News

A rural Purdy family lost their mobile home and all of their belongings in a fire shortly around 2 p.m. on Thursday. Purdy and Butterfield firefighters responded to the Marcus Cotton home at 10285 Farm Road 1120 following a 911 call to the Monett dispatch center at 2:13 p.m. According to Fire Chief Nick Mercer, the home was three-quarters engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, Mercer assessed the home as a total loss...

An Arkansas man was injured Wednesday in a wreck at 4:25 p.m. on Highway 39, five miles north of Shell Knob. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jason Koeffler, 42, of Eureka Springs, Ark., was driving a 2007 Harley Davidson XL1200N motorcycle northbound when his vehicle traveled off the roadway, struck a road sign and overturned...

A Cassville man was injured Tuesday in a single-vehicle wreck at 8:20 p.m. on Highway 86, four miles east of Wheaton. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Junior Winslow, 70, of Cassville, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Impala westbound when his vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned...

Following a closed session vote by its city council last week, the city of Exeter is considering terminating the employment of its police chief, Kenen Martinez. Jim LeCompte, attorney for the city, said the council is considering Martinez’s removal, but that may only happen after Martinez is given a list of reasons for the decision and, per state statute, a public hearing is held to allow Martinez the opportunity to address the reasons...

Maintenance staff at the Cassville school district have been busy this summer doing work at all school campuses preparing for the coming school year. Dusty Reid, director of facilities and operations, said along with routine summer work, there are some larger projects being undertaken...

Public works employees at the city of Cassville are keeping a close eye on the water table this year, as drought conditions could reflect 2012 and lead to a draw down of the city’s wells to preserve equipment and keep plenty of water running. With drought conditions worsening this summer, Steve Walensky, city administrator, said issues could arise in the fall, as it takes months for ground water to seep into the Ozark aquifer, or in this case, not...

The cast of Opera of the Ozarks’ “Cinderella” performs the opening number in the play, which is part of the Libraries Rock! summer program at the Cassville Branch Library.

It has been four months since three labradors in Eagle Rock were shot to death and mutilated, and a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating animal abuse has stepped in hoping to help solve the ongoing issue, for which charges have not been filed...

Free carnival rides all day are only part of the fun planned for the seventh annual Purdy Festival on Saturday in the city parks and school grounds.

Purdy City Council members discussed preparations for the Purdy Festival on Saturday and discussed street improvements last week. Police Chief Jackie Lowe said Highway C will be closed from Front to Fifth Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Traffic will be detoured from Commercial to Washington to Ninth Street to route around park activities. ...

Using technology in the classroom, an ever-evolving strategy, offered some innovations as Ashley Brown and Kay Wright, business teachers and two "technology gurus" for the Purdy school district, provided an update of their latest strategies for members of the Purdy school board...

1. What’s your vision for the long-term future of county dispatching? As I travel through Barry county I have heard no complaints about our our 911 dispatching system, only concerns about response time. I would immediately go to work with the ambulance district and Sheriff Davis to improve the response time for all Barry county citizens. This will require a hard look at the existing systems and process in order to become more efficient...

1. What’s your vision for the long-term future of county dispatching? Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 is a standalone political entity by State Statute (Missouri Revised Statute 190.335.8 ) that has no affiliation with the Barry County Commission. ...

1. What’s your vision for the long-term future of county dispatching? 911 does all the dispatching for Barry County at no cost.  I cannot vision a better deal. 2. If you were to win the presiding commissioner position, would you intend to run in future elections?  Is so, how many?...

1. If you win the election, what are your plans for the future? Do you plan to continue running in future elections, and if so how many? If elected, I plan on continuing in office as long as I feel I can contribute and make a difference for Barry County...

1. If you win the election, what are your plans for the future? Do you plan to continue running in future elections, and if so how many? My plans for the future will be to serve the citizens of barry County to the best of my ability. I do not have control of my future, but if God continues to bless me with good health my plan is to run in future elections...

1. If you win the election, what are your plans for the future? Do you plan to continue running in future elections, and if so how many? My future plans for the office will be to keep providing a prompt and accurate service of recording public records and maintain them with the most updated technology possible. ...

1. If you win the election, what are your plans for the future? Do you plan to continue running in future elections, and if so how many? If I win the election, I do plan on running in future elections as well. I may in fact continue running even if I do not win. I have a strong desire to help my community and am not one to give up easy...

The Monett Artists’ Guild production of “Godspell” drew an audience of 400 people over the three weekend shows at the Monett High School Performing Arts Center.

Governmental bodies often put up their surplus equipment for sale after they buy replacements, and sealed bids for surplus equipment are usually cash offers, except in the case of one offer made for the Cassville school district’s surplus brush hog...

Nearly four years ago, on Sept. 2, 2014, kindergarten teacher and grant writer Mandy Mattingly received a birthday gift she would never forget — word that the Exeter school district receive a $500,000 grant to implement a 21st Century Learning Center afterschool care program...

A Fayetteville, Ark., man has been arrested on four felony charges after allegedly trying to cash forged checks at a bank in Cassville. Thomas Sharp, 48, of Fayetteville, Ark., is charged with four counts of felony forgery, three counts in one case and a single count in another case...

Custodian Rusty Robbins puts a bookshelf back together after laying new carpeting in the Exeter High School office.

The Barry County Sheriff’s Office is asking conceal and carry permit holders to not forget that five-year renewals will begin in August. Anyone who purchased or renewed their permit in August 2013 must renew this year. While a permit is not required in Missouri, anyone without a permit could be arrested in bordering states without constitutional carry. ...

The Barry County Commission and city of Monett have issued burn bans, as drought conditions have elevated the risk of fire. By order of the Barry County Commission, a county wide burn ban has been put in effect until further notice. This ban also includes the ignition of some types of fireworks and may carry a penalty of up to a class A misdemeanor...

Two teenagers were arrested on Friday and face multiple felonies after allegedly being caught with drugs and a firearm in a vehicle following a traffic stop in Cassville. Trystan Merritt, 19, of Cassville, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and misdemeanor possession of marijuana...

After a total of 25 hours spent in eight separate meetings, the Cassville school district has produced a five-year plan it hopes to pass in July addressing community concerns brought up in the strategic planning meetings with the community. Eric White, current intermediate school principal heading into a co-director of learning position in the coming school year, said the community was invited to three hour-long strategic planning meetings, and a school improvement committee comprised of about 20 teachers, learning instructors and administrators met another five times to hammer out the details.. ...

The Roaring River State Park’s spring pool will offer a different scenery this fall, as a $1.9 million project at the roaring River Hatchery will replace flood gates and the pipeline into the hatchery. Paul Spurgeon, manager of the Roaring River Hatchery, which is under the umbrella of the Missouri Department of Conservation, said the project will replace all flood gates in the spring pool, the pipeline into the hatchery and a traveling screen will be installed to catch debris from the pool before it enters the hatchery.. ...

Purdy school board members have made plans for the coming school year, including setting salaries and reviewing construction project on the new storm shelter and performing arts center. Superintendent Steven Chancellor reported the district completed the 2017-2018 school year largely on target, except for paying down the district’s debt faster by $419,900, an extra payment not planned for the coming year. ...

A Purdy man was injured Saturday in a wreck at 10:25 a.m. on Highway 37, one mile north of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, William Burch, 46, of Purdy, was riding a 2017 Triumph motorcycle northbound and was slowing due to traffic when his vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2016 Nissan Versa, being driven by Daniel Henry, 59, of Washburn...

Tyra Rullian, of Seligman, and Jared Ardemagin, of Gateway, Ark., took in the fireworks scenery at the annual Fourth of July celebration in Seligman.

Tyson Goetz eyed a hot dog on the plate of his mom, Elizabeth Goetz, during the picnic that preceded the annual fireworks show Ken and Julie Terry provided for the Purdy community on July 3.

Stephen Schwartz’s musical “Godspell” will be the summer production of the Monett Artists’ Guild, coming to the Monett High School Performing Arts Center next weekend. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $10 at the door...

Registration is underway for events at the seventh annual Purdy Festival, slated for Saturday, July 21, at the city park and school campus. This will be the biggest community gathering of the year in Purdy, offering free carnival rides throughout the day, live music, a softball and livestock show, a vintage vehicle show, concessions and activities...

1. Do you believe the county road districts need to be consolidated? If not, why not? If so, how would you facilitate the change? We had road districts that wanted to consolidate and couldn’t. State law prevented it. We instigated a bill in the State Legislature and got the law passed to enable local road districts to decide for themselves whether or not it was in the best interest of the taxpayers and road districts to consolidate. ...

1. Do you believe the county road districts need to be consolidated? If not, why not? If so, how would you facilitate the change? I would take the first ninety-days to gather information from road commissioners and citizens to get their input on consolidation before making any decisions. I personally believe that we can reduce cost through better communication. We can work together to form a countywide plan that addresses all districts, so all citizens will have safe roads and bridges...

1. Do you believe the county road districts need to be consolidated? If not, why not? If so, how would you facilitate the change? I believe anything that will benefit the taxpayer and improve the roads in Barry County is a great idea. For smaller districts that are struggling with a limited assessed valuation which means fewer tax dollars to purchase equipment and maintain roads, this may be a good plan to consider. ...

Age: 25 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Wastewaster Specialist, Efco Past Experience: Retail Management Education: High School Graduate Website: N/A 1. Why do you want to be Recorder of Deeds? I have a strong desire to serve my community. I think that my strengths would be best suited for the office of Recorder of Deeds...

Age: 53 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Current Chief Deputy Recorder for Barry County Past Experience: In 1996-2006, I was hired by Senator Emory Melton to work at his title company, Barry County Abstract and Title, beginning as searcher and later moving into the closing side of title. ...

Age: 36 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Stay-at-home mom and assist my husband on our three-generation family farm Past Experience: Employee and manager at Cassville License Office Education: High school and Crowder College Website: stillforbcr.com...

Age: 64 Political Party: Republican Current Occupation: Semi-Retired/J.B. Hunt Past Experience: 25+ years in the Consumer Finance and Banking Industry; Management of up to 10 people; Management of the institutions assets, which includes but not necessarily limited to the institutions overall portfolio of loans, making and approving loans such as Mortgage loans, Consumer loans and Business loans; Securities purchased; Performing inside audits of the institution for safety and soundness and reporting the same to the Board of Directors; Performing Compliance Audits and reporting the same to the Board of Directors; Preparation of the Institutions quarterly Call Reports and submitting the same to the regulatory agencies; I have worked closely with the Regulatory Agencies within the Consumer Finance and Banking Industry,those being Missouri Division of Finance, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. ...

Preparations are underway for the annual picnic on July 20 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church at Stones Prairie, northeast of Purdy.

Viney Creek Recreation Area is inviting the public to an informational meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on July 19 at the Golden Baptist Church, lower level of the Fellowship Hall. The public is invited to share comments about the recreation area. Missouri State Parks staff will be on hand to provide information and to answer questions. ...

Shell Knob's annual Fire and Thunder fireworks show has been canceled, as the vendor the Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce uses has its supply destroyed in a fire on Tuesday.

Teachers in the Cassville school district have received a pay bump for the coming school year, as the base pay has been raised $125 to an even $36,000. Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said discussions with the Cassville Community Teachers Association (CCTA) and the board left both parties satisfied in the change. The hike marks a $1,250 raise since the 2014-2015 school year, when base pay was $34,750...

A public meeting meeting has been scheduled by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on July 10 to discuss major improvements on Highway 37 between Monett and the Arkansas state line. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. ...

The Roaring River State Park’s spring pool will offer a different scenery this fall, as a $1.9 million project at the Roaring River Hatchery will replace flood gates and the pipeline into the hatchery. Paul Spurgeon, manager of the Roaring River Hatchery, which is under the umbrella of the Missouri Department of Conservation, said the project will replace all flood gates in the spring pool, the pipeline into the hatchery and a traveling screen will be installed to catch debris from the pool before it enters the hatchery.. ...

Barry Electric Cooperative bills will look different for customers in coming months, as the company’s new “Fair Pricing: Shift to $ave” program is gradually implemented. Mark Aeilts, CEO and general manager of the Cooperative, said the plan is a two-pronged approach to more fairly charge customers for use and also give customers another tool to lower monthly bills...

The final First on Front Street concert, hosted by First State Bank of Purdy, will be held at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park in downtown Monett on Friday. The final concert will start almost an hour earlier than its two predecessors, as music by the acoustic duo Screen Door Serenade will begin shortly after 5 p.m...

Shasta Sanders, right, 20, of Washburn, in her last year of showing hogs at the Barry County Fair, took first place in her market hogs division and overall grand champion at the event Saturday.