Community News

It takes a community to serve a community. Thanks to volunteers at Mercy Hospital Cassville, patients undergoing a variety of rehab have another boost to get them back on their feet. Earlier this month, the Mercy Hospital Cassville Auxiliary finalized the purchase of a SCIFIT PRO2® exercise bike for $4,845. It will be placed in the hospital’s fitness area, for physical, occupational and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation patients. ...

Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob recently added an MIA Memorial at the center. Jeff Harp, chief publicity officer for the center, said guests lining up to eat lunch at the center may notice the memorial — a table accompanied by a special tribute to honor missing service men...

Each year, Commerce Bank and Commerce Bancshares Foundation contributes to community organizations that positively impacts the lives of Barry Countians.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that, starting Sept. 1, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018...

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

On Sept. 9 Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob held a carnival for area youth that was attended and enjoyed by all ages.

Lorelei VanDerhoef, a student at Cassville Intermediate School, was recognized as Miss Missouri Outstanding Teen Princess for 2017, after participating in the Princess Program at the Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen pageant in Mexico, Mo., June 14 -17...

  The Exeter Corn Maze will open Saturday at 1 p.m. with yet another new and fun attraction — Archery Tag. Each year, the maze expands and ads something new for the everyone to enjoy. This year will be no different. On Sept. 23 and 24, the maze will host its 5th annual craft fair. The craft fair is one of Barry County’s largest and will be Exeter’s best one yet...

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

Early fall is the optimum time to establish a cool-season lawn from seed according to Kelly McGowan, horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "Turf species such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass establish well from seed at this time, the weather is cooling and rains are more regular, and weeds are easier to manage," said McGowan...

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

Horticulture, beef, forages and general agricultural topics will all be featured during the annual Southwest Research Center Field Day event, set for Saturday, Sept. 9. The day will also feature several activities for children, such as a grass maze, pumpkin patch and face painting. The event will begin at 9 a.m., and is free and open to the public...

The Cassville Cruisers voted to present H.E Burns, from Rogers, Ark., with the Eddie Award. His 1974 Corvette was named the Best of the Bunch from the 1971-1980 models at the August Cruise-in event. 

Most people in the Midwest are familiar with the traditional folk song about picking pawpaws, 'Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch,' but, where is the pawpaw patch and what in the world is a pawpaw? "Pawpaws may be the best Missouri native fruit that you have never eaten," said Dr. Pam Duitsman, nutrition specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "The pawpaws are the largest edible fruit native to the United States."...

David and Tracy Hudson and family, of Aurora, were among the families honored during the 59th annual Missouri Farm Family Day, Aug. 14, at the Missouri State Fair. The Hudson family was selected as the Barry County Missouri Farm Family by the Barry County Extension Council and local Farm Bureau. The family includes David, Tracy and their sons, Timothy and Lucas Hudson...

"Ah, happiness, that ever elusive state," says Psychology Today. " Philosophers, theologians, psychologists, even economists, have long sought to define it, and since the 1990s, a whole branch of psychology — positive psychology — has been dedicated to pinning it down and propagating it. More than simply positive mood, happiness is a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life — that is, with a sense of meaning and deep satisfaction."...

A group of well-wishers and singers from the Cassville United Methodist Church went to Ruth Vollenweider’s home Aug. 19 to serenade her and celebrate her 104th birthday.

On Aug. 15, Central Crossing Senior Center hosted its annual Hawaiian Luau, complete with Hawaiian food, music and Hawaiian clothing, leis, flowers and palm trees.

The Haven of the Ozarks Pets of the Week are kittens once again.

With technology changing at the speed of light and new applications, it can be hard to keep up, even for those who pride themselves on being good at it. But no matter one's knowledge or level, the Cassville library has a great resource that can help...

A recently completed assessment of University of Missouri Extension found that with an annual investment of $84 million (2016), MU Extension generated dividends totaling nearly $945 million. The findings, part of a report developed by TEConomy Partners LLC, are available for viewing online along with other documents from a statewide needs assessment for MU Extension. The documents are online at http://extension.missouri.edu/staff/buildingfuture.aspx...

Hayden Royer competed in the Purdy Festival FFA Livestock Show and Sale July 15, taking Grand Champion Market Hog.

As much as 80 percent of the water used around the home during the summer is for outside uses, according to Kelly McGowan, horticulture educator, University of Missouri Extension. "Watering the lawn is one of the main outside uses of water," McGowan said. "But, proper water management for lawns may reduce the amount of water usage plus promote the health of the turf."...

There is a common Ozarks observation that says this region is always two weeks away from drought during the summer time. According to Bob Schultheis, a natural resource engineering specialist with University of Missouri Extension, the saying has some accuracy...

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

• Jerrod Wayne Archer, Washburn, two counts no seat belt, $20 total fine • Devon Allen Bailey, Neosho, no plates, court costs plus $30.50 fine • Deven D. Banks, Pierce City, no registration, no seat belt, court costs plus $40.50 fine, Judgment CVC $10, other...

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

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, will be hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at United Methodist Church, 25682 State Hwy YY, Shell Knob, to discuss its Table Rock Lake shoreline management plan revision. Staff will be available to answer questions...

The Silver Discovery group will hold their August meeting at Angus Branch Steak House, 114 Chapel Drive, Monett, on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Silver Discovery is a networking group for those who are advocates and/or have resources for senior citizens. ...

To best meet the needs of the communities it serves, over the last few months, The University of Missouri Extension has been busy collecting a multitude of information from several communities across southwest Missouri and examining data to determine the future path and direction of the organization...

The Cassville Rotary Club will again be providing school supplies for local foster families, starting Wednesday, Aug. 2, until the time school starts on Aug. 16. Dr. Lisa Roark, of Roark Family Health Care, who is a Rotary Club member, said she appreciated local foster families and hoped to make their lives a little easier by helping with the purchase of school supplies...

At the Cassville Cruisers July Cruise-in, the car club presented Pete and Louisia Osborne of Shell Knob with the Eddie Award.

This week, Haven of the Ozarks is introducing you to ‘pets’ of the week instead of pet of the week, as we currently have a selection of beautiful, friendly adult cats and kittens. 

Twins Skylar Annecharico, left, and Tyler, competed in the Raingutter Regatta boat race Saturday at the American Legion.

Vera Coker, at right, carefully chose a lemon pie from the wide range of desserts available for those dining at the St. John’s Lutheran Church picnic at Stones Prairie on Friday.

ROCKY COMFORT — More than vegetables grow in Fue Yang's high tunnels. It is where opportunity grows for area Hmong farmers. Yang runs a teaching farm for University of Missouri Extension, Lincoln University and the Webb City Farmers Market. The collaborative effort is part of a grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture...

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

Every team member gets a medal at the end of the season for participating in most youth sports leagues. The medal, however, merely recognizes participation. In real life, adults do not get participation medals. What matters for most organizations, businesses and even families, is impact, according to David Burton, a civic communication and community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension...

Camp Barnabas, a summer camp for individuals with special needs and chronic illnesses, is holding a drawing for a 1980 International Scout II valued at over $18,000. All proceeds benefit the Camper Scholarship Fund. This fund provides the means for campers with disabilities to experience the life-changing opportunities within the gates of Camp Barnabas. The winning ticket will be drawn Oct. 28 at the Glamping for Camping fundraising event.  ...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the third year of its Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) program during the 2017-2018 school year in conjunction with its leadership program for Cassville High School seniors.   TLT provides Cassville seniors an opportunity to learn more about the area and importance of community involvement, and brings students together with businesses and community leaders while educating the future of the community, said Brittany Farris, chamber director...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome 13 new teachers to the Cassville school district and community this fall and is inviting local businesses to partake in preparing their traditional new teacher welcome bags. "We would love to have goodies from your place of business to help fill our New Teacher Bags," said Brittany Farris, chamber director. "Please drop off your items to the chamber by Tuesday, Aug. 1. Call or e-mail if a pick-up is needed."...

The Cassville Cruisers car club presented Bill and Trix Long the Eddie Award at their June cruise-in. 

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

A new survey of journalists in the four-state area suggests the best way to get an article, media release, or news story in print is to do everything possible to make life easier for the local editor or reporter. "That means well-written, concise submissions that emphasize a local connection and news copy that does not need a lot of editing," said David Burton, civic communication specialist for University of Missouri Extension...

If e-mail messages are overwhelming you, take heart, says David Burton, civic communication specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Proven management solutions do exist for reading, keeping and deleting those e-mail messages. According to Burton, most people with e-mail feel overwhelmed at times by the volume of messages they receive...

• Anthony Craig Ash, Golden, dwi alcohol, persistent offender, four years incarceration DOC, execution of sentence suspended, four year supervised probation, Judgment CVC $46, alcohol • Dustin Jarrett Bass, Aurora, three counts assault, resisting/interferring with arrest for a felony, three years supervised probation, Judgment CVC $46, other...

Twenty years ago, Charles Fletcher of Edgewood Dairy and Creamery, attended a grazing school offered through the University of Missouri Extension. It would change the future of the family dairy operation. Fletcher's father started the dairy farm in 1966. His father milked cows by hand 365 days a year, morning and night. In 1993, the Fletcher family formed a partnership that included poultry and dairy. Rising input costs and time forced them to look at other options...

A prominent Springfield dairy farm played host to 49 youths ages 8 to 18 as part of the Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp May 24-26. According to Karla Deaver, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Robthom dairy farm has hosted Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp for 22 years, and the 2017 camp was a record-breaking year for attendance...

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

Barry-Lawrence Area United Fund was honored with the 2017 Head Start Hero Award at a recent Missouri Head Start Association awards luncheon held in Jefferson City. On behalf of the organization, Ken Dudzik, president of BLAUF, accepted the award, presented by Kimberly Shinn-Brown, Head Start director at Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation, and Vonna Farris, Head Start staff...