News

Four people were injured Saturday when a boat exploded at Kings River Marina on Table Rock Lake in Shell Knob. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 1995 Cuddy Cabin boat was fueled and exploded when Norman Tudor, 63, of Verona, turned the ignition key...

The Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET) has released its statistics for the first six months of 2019, showing Barry County accounted for about 37 percent of the 31,136 grams of meth seized over a five-county area. ODET is made up of eight detectives that cover Jasper, Barton, Newton, McDonald and Barry counties. ...

After five years of operation by Missouri State Parks, the use of Viney Creek Recreational Area looks to be coming to an end. Missouri State Parks Director Ben Ellis said the organization does not intend to renew the lease that saved the campground and lake access point in 2014. Cost of operating the Area versus spending state money on other area parks was the deciding factor...

Each year the local school districts’ boards of education look over the salary schedule and other information to hand assess pay, and this year, each school district in Barry County has approved raises for staff. Tosha Tilford, Southwest superintendent, recommended adding $1,000 to the base of the certified salary schedule, $1,500 to the principal’s salaries, $1,000 to the non-certified directors schedules, $25 to the base of all non-certified staff salaries and $250 to the base of the bus drivers salaries and 8 cents per mile.. ...

The First Baptist Church of Cassville has hosted a day camp during the summer for four years, and each year, children are asked to raise funds to go to an organization in need. This year, the children got to help on a more local level. Jeff Allee, education and recreation ministry at First Baptist Church, said during Camp SPARK, there were 200 children registered and an average of 177 children attended each day...

On the third Saturday of July, for eight years, people have come together to enjoy a day in Purdy. State Highway C is blocked off for hours while people enjoy food, activities and fellowship at the annual Purdy Festival. Renae Neill, one of the Purdy Festival organizers, said she has been a part of the festival since it started...

Unfortunate circumstances can leave property “up in the air” in terms of responsibility, and the city of Wheaton has seen such issues, which leads to other concerns for the city. Clint Danforth, Wheaton police chief, said there are a few homes in city limits that are considered abandoned...

Two people were injured Saturday when two boats collided at about 9 p.m. at Eagle Rock Marina. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Rebecca Burt, 60, of Eureka Springs, Ark., was driving a 2000 Stratos southbound when her vessel struck the left rear of a southbound 2000 Javelin, being driven by Daryl Ickes, 47, of Washburn...

The city of Washburn recently updated some requirements set by the state including a new online payment option, as well as costs of a number of fines that have changed state-wide. Emily Arnett, Washburn city clerk, said the city attorney sent her information on the new fine schedule approved by UFSC...

Sawyer and Kari Asbill enjoyed a few rounds of cornhole Friday at the Root for the Home Team event.

The Barry Lawrence Regional Library has been hosting “A Universe of Stories” as a part of the summer reading club.

At last week’s special meeting of the Purdy City Council, Mayor Bo Prock unveiled a map created by Ace Pipe Cleaning showing a very extensive list of sources where stormwater runoff has been able to pour into the sanitary sewer system.

An annual highlight of the picnic at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Stones Prairie, coming Friday at 6 p.m. on the church grounds, is the drawing for attractive hand made quilts and afghans.

A Benefit Barbecue will be held in the Purdy school cafeteria from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 2. sponsored by the Purdy FFA, FBLA and FCCLA, a plate is $10 and additional donations will be accepted. Carry-out is available. There will be pulled pork, sides, desserts and beverages. Proceeds will benefit the Propps family...

A man died on Wednesday following a wreck at 3 p.m. at 34312 Hwy. 86 in Eagle Rock. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jamie Merchant, 44, of Berryville, Ark., was driving a 2017 Jeep Cherokee eastbound and attempted to make a left turn. Dylan Welker, 21, of Eagle Rock, driving a Yamaha 450R, was westbound and struck the front of Merchant’s vehicle, causing him to be ejected from the ATV...

Two well known bi-county Republicans have now announced their intentions to run for the 29th District state senator seat. Cassville attorney David Cole announced his intention to seek the post this week, following an announcement earlier this month by 157th District State Representative Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove)...

The Cassville school district has decided for the coming school year to put more focus on subgroup programs for students, including more staff and restructured intervention services. Traci Mitchell, Cassville co-director of learning, said the special education subgroup is one of the targets...

Mental health in students has become kind of a hot topic over the last few years, and school districts are looking into more and better options to offer its students, just like the Wheaton school district, which recently partnered up with Access Medical for the upcoming school year...

Jeff Reed is a local man that was recently diagnosed with stage 4 Glioblastoma brain cancer, and his family and friends have been putting together a benefit in hopes of raising funds to help pay for treatment and travel expenses. Doug “Booger” Reed, Jeff Reed’s brother, said Reed is traveling to Houston every three weeks for three days for treatment...

The city of Wheaton has approved a $109,270 bid for a significant street paving project this summer, as the city received bids from two companies and went with Blevins Asphalt Construction Co. David Shockley, Wheaton mayor, said the city received a bid from Hutchens Construction Co, which was $104,882, but left out an estimated additional $15,000 worth of work for Goosetree Street...

Roaring River State Park has an exciting summer planned for patrons, including Bluegrass Music at the River, as bands have come together to play at the Roaring River amphitheater throughout the summer. Joel Topham, manager of Roaring River State Park, said the park has done events like this in prior summers, but not to this extent...

The city of Washburn had a recent discussion based on stray or abandoned dogs in city limits, but were unable to make any changes to ordinances already in place. Emily Arnett, Washburn city clerk, said after concerned individuals in city limits approached her about the amount of dogs running around town, she brought the topic up to the board in the June city council meeting...

Booming, lights and color came from Shell Knob on Thursday, as people gathered to watch the fireworks display.

Lakynn Jenkins, 1-1/2, of Springfield, enjoyed some time on the swings Thursday during the Wheaton Freedom Jam.

Celebration was in the air in Seligman on Thursday as the city came together to celebrate the 4th of July. The Flyin Buzzards had a blast playing music for patrons as they played and waited for the fireworks to start.

Flags were flying and spirits were high on Wednesday evening as the Purdy community gathered around Highway C for the fireworks show provided by Ken and Julie Terry.

A grease fire on the stove at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Pryor around 7 p.m. on Monday at 9742 Farm Road 2100, southeast of Purdy, brought 18 firefighters from Butterfield and the Purdy Fire District.

Fire destroyed a camper owned by Scotty Redshaw, located on the farm of Marge Redshaw on Farm Road 2062, north of Purdy, Tuesday morning.

The Exeter Corn Maze will host the Around the Patch Walk/Run for Autism on Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults and $15 for ages 18-and-under. The event will traverse slight hills on a dirt path around the pumpkin patch, with some rocks. All proceeds benefit the Barry-Lawrence County Development Center. ...

Eric White, right, Director of Learning at Cassville school district, is pictured with George Foster, left, and Nikki Foster.

The city of Cassville suffered a major flooding event Wednesday, focused on the channel that runs parallel to 11th Street. According to reports from the National Weather Service, flash flooding was ongoing around Flat Creek on Mill and 10th streets, with four water rescues performed by 6:42 p.m....

The Cassville school district $4 million no-tax bond issue was passed by the voters in April, and since then, all $4 million worth of bonds have been sold. Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said political subdivisions, when it comes to something large like capital projects, in this case building new facilities and renovating facilities, generally pursue bond issues...

Purdy City Council will likely see a new member when it meets next week, following a resignation announced at the June meeting. Mayor Bo Prock announced that Austin Hammen resigned due to difficulty attending meeting. Re-elected in 2019 to a second term, Hammen represented the West Ward...

Halfway through 2019, most Barry County recipients of sales tax have seen income gains, while a couple municipalities have fallen far behind last year’s numbers. Barry County’s two half-cent sales taxes supporting the general fund and road maintenance each produced more than $186,509 in June, a gain of nearly $2,100 for each over a year ago. It was the second year in a row for a June gain and the third year the calendar year sum has reflected a gain by mid-year, even if just barely...

Purdy Special Road District commissioners plan approximately three miles of chip and seal resurfacing as part of its summer road projects, with an eye on four additional miles if funds stretch that far. According to James Fuller, employee for the district, crews have spent weeks patching potholes. The only advantage to the proliferation of potholes, Fuller said, was that many were deep enough to actually hold the patch...

The Southwest school district approved adding $169,000 from its district budget to the original $2.2 million bond issue Proposition K.I.D.S., Keep Improving District Schools, that passed on April 2, and projects are planned to be completed this summer and ready for students at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year...

As the 2018-2019 school year came to an end, Purdy school district took some time to ask what things staff and teachers would like to see during their inservice days for the next school year. Mindi Gates, Purdy superintendent, said there were six areas that are all based on professional development survey that the staff gets every spring...

Three Cassville residents, including a toddler, were injured Tuesday in a wreck at 7:49 a.m. on Highway 248, five miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Shannon Rhea, 25, of Cassville, was driving a 2012 Jeep Patriot westbound when her vehicle struck the rear of a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, being driven by Carmella Buckner, 41, of Cassville...

The Cassville United Methodist Church is working with Heartland Camps to offer children a week-long adventure starting on Monday. Micah Boise, UMC youth pastor, said this is the second time UMC has teamed up with Heartland Camps. “I started this position last year on July 1, so my first week of work was doing this day camp last year,” he said. “Day camps are a way that churches can extend service to the community.”...

Cassville Health and Rehab hosted a fireworks show Friday for its residents and the community. Kyle Troutman/editor@cassville-democrat.com

Drake Thomas, right, as “Ruth,” dances with one of the pirates in an opening number of “The Pirates of Penzance” Saturday at the Cassville Event Center.

On Saturday, people came together at the Southwest ballfields to play games, eat food, listen to music and watch fireworks in an event hosted by the Mission Baptist Church.

The new scoreboard at Cassville will soon be lighting up for different sporting events at the school.

Weston Roy, 5, of Purdy, accepts his first in class award during the hog showing at the Barry County Fair Saturday, held at the Exeter Corn Maze.

Roaring River State Park invites the public to come out and enjoy some family friendly entertainment with Movie Night Under the Stars. The fun begins at 9 p.m. on July 13 with a showing of “Smallfoot.” The movie series is sponsored by the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library as part of the summer library program. ...

On June 17, Steven Chancellor attended his last school board meeting as superintendent in Purdy. Having served since the 2012-2013 school year, Chancellor led the district through some major changes, including two major construction projects. “First-time superintendents average two or three years on the job, especially in small districts,” Chancellor said. ...

When most people hear about the operations commonly referred to as the “Mexican drug cartels,” they firmly believe the problems remain contained south of the border. However, according to Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe, that is not the reality local law enforcement officials are experiencing...

The city of Seligman is planning renovations on Frost Street, and although the work has hit a few road blocks, the city is making headway on the project. Brian Nichols, Seligman city clerk, said Frost Street has not been repaved in the last 10 years...

The Purdy school district is implementing a plan aimed at reducing stress for students during state testing time. Julie Dalton, Purdy pre-k through sixth-grade principal, said the idea came to her from Superintendent Mindi Gates. “She sent me the link, and I took my own spin on it,” she said. ...

The Cassville school district has put a heavy focus on early childhood development in the last few years, and the numbers are steadily increasing. Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said the focus on early childhood has been well received by the community...