Community News

Meet Ferrari, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week. This gorgeous 2-1/2-year-old girl has been shuffled around quite a bit in her short life.

I know many old stories. I don't like to tell old stories, so I do it judiciously.   There must be a good reason for me to tell a joke that my readers may have already heard. With that in mind, forgive me if you have heard this story before. The new minister in town went to visit a rural family, and much to his surprise, discovered that the man of the house acted like the family pet. He was horrified when the wife set a bowl of dog food in front of her husband...

Electronics Technician 1st Class Matthew Dallis, of Exeter, a member of the shipboard COVID-19 Rapid Response Team, sprays disinfectant on stores pallets on the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42).

Meet Butterscotch, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the week.

The rapture might be just around the corner. Perhaps now, more than ever before, Christians are contemplating what Jesus called, “the signs of the times” (Matthew 16.3). For the uninformed, the rapture is when the dead in Christ will be resurrected and living Christians will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air. What will it be like on earth after all faithful believers are removed from planet earth?...

Roaring River State Park invites the public to attend a Fall Wild Edibles Workshop Sept. 19 and Sept. 20. The workshop will include three programs highlighting identification, foraging techniques and preparation of wild foods found in Missouri. Participants can sign up for one program or all three. All programs are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling the nature center at 417-847-3742. ...

Sea breeze at their backs; gritty texture of a non-skid flight deck gripping the soles of their shoes; sweat pouring into brightly colored physical-training uniforms. Sailors aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) are putting in miles and miles of work as they run from sunrise to sunset, each pushing beyond personal barriers to complete Germantown Runs the World (GRTW), a running event set to spice up exercise aboard the warship...

 An Exeter native and 2019 Exeter High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guided-missile cruiser, USS Antietam. Petty Officer 3rd Class Parker Fuller is a Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) aboard the forward-deployed Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam operating out of Yokosuka, Japan. Antietam is one of three cruisers forward-deployed to Yokosuka...

Most people have read or heard the folk poem “Footprints in the Sand.” I have seen the poem hanging on the wall in a number of homes. I have read it aloud, by request, a good number of times, at funerals. “Footprints in the Sand” tells of a woman who dreamed that she saw the struggles of her life depicted in a walk beside the sea with God. ...

Meet Toby A, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is Friday. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19...

The Health Department divides food service code violations into two categories; Priority and Core items. Priority items are more likely than other violations to contribute to food contamination, or illness and/or injury. Core items although important to the overall hygiene of the establishment, do not necessarily present an immediate threat to food contamination or illness and/or injury...

Each year, when the fall school semester starts, I remember. "Class, I need to run an errand. I will be out of the room for several minutes. While I am gone, I expect you to behave yourselves. You can work on your reading assignment for tomorrow." With that announcement, our new fifth-grade teacher left the classroom. Such trust! Such innocence! I shot from my desk and peeked down the hall after her. I watched as she disappeared around the corner at the far end of the hall. It was party time!...

Meet Yosemite Sam, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week

In these trouble times, many are searching for answers. In Ruth Guenzler’s new book, “103+ Whispers from God’s Heart…to Mine,” some might just find those answers. Guenzler grew up in Cassville and now makes her home in Villa Ridge with her husband, John. She believes growing up in this small town in the Ozarks and attending one of the last one-room country schools gives her, as she quotes, “a tilted view of life.”...

Meet Chairman Meow, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

It is nice to know if someone thinks you did your job well. The vocal exchange went something like this: “That was a very good sermon this morning, pastor,” she said. “Thank you, ma’am, all credit goes to God, though.” “Do you think you will ever publish that sermon? I think it ought to be published. I would like to read it again myself and send a copy of it to my sister.”...

Captain John M. Enderle, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, has announced the following promotions, effective Aug. 1. Corporal Clinton S. Mason was promoted to the rank of sergeant and designated as the zone supervisor of Zone 13, serving Newton and McDonald counties. ...

Meet Maggy Sue, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

Heat stress in dry cows today affects dairy herds decades later.   Offspring of heat-stressed cows show health problems in future generations, said Reagan Bluel, University of Missouri Extension dairy field specialist. Bluel highlights research from Jimena Laporta at the University of Florida in the third edition of Dairy Science Digest, a podcast for dairy producers. See https://extension2.missouri.edu/programs/dairy-extension...

Meet Ursula, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week. Ursula is just about the sweetest girl ever.

Who hasn’t heard of Mother Teresa? The Woman of Calcutta became a legendary Christian figure. We applaud her for her generous work with orphaned children, widows, and lepers. She was constantly on the move, helping wherever she could. She fought tirelessly for the underprivileged...

The Central Crossing Senior Center offered a pick-up-and-go Reuben sandwich lunch on Friday as a way to break the monotony of its day-to-day existence during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were thrilled to see so many of our seniors come out to chat a moment while they waited for their meal,” a press release following the event said. “About 150 Reubens were distributed between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The sandwiches were served with chips and a sugar cookie. More specials are in the planning stage.”...

Meet Conan, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week. Conan is a gorgeous 5-year-old boy who came to the Haven after his owner could no longer care for him.

The Citywide Clean-up is week of Aug. 24 on normally scheduled service days and is only for residents inside the city of Cassville. This program is being offered with the intent of providing opportunity to clean out garages, basements or closets and get rid of old worn out and broke items...

On Sept. 11-12, firefighters and civilians from all over will be joining the Springfield Memorial Stair Climb virtually to remember those lost on Sept. 11, 2001. As the coronavirus has swept the country, the organization has made the decision to hold the event virtually this year...

Meet Clover, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

A tiger met a lion as they sat beside a pool. Said the tiger to the lion, “Why are you roaring like a fool?” “That’s not foolish,” said the lion with a twinkle in his eye. “They call me the king of beasts because I advertise.” A rabbit heard them talking and ran home like a streak. He thought he’d try the lion’s plan, but his roar was just a squeak...

Summer usually means busy times for the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District; and this year is no exception. District employees continue their work in landscape restoration, providing recreation opportunities for the public, wildland firefighting and prevention, and much more...

Meet Limo, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

I will tell you another thing COVID-19 has messed up — Fellowship Dinners. Nothing beats a church supper. At least two miracles happen every time the church gets together for a “carry-in” or “covered dish” meal. One: there is always more than enough to eat, even if a tourist bus breaks down in front of the church precisely at lunch time. This is a “loaves and fishes” miracle...

Meet Andre, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

It wasn’t all fireworks and hot dogs for some Americans on this Fourth of July. Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Calisia Brookes, from Cassville, Mo., bends sheet metal aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

I moved a small brush pile the other day. We have quite a few trees, and every time the wind blows, I get to pick up downed branches. I throw them in a pile and when the pile gets big enough, I haul it off.   I needed to mow following the rains we received last week, so I picked up branches. ...

Cassville physician and vocal supporter of medical marijuana Dr. Lisa Roark, MD, is stepping up to help 600 patients who were defrauded by a fake physician. About 600 medical marijuana patients were defrauded by a person pretending to be a physician who certified them for medical marijuana. ...

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement reached between the Staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission, the Office of the Public Counsel and Spire Missouri, Inc. (Spire) which will provide approximately $15 million in one-time bill credits to Spire East and Spire West natural gas customers...

In preparing for Independence Day, I re-read the “Declaration of Independence” at www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration. Like you, I love America and pray for her. I am a patriot. I put my hand over my heart and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. I stand and sing the National Anthem. I often pray for our elected officials...

Meet Shaz, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

The Central Crossing Senior Center may be closed for day-to-day lunches and activities due to the COVID-19 crisis, but staff are still working to help their senior friends. The Center’s lunch-to-go program has volunteers who want to make these stressful times as much fun as possible. ...

Meet lots of adorable puppies, the Haven of the Ozarks Pets of the Week.

You know that you are in trouble when (multiple choice):  A. The family dog is having conniption fits underneath your father's bed  B. You kid brother has instantaneously vanished into thin air  C. Your father is screaming at you from the front porch, in broad daylight, dressed only in his underwear ...

Meet Tommy Haven, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin. Most of you will recall that it is about a father who was much too busy to interact with his son. The song was popular when my oldest son was a boy. Chris would simply say to me, “Cat’s in the Cradle” when he felt like I was neglecting him. I knew exactly what he meant...

Recent storms and spring growth have left a lot of trees in need of attention. Barry Electric Cooperative wants its members to know that tree trimming is a job best left to experts, especially when they are located near power lines. In fact, the two leading causes of death while trimming trees come from falling and electrocution...

The Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County has announced a partnership with the Cassville Boy Scout Troop No. 76.

Meet Dashwood, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

Seventy years after its inception, the minute hand on “The Doomsday Clock” has been moved to 100 seconds before midnight. The Science and Security Board believe that the world is more dangerous than it has ever been. They based their decision to re-set the clock on increasing global environmental crises. ...

Meet (lots of) kittens, the Haven of the Ozarks Pets of the Week.

Meet Ian, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

I must be in trouble again. I hear Mrs. Preacher in the kitchen banging and clanging her pots and pans around. That's how I know that it is serious. When I am in the doghouse, she bakes. Married folks settle their spats in a variety of ways. Normal ways. ...