News

The following are names of U.S. military servicemen from Barry County who were killed in action over the last 100 years: WWI Walford Anderson Boyd Browning Charles Bruton Nellow Burkett Murrell Cook Fred C. Cooper Lawrence Courdin Green Easley Walter Fehring...

November 11 is nationally known as Veterans Day, and this year marks the 100 anniversary of the end of World War I. WWI began on June 28, 1914, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, and the war lasted more than four years until Nov. 11, 1918...

On Sunday, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the U.S. recognizes veterans for their service to the country. On Friday, area school supported those who have served and are serving in the military for the United States of America...

Cassville High School held its annual Veterans Day Assembly Friday, honoring those who have served and recognizing one veteran in particular — former JROTC instructor Col. Chad Sparks. Following the JROTC’s presentation of the 13 folds of the U.S. Flag, JROTC cadet Cassville student and JROTC cadet Ethan Youngman presented the folded flag to Sparks...

Dr. Lisa Roark, owner of Roark Family Health and Medical Spa, has proposed to the city of Cassville her plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Cassville. Roark provided a packet of information to the City of Cassville, including letters of support and non-opposition from local businesses and residents. ...

A Washburn man on the run was arrested on Monday and now faces nine felony charges. Gabriel Delossantos, 42, of Washburn, is charged with first-degree assault and resisting arrest in one case, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest in a second case, and resisting arrest in a third case...

The Southwest school district has made some changes this year by offering unique classes aimed at building a bridge from education to career opportunities. Carl Hendrix, Southwest High School teacher, has now taken on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses...

The Cassville school district is continuing its Character Education program, which aims to teach students important traits and skills to help them in all aspects of life. Jeff Swadley, Cassville Intermediate School principal, said the purpose is to teach the children how to be honest, respectful, how to have integrity, be responsible and show compassion...

The City of Wheaton has been working since 2008 on projects that include replacing sidewalks and street lights, and now that it is working on Phase 3 of the project, the city is setting up applications for Phase 4. The MoDOT Transportation Enhance-ment (TE) grant, is a program that provides funding for transportation related areas, other than highways or bridge construction...

Randy Baker, right, who served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1977, accepts a letter from Avaley Foltz during the Veterans Day Assembly Friday.

The Scott Tech JROTC performed the Presentation of Colors Friday during the Southwest school Veterans Day assembly.

The Wheaton Fire department presented the colors during the Wheaton school district’s Veterans Day assembly on Friday.

Oh No! Great uncle Simon was found dead in the middle of the night, and everyone was a suspect.

Jolly Mill Park will host its annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Open House on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each night. Refreshments will be provided. Santa Claus will be available for children both nights, and children are welcome to bring an ornament to put on Santa’s tree at the park. Jolly Mill is located off Highway 60, five miles west of Monett, going south on Farm Road 1010 and west on Farm Road 2025...

A mistrial has been declared in the case of Matthew Jackson, of Holiday Island, Ark., who is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly stabbing a man to death in Golden in December 2017. According to a docket sheet from the jury trial on Monday in the courtroom of Judge Jack Goodman, by agreement, the court declared a mistrial due to contact between a witness and the jury pool. ...

Anyone looking east from Cassville Friday night just after 7 p.m. saw something unusual — a meteor...

An active shooter training exercise at the Purdy schools on Monday brought law enforcement, firefighters and ambulance crews to the school for the second time in a year and a half. Superintendent Steven Chancellor said the exercise is part of an ongoing effort to make the school safer. ...

After serving six terms of four years each, Cherry Warren, Barry County’s presiding commissioner, has been presented with a plaque of appreciation. According to Alan Cook, Newton County associate commissioner, Warren was presented with a plaque on Oct. 17, at the Roaring River Emory Melton Conference Center...

An Aurora man is facing a total of eight felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly shooting a handgun at three people in a vehicle on Farm Road 1180 and Farm Road 2030 on Sept. 1. Calyn Short, 20, of Aurora is charged with three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and misdemeanor property damage...

Jimmie Barton, Cassville middle school principal, started a program called the Wildcat wellness check, for which he sets aside time every two weeks to call parents of students who have been noticed doing positive things. Barton said the assistant principal and he have their own networks that they go to, outside of their own district. The goal is to hear other ideas from different districts, and bounce things off one another...

The First Baptist Church of Cassville is partnering up with The Pack Shack of Bentonville, Ark., for a meal packing event to help Grace for Orphans Ministry. All the meals will be sent to an orphanage in Haiti. Scott Conover, First Baptist Church youth pastor, said the Pack Shack will bring people to the First Baptist Church in Cassville, set up and run the party. Then the volunteers from the First Baptist Church will pack the meals for the orphanage...

Outback in the Ozarks is an overnight endurance relay that challenges participants in the spirit of teamwork and fun — and endurance. The race begins in Eureka Springs, Ark., and winds through 205 miles of the scenic “Ozark Outback,” finishing up near Fayetteville, Ark...

The Wheaton school district is making strides to do its part in cleaning up air pollution by replacing a bus that emits high levels of emissions. Through Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Volkswagen Trust Grant, Wheaton school district could receive up to $22,000 to help with its efforts...

The Cassville school district hosted a Stop the Bleed first aid course for its bus drivers this week. Bus drivers are with the students on routes throughout the day, where they could run into a situation of needing first aid skills while waiting for help...

Addison Keates, 11, of Washburn, painted the faces on many, including Rebecca Swanepoel, 12, also of Washburn.

Maddox Younger and Maddison Younger, 7-year-old twins, of Exeter, played the ring toss game set up by Cindy Puryear at the First Christian Church on Wednesday night.

The wheelchair races proved to be a popular event at the 23rd annual Golden Age Games, held Friday at Monett High School.

Megan Shrum and Stacy Hendrix, wives of Washburn firefighters, dished up smoking hot chili, cornbread, pulled pork and baked potatoes to Kit Eagan on Saturday during the Washburn firefighter fundraiser.

Elyja Terry, 6, in a Flash costume, showed up Wednesday night at Seligman City Hall for the trunk or treat event. Along with his little sister, Lauryn Terry, 4.

Brittany Phillips was one of about 500 people to cast their ballots in the General Election before noon at the Family Life Center.

The City of Cassville is advising residents to expect to see traditional surveyor crews in the area, as well as aerial surveying using a remotely controlled drone, over the next several weeks. The survey work is being done to record utility and topographic data in the vicinity of planned water system improvements. ...

The following are unofficial results from the 2018 Midterm Election in Barry County.

Halloween is the time for the spookiest of things, but as people get older, they sometimes realize those scariest moments are actually quite laughable. People always tell spooky stories around this time of year, and here is a list of stories from the community that just might make someone laugh in the face of horror...

There will be three medical marijuana initiatives on the November ballot for voters to weigh in on — Amendment 2, Amendment 3 and Proposition C — and local Pharmacist Logan Whitley, part owner of Whitley’s Pharmacy, said voters should vote no on all three initiatives until there is more research done on the issue...

A 144-year-old jail cell that was manufactured in St. Louis in 1874, and built into the third floor of the courthouse in 1885, recently found is resting place at the Barry County Museum. The iron cell measures approximately 12 square feet and 7 feet tall, and it weighs approximately 10,000 pounds...

After two consecutive months of gains in sales tax revenue compared to a year ago, a predictable slacking of momentum finally arrived in October, sending receipts down by 10 percent overall but leaving four municipal recipients showing gains. Barry County's two .5 percent sales taxes each produced more than $166,557, each down by more than $11,900. Each of those two taxes has yielded around $1,820,000 in 2018, up by more than $60,000 over a year ago...

A Washburn woman has been charged with possession of a controlled substance after she was allegedly found with methamphetamine following a pursuit on Oct. 23. According to a probable cause statement filed by Deputy Kayla Strahley, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, there was a short pursuit on Highway 90 in Washburn where Rachel Rose, 33, of Washburn was a passenger...

Southwest schools has received a donation for vision and hearing services, without which could potentially hinder students learning. Tosha Tilford, Southwest school superintendent said she reached out to Jeff Neil at Arvest Bank in Pea Ridge, Ark., on Aug. 27 in an email...

After reviewing the circulation statistics for the last several months, Gina Milburn, director of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, recommended the Pierce City Branch open an additional day of the week on Thursdays. The move would align the branch to the recent addition of Thursdays at the Shell Knob Branch...

The Wheaton school district has made a play for a new and improved fence for the softball fence. Lance Massey, Wheaton school district superintendent, said the softball fence blew over back in June, after the summer ball program was finished using the fields...

The Washburn Fire Department is made up of volunteers who cover a large area for fire protection. This weekend, it is trying to raise money to fund its equipment needs. Judy Brooks, treasurer for the Washburn Fire Department, said the festivities begin at 4 p.m. on Nov. 3, and the event will be hosted inside of the Washburn Elementary School cafeteria. Meal prices are $7 for adults and $5 for children 10-and-under...

Shell Knob in the Spotlight (SKITS) has selected its cast and is preparing for its fall play, “Murder’s in the Heir.” The play will be Nov. 9 and 10 at 6:30 p.m., and Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at Central Community United Methodist Church in Shell Knob. Barb Van Dusen, president of SKITS said the fun comedy includes audience participation, so people should come prepared to laugh...

For at least two more times, the McDowell Gold Jubilee will offer live music performances at the historic McDowell school, east of Purdy. The longest running live music event in the area, the Gold Jubilee is open to players and singers, offering time slots until the evening is full. The hallmark of the event has been live gospel, bluegrass, folk and regional music...

In the northeast corner of the square in front of the Barry County Courthouse, there stands a plaque that describes the Secession Convention held in Cassville from Oct. 29 to Nov. 7, 1861. Barry County was officially formed in 1835, encompassing the entire Southwest corner of the state. Eventually, several counties were formed out of Barry County, including, Newton, McDonald, Lawerence, Stone, Jasper and Dade. Cassville became the county seat in 1844, and the city was named after Lewis Cass...

Karen Shipp, left, of Springdale, Ark., gets a cup of chili from Sharra Westlin while Vanessa Ramos, center, serves up another patron.

Taylor Weaver had a blue disco ball backdrop for effect as she sang “Meditation” by Doris Day Saturday night at The Show, held in the Cassville Event Center.

Doctor Connor Madsen, 3, of Cassville, enjoyed high jumps in the bounce house available Sunday at the United Methodist Church annual trunk or treat event.

Grandma Mattie Blair bought hot dogs for her grandchildren, Christian Renfrew and Corbin Stover, before the costume contest at the Wheaton Historical Fall Festival on Saturday.

A Christmas Shopping Extravaganza will be held on Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, located at 210 W. 18th St. in Cassville. More than 20 different direct sales and hand-craft vendors will be attending, and more are being added each day. ...

Dr. Lisa Roark, owner of Roark Family and Medical Spa, supports medical marijuana, as she wants safer and more effective ways to treat certain medical conditions. One of the ways to do that, she said, is by passing one of the three medical marijuana initiatives on the Nov. 4 ballot — but only one...