established strong foundations in health — allowing them to pivot and adapt to meet acute health and wellness needs in a year unlike any other.”

As members of Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, Monett Elementary School, Central Park Elementary School, Monett Intermediate School, Monett Middle School and Monett High School work to implement wellness policies and practices that meet federal requirements and support a comprehensive approach to children’s health. Any school can join Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program to access trainings, resources and technical assistance by visiting HealthierGeneration.org.

To view the complete list of awardees, people may visit HealthiestSchools.org.

The Monett Times

Community Reflections

The Community Pantry, started five years ago at First United Methodist Church after the success of the Community Kitchen, serves about 500 people per month in the Monett area. These are one example of the items eligible recipients are given up to twice per month.

Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

Saturday, March 27, 2021 • Page 11

Volunteers at the Monett Food Pantry gather to unload a truck of food donated by Walmart. The donations range from deli, produce, bakery, frozen items and meat departments. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

Community: Kitchen marks 10 years; Linn Thornton dinner sees good turnout

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

elevator had been. An etching primer added to that created a paintable surface.

Clotfelter conceded his estimates for doing the work based on past experience fell a bit short using a different company’s paint.

The red paint in one coat did what another company’s product took several for the same result.

The Benjamin Moore blue, however, is taking more paint than he anticipated.

Clotfelter likes to work with a U.S. flag flying near his work, and he started this project with one attached to his rented lift.

“This time it was slapping me in the face and getting in my paint,” he said. “I had to give it a time out. It’s attached now to a nearby utility pole.”

Clotfelter worked daily around 7 a.m. and working until 4-5 p.m., knocking off early on weekends to return home to Branson.

He recalled patriotic art projects by other artists continue to draw people to sites around the country, even a painted rock in the field in Iowa. He hopes this mural will provide a sightseeing attraction for Monett for years to come.

Celebrating 10 years of outreach

More than a decade years ago, it was an idea spoken aloud while two couples sat on a deck one evening and pondered how to reach people in need in the Monett area.

In November 2020, the Monett Community Kitchen celebrated 10 years of providing twice weekly meals to area residents who are suffering food insecurity.

“It was me and my husband, Steve, and Melissa and Raymond Priest sitting on the deck and talking about helping people in Monett,” said Carol Stidham, one of the founding board members of the Monett Community Kitchen. “Steve realized through his work and saw what was going on in the community and that there was a need.”

Afterward, Steve spoke to Charlene Dart, of First United Methodist Church, and started the Kitchen.

“That first night, we had only seven people, maybe,” Stidham said. “Last week, we served 200 people in one evening.”

The Kitchen relies on volunteers to aid in the cooking and distribution of those twice-weekly meals.

Food for those meals is provided through financial donations, and the Kitchen now serves approximately 440 people per week.

“Distributing meals from the drive-through is more efficient, especially since our numbers are up,” Stidham said. “This makes it convenient for people to take the meals home to their families and eat with them.”

Five years after the Kitchen started serving

Vehicles lined up during the noon hour on Christmas Day, 2020 at First United Methodist Church in Monett to receive prepared meals from volunteers with the 36th annual Linn Thornton Memorial Community Christmas Dinner. Although the sense of community and socialization was absent from this year’s event due to the COVID19 pandemic, the annual effort ensured no one would miss a holiday meal. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com meals, the board expanded its outreach and formed the Community Pantry, a partnership with Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield.

Eligible recipients can receive a significant amount of food twice a month. A recent distribution found a full box of non-perishable and canned items, a second box Farm to Family box of produce from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that included onions, apples, cheese, milk, eggs and frozen meatballs, and donations of deli items, vegetables, fruits and baked goods from Walmart.

“We rely on our local business partners,” Stidham said. “We are grateful for Tyson Foods, American Dairy Farmers, Jack Henry and Associates, International Dehydrated Foods, Walmart and the donations of beef and other food items from individuals.

Weiser Tent is also helping by providing a permanent tent here at the church for our distributions.”

The Food Pantry, a herculean effort that sometimes appears to be organized chaos, was developed to help alleviate food insecurity for those in Monett and the surrounding area.

“Once a month, we get a semi-truck of food that we have to buy from Ozarks Food Harvest,” Stidham said. “Three times a month, volunteers take two flatbed trailers to Springfield and load them up. Sometimes, we get the items we order, and sometimes we don’t. When we don’t, that makes our food boxes short. Like with meat, sometimes we don’t get what we ordered.

Luckily, Walmart provides deli meat and other items to fill the gaps.”

Food from the Ozarks Food Harvest does not come free, although recipients are not charged for the food boxes.

“This is a very costly operation,” Stidham said.

“I order $400 a week in milk and $600 a week goes to Ozarks Food Harvest.

The boxes we get from the USDA and from Walmart are free. We receive no federal or state funding.

These programs run strictly on donations of money and food.”

The manpower required to operate the Monday food distributions is also no small feat.

“We have volunteers from the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and Latter Day Saints, all coming together to help their community,” Stidham said.

“We have a lot of regulars coming through, but in the past several months, since COVID-19 hit, we have seen a lot of new faces as well.”

In the wake of COVID-19, operational procedures on the twice weekly meal and food box distributions has changed.

“We were having people come into the church and have a seated meal,” Stidham said. “Now, we pack the meals out and deliver them through the drive through at the church. Same with the food boxes. People used to come in and pick and choose what they wanted in their boxes. Since we have had to change the way we distribute, we fill the boxes and then place them in vehicles for people to limit our contact and prevent the possible spread of the virus. The new method is streamlined, more efficient and the lines move much quicker. I don’t think we will ever go back to the other way of distributing the food boxes again.”

For food pantry items, recipients must bring photo identification, a utility bill and proof of income.

The qualifying income levels range from $1,450 for a single-person household, to $3,997 for a six-person household.

“The challenge is maintaining the financial balance so we can purchase food from Ozarks Food Harvest,” Stidham said.

“We also depend on our excellent volunteers.

These are very dedicated people committed to helping their community. They are there, week after week, to make sure these programs are a success.”

Food boxes and meals will not be distributed any time schools have been

Leta and Ernie Thornton, left, delivered meals to one of the guests who drove through the 36th annual Linn Thornton Memorial Community Christmas Dinner, held at First United Methodist Church in Monett. The 2020 event was a drive through distribution, as COVID-19 axed the traditional sit-down community dinner. Ernie Thornton said at 11:30 a.m. that there were fewer recipients this year than expected, with unemployment and COVID impacting many area residents. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

Volunteers line up under a tent with items to load into vehicles for the drive-through Community Pantry food distribution each Monday. Organizers say since transitioning to a drive-through distribution effort, the process is more streamlined and efficient. Melonie

Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

called due to inclement weather.

For more information, visit www.fumcmonett.org.

Turnout strong at annual Linn Thornton Dinner

Another successful event was logged for the organizers of the Linn Thornton Memorial Community Christmas Dinner, held Christmas Day in 2020 at First United Methodist Church in Monett.

Although temperatures dropped into the mid-30s and the format changed from a seated meal to a drive-through distribution, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 600 meals, slightly fewer than last year, were served to area residents.

“We’re down from what we usually are,” said Ernie Thornton, who has taken the reins on the annual event since the 2012 passing of his father, Linn Thornton, who founded the event. “We had several vehicles right at the beginning, but they’d slowed down by about 11:30 a.m.”

Another surge of vehicles came through about noon and continued steadily until about 2 p.m.

“We ran out of turkey, ham and beans,” Thornton said. “We sent the rest of the food home with volunteers who had family.”

This year was also different in that no wild game was served.

“We had ham, turkey, chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, hot rolls and pie,” Thornton

Volunteers working at the 36th annual Linn Thornton Memorial Community Christmas Dinner, Jeffrey Crabb, Jeffrey Kramer and Osiel Salas, packed up boxes of meals to deliver to emergency room workers at CoxMonett Hospital on Christmas Day. More than 170 meals were also delivered to the Monett Fire Department, Monett Police Department, and several area businesses that remained open on Christmas Day, 2020. In addition, about 500 children were recipients of toys from the annual Linn Thornton Toy Drive that ensured no child in Barry or Lawrence County would wake up and not find a toy under the tree. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com said. “It’s a lot different than in the past.”

“I don’t like it,” said Amanda Downey, Thornton’s daughter. “I miss the socialization. It’s just not the same.”

Cooks and delivery volunteers for this year’s dinner included Shannon Thornton, Leta Thornton, Crystal Crabb and Daniel Salas, Damien Taylor, Jeffrey Kramer, Ernie Thornton, Raven Thornton, Amanda Downey, Raymond Brownfield, Bobby Crabb and Osiel Salas.

As in years past, volunteers delivered meals to those working at the Monett Fire and Police

Departments, Cox Monett Hospital’s emergency room personnel, a Mt. Vernon truck stop, employees working at Casey’s General Store and other businesses open for the holidays.

On the toy drive side of things, Thornton said more than 500 children in the Barry and Lawrence County area had received gifts for Christmas.

“With the donations of toys and money, we tried to make sure every child would have a toy under the tree on Christmas morning,” Thornton said. “Due to my recent surgery, we didn’t deliver as many toys, but had parents come pick them up this year.”

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Community Reflections

The Monett Times

Health: Cox offers telehospitalist program, named among best places to work

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

shop, much larger than the present one. The cafeteria is located off the main entry as well in a more open arrangement of tables than the present room allows.

Between the main entrance and the emergency room are located a clinic for specialty surgeons, with five rooms for patients, and the operating rooms. Straw pointed out the hospital has two normal sized operating rooms and one about the size of the others combined. These are supported by a much larger laboratory and pharmacy.

Ambulatory procedures and cardiac rehabilitation also have dedicated rooms.

Still in development for public display in January was the history wall, a special display showing scenes of Monett’s hospital from the time Dr. William West first opened services in 1914 until his retirement, operations under the Vincentian Sisters of Charity that began in 1944, and the arrival of CoxHealth Systems as the current owner in 1993.

Lisa Alexander, president of CoxHealth Foundation, said the effort has dipped into historic photos, including those archived by The Monett Times, in making what she hopes will be a worthy tribute to the healthcare tradition in Monett.

A donor wall listing the names of those who contributed to the project is also planned.

Alexander expressed gratitude for the local support that raised $7 million as part of the $42 million project that includes a 75,000 square foot hospital and the adjoining 27,000 square foot medical office building. She recalled her reservations at setting such a high goal when the undertaking was announced, but noted the local effort surpassed that mark last November.

“It’s this community,” she said, crediting the historic support and generosity demonstrated over the years toward the hospital and other major undertakings like building the Monett Area YMCA and annual efforts like CoxHealth’s Dining for Diabetes.

Cox Monett launches telehospitalist program

Cox Monett Hospital has partnered with Bryan Health, a premier provider of telemedicine services, for its hospitalist program for evening and weekend hours coverage.

Advanced technology allows doctors to see, hear and speak with patients and their family members.

The technology also allows providers to perform clinical examinations via a monitor with the bedside assistance of nursing staff.

“CoxHealth rolled out the telehealth hospitalist

program last year to Cox Barton County Hospital, and their patients just couldn’t say enough good things about their highquality online care experience,” said Darren Bass, president of Cox Monett.

“Based upon that positive feedback, we knew we wanted to expand this innovative model of care here to our hospitalist program, and just like we thought, it’s receiving rave reviews by staff and patients. I think the best part is we are now able to keep more and more patients close to home – where we know they want to be.”

Hospitalists (physicians who care for hospitalized patients) have always been present at the hospital during daytime hours, just as they will continue to be.

They will also continue in the ER, where an in-person physician is present 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“For rural hospitals, technology is the key to growth,” said Bass. “We are already utilizing telemedicine in a variety of ways, including telestroke care, prenatal care, and other specialties. The possibilities are endless for what telemedicine can do, especially access of care for people living in communities like ours who may not have the means or resources to travel.”

During the daytime, inpatients at Cox Monett are seen in person by Dr. Cliff Ganus and Teresa Jolley, physician assistant.

Cox Monett No. 15 on Best Places to Work in Healthcare list

For the third year in a row, Cox Monett Hospital has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one

of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

Cox Monett is the only hospital in Missouri to be named to this prestigious list.

“I am so proud to be a part of CoxHealth, a health system that values its employees and does the right thing even during difficult times,” said Darren Bass, president of Cox Monett. “Being recognized nationally for three years in a row reaffirms just how strong our culture is that we have built here.

Cox Monett is a great place to work with compassionate, caring people who are committed to delivering high-quality health care.”

This award program identifies and recognizes outstanding employers in the healthcare industry nationwide. Modern Healthcare partners with the Best Companies Group on the assessment process, which includes an extensive employee survey.

“It has been an especially trying year for the world, and healthcare in particular as COVID-19 ravages our communities and your workplaces,” said Aurora Aguilar, Modern Healthcare’s editor. “But the organizations recognized on this year’s list rose to the top and continued to be a source of strength for their teammates. They have seen their colleagues fall ill to the virus and struggled with the economic impact of the pandemic. The loyalty and trust between employers and their workers is being put to the test now more than ever.

“We congratulate the Best Places to Work in Healthcare for continuing to serve their workforce and communities during such an unprecedented time.”

Cox Monett celebrated its No. 15 ranking on Modern Healthcare’s 2019 Best Places to Work in Healthcare list with a pancake breakfast. Karyn Shepard, lab technician, enjoyed the flapjacks served to her by Heidi Clark, nurse manager of the ER, and Darren Bass, president of Cox Monett. The 2020 celebration was postponed due to COVID-19. Contributed photo

Bigger and better than ever, the new Cox Monett Hospital gift shop was being stocked and readied for the facility’s opening, where guests can purchase small snack items, gifts and other sundries for patients. The new hospital also features a cafeteria with phone charging stations, family spaces in patient rooms, and is also home to Cox Health’s primary care clinics, which features 42 outpatient rooms. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com

The Monett Times

Saturday, March 27, 2021 • Page 13

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The Monett Times