News

The Purdy Board of Education announced on May 13 that Mindi Gates, Purdy associate superintendent, will start the 2019-2020 school year as the new superintendent, succeeding Steven Chancellor. Gates has worked in the Purdy school district for six years, two as an instructional coach and four as the associate superintendent...

Shelter dogs from the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary got some much needed publicity recently, as a bride from Springfield decided to have her bridesmaids walk down the aisle with dogs instead of flowers. Sherah Farris, director of operations at Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary, said it was a really fun wedding, and it was the second time the Haven was able to do it...

Barry County is receiving a grant aimed to help people in the drug court system stay on the right path. Chrissy Fortner, treatment court administrator 39th Judicial Court, said Barry County Adult Treatment Drug Court is now in its 11th year. Stone County is in its 15th year, and Lawrence County is in its 8th year...

Organizers of the 53rd annual Barry County Youth Camp, taking place at Camp Smokey at Roaring River State Park, have released the bus schedule to pick campers up in Monett, Purdy and Cassville. This year's theme is "Summer Road Trip." Buses will pick Monett campers up at 8:30 a.m. ...

The annual Cassville high school Alumni Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and dinner served at 6 p.m. Attendees will enjoy dinner, fellowship and a short program at $15 per person to attend. Becky Henningson, CHS Alumni Association member, said the banquet has always been scheduled for the Saturday before Memorial Day...

A Shell Knob man was injured and arrested following a wreck at 2 p.m. Sunday on Highway 39, five miles south of Aurora. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Shaun Flygare, 36, of Shell Knob, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado northbound when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a southbound 2019 Toyota 4Runner, being driven by Sherry Deetz, 58, of Broken Arrow, Okla., and a southbound 2012 Ford F150, being driven by Cody Williams, 34, of Republic...

Caliden Hertzel, right, 6, got some help from his father, Zach Hertzel, while fishing for trout at Kids’ Fishing Day Saturday.

Cassville choir members sang for their classmates and families gathered for graduation Sunday.

Teachers lined the street Friday to wave goodbye to students on the last day of Cassville school.

Gail Reed, Barry County Neighborhood Center director, spoke Thursday about the programs and work done at the Center during its Open House.

Friday was warm and sunny, and just like a normal summer day, people enjoying summer foods.

The Cassville Senior Center celebrated its older community by bringing seniors together for a day on information and fun on Friday.

The Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association will hold its annual business meeting on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Church and Cemetery. All community members interested in the cemetery are invited to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated and provide for maintenance and upkeep of the church and grounds. Donations will be accepted at the cemetery or can be mailed to Secretary Diana Cope, 10404 E. Fifth St., Butterfield, MO 65625. For more information, people may call Cope at 417-342-4900...

A Springfield man who has been missing since 2012 has been identified as the skeletal remains found by Barry County deputies on March 26, 2018, south of Jenkins. According to a Barry County Sheriff’s Office press release and Det. Doug Henry, the remains were of Ronald Jessup Brightwell, 35, of Springfield...

The Exeter High School academic team fought hard to bring home a state championship for the first time in the school’s history. Michael Pisanti, Exeter academic team coach, said he was the assistant coach his first year, and this is his second year as head coach...

Speakers for graduation for the Class of 2019 at Purdy High School focused on personal reflections, meaningful memories and encouragement heading into new territory...

Based in Webb City, Charlie 22 Outdoors is a non-profit organization dedicated to veterans and the outdoors, and the group is coming to Barry County next week to camp out at Roaring River State Park. Scott Hettinger founded Charlie 22 Outdoors as a result of a passion for serving those who have already served...

A Purdy man is facing a felony a two misdemeanors stemming from two occasions where he allegedly inappropriately touched a minor less than 17 years of age. Lloyd Anderson, 26, of Purdy, is charged with fourth-degree child molestation and two counts of misdemeanor supplying liquor to a minor...

The Barry County Community Choir is warming up their vocal cords again, planning a spring concert for Thursday at 7 p.m. Mary Richmiller, co-director of the Barry County Community Choir, said members from all over the county participate in the choir...

Roaring River Health and Rehab is preparing for a week of fun to celebrate National Nursing Home Week, ending with an open house on Friday from 1-4 p.m. Norma Kirkpatrick, Roaring River Health and Rehab activities director, said it is a great opportunity for people to come in and see what happens in a nursing home...

Hundreds of people took to the street Saturday at the annual Power of Pink walk/run, which benefits local woman battling breast cancer.

Wheaton Class of 2019 graduates celebrated their accomplishment by tossing their hats and spraying silly string on one another to end commencement ceremonies Thursday.

A group of Southwest seniors played “Man in the Mirror” Friday at the high school’s graduation.

Shayla Sports, left, and Audrey Tripp, smile while watching a senior flashback video shown at Exeter’s commencement ceremonies Saturday.

Three men graduated Drug Court on Thursday, with proud and smiling faces.

Mothers were celebrated last week at the Cassville Senior Center, where moms came to eat talk and have their names drawn for flowers.

The next canvas painting project at the Cassville Branch Library is “Blue Butterflies” and will be held on May 28. There will be a 12:30 p.m. session and a second session at 6 p.m. Adults and high school age teens may attend. All materials and instruction are provided. ...

Lisa Kalp filed Monday to run as the Democratic candidate for the 158th District state representative seat, previously held by Republican Scott Fitzpatrick of Shell Knob. Kalp, a resident of the Star City area in rural Butterfield, is a first-time candidate and one of two given serious consideration by the Democratic Central Committee in Barry County...

About 100 people were on hand Tuesday as the 158th District Republican Legislative Committee met at the historic Barry County Courthouse, ultimately to nominate Scott Cupps as the Republican to run in the Nov. 5 special election for the State House seat left open by now-State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick...

People across Barry County may have recently noticed pinwheels in front of businesses and homes. They are part of a program coordinated by the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri to bring attention to child abuse prevention. Aryn Crawford, Community Outreach and Development Coordinator for the Children’s Center, said April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Pinwheel campaign was establish in 2008...

Online learning isn’t anything new in today’s school systems, but Purdy has some ideas for the next school year to accommodate the students who take online courses. Steven Chancellor, Purdy superintendent, said there are a couple of different virtual learning options offered in Purdy...

The Missouri Department of Conservation and The Department of Natural Resources will present Kids Fishing Day and Nature Festival on May 18 at Roaring River State Park. Young anglers will have opportunities to catch fish, connect with nature and have fun participating in the many activities offered to parents and children. At 5 p.m., a large drawing will be held, and many prizes will be given away...

Starting in 1984, to help raise $250,000 for local 6-year-old boy Joe Starchman get a heart and lung transplant, the Little Joe Trust Fund has since transitioned into scholarship fund for local students. Jim LeCompte, board trustee and attorney, said in 1984 the board consisted of five members that came together to raise the $250,000 needed for aftercare for Starchman to get the transplant...

Carinna Brookes was all smiles after being named Queen Saturday at the Cassville High School prom.

Now in its 54th year, the Barry County Youth Camp is slated to get underway on May 28 and continue through May 31 at Camp Smokey, located at Roaring River State Park. The theme of this year's celebration is "Summer Road Trip," and Barry County children ages 7-10, recommended by their school counselors, will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of crafts, field trips, educational programs, swimming, games and more. ...

The 50 members of the Class of 2019 at Purdy High School head to commencement exercises at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the high school gym. This will be the final year that Purdy names its top two graduates, having switched to a Greek honor system. The valedictorian is Hannah Reid, daughter of Steve and Tami Reid of Purdy. The salutatorian is Emma Harkey, daughter of Amy Harkey, of Purdy, and Sam Harkey, of Cassville...

The Wheaton school district took tips given during the intruder on campus drill and made changes to locks and door handles across campus, and the district also worked with the city of Wheaton recently to help finish the city’s sidewalk project by making an easement for the property...

Southwest band members helped community members get plates and drinks during the Southwest band auction and chili dinner on Saturday.

Cassville YMCA hosted the Health Kids Day Olympics on April 27 that was full of outdoor challenges.

The next canvas painting project at the Cassville Branch Library is “Blue Butterflies” and will be held on May 28. There will be a 12:30 p.m. session and a second session at 6 p.m. Adults and high school age teens may attend. All materials and instruction are provided. ...

The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-0 tornado struck Cassville on April 30. According to a Service report, the tornado tracked from two miles south-southwest of Cassville to one mile west-northwest of Cassville. The path was intermittent, lasting 1.89 miles and reaching a max width of 75 yards...

In McDowell on Tuesday evening, a man pulled into the flood waters on the Flatcreek low-water bridge.

The National Weather Service in Springfield has confirmed an EF-1 tornado struck the Wheaton area Tuesday, damaging businesses, homes and utilities in the city. Damage to the area included the Southwest Auction Services LLC, Dollar General, homes and multiple trees and power poles. The twister started in Stella and was on the ground for 12 miles with a 0.5-mile-wide path, lifting about 5 miles northeast of Wheaton. Wind speeds maxed out at 110 miles per hour...

Gov. Mike Parson has called for a special election on Nov. 5 to fill the 158th House District (Barry, Lawrence, Stone Counties) seat, previously held by Scott Fitzpatrick, who was appointed Missouri State Treasurer in December 2018. “It’s important that we work quickly to fill vacancies in the people’s house to ensure that Missourians have representation here in Jefferson City,” Parson said. ...

Senior sisters Madison Renkoski, left, and McKenzie Renkoski, right, show off some signature moves as they dance the night away at Purdy’s 2019 Prom.

On April 13, two State Highway Patrol troopers, Travis L. Coffey, and Cpl. Joel E. Givens of Troop D, were awarded for their life saving actions following a shooting. Givens said Sept. 22, 2018, started off like any other night, and he didn’t expect the events that came to pass...

Newly built, the Purdy schools district’s FEMA building has the potential to offer more than a storm shelter. Steven Chancellor, Purdy superintendent, said the Purdy FEMA building was used for a concert open to the public. “This was the first non-school group that has leased the building,” he said. “When they first asked us if they could rent it, they said they didn’t need much, just the building to play in.”...

Students are constantly pushed to read at the grade level that they should be, rather than to just enjoy reading. Julie Dalton, Purdy pre-k through sixth-grade principal, said she aims to keep her students interested in reading by challenging them with the Million Words Club...

The Cassville Senior Center, along with Senior Age, are working together to bring a stress busting class to Cassville to help caregivers with the stress in their lives while caring for family members with Alzheimer’s or other related dementias. Sherry Waters, Senior Age wellness coordinator, said the course is over nine weeks and is aimed to help caregivers cope with stress...

The Cassville industry technology class came back first-place winners in the bio-diesel category of the state’s SuperMileage Challenge on April 16. Marcus Reynolds, Cassville industrial technology teacher, said this is the first year the class entered into the bio-diesel category...