News

The Cassville school district is changing the position of assistant superintendent, now becoming two co-directors of learning positions. According to Dr. Richard Asbill, the two administrative roles, which will be filled by Eric White and Traci Mitchell, will replace the position filled by Jill LeCompte, who is retiring...

On the afternoon of May 7, Cassville resident Dawnmarie Beck and her family, who were in the process of moving, were setting up their new residence when a call from a neighbor derailed their plans. “We had gone to the house we were renting to set it up and began getting calls saying [our current] house was on fire, so we went back to town and there were fire trucks and police cars everywhere,” Beck said...

Evan Still, right, and Josh Clay, left, laugh during a portion of Tanner Leonhardt's co-valedictorian speech in which Leonhardt discussed his voice change over the years and played his voicemail message from when he was in fifth grade..

Purdy High School graduates received advice and encouragement during graduation ceremonies on Sunday in the Purdy High School gym. The 45 members of the Class of 2018 for the first time received graduation designations using the Latin system. Ten were designated as cum laude, with grade point averages of 3.5 to 3.74 on a 4.0 scale, earning the recipients a silver stole with black markings. ...

Area residents and churches are coming together to help one of their own after a contractor failed to complete work on the Carr Lane Southern Baptist Church building in recent weeks. Karen Pounds, one of about 30 church members and part of the building committee, said the church spent a total of $11,000 with a contractor to complete work like siding and concrete, but the contractor continued to ask for more money and eventually left the job unfinished and threatened a Pounds said church members sought the advice of Cassville Attorney Blake Fields, but found their legal options were more costly than beneficial and it would be better to just do the work themselves as time and manpower allowed.. ...

Exeter High School valedictorian Maycee Blake gives her address to students and their friends and family at the school's graduation ceremony Friday.

Concluding the graduation ceremony on Thursday, the 30 Wheaton grads tossed their caps, popped confetti and sprayed one another with silly string. More photos from the ceremony may be found at: http://www.cassville-democrat.com/gallery/32842

A rural Jenkins man is facing six felony charges after allegedly shooting at another man in his vehicle. Thomas Foster, 71, of rural Jenkins, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault and first-degree property damage...

A new medical scholarship from a local doctor is evidence that residents of small towns really do return to their roots and give back to their communities. Dr. Lisa Roark, M.D., of Roark Family Health, Cassville, an Exeter High School graduate, is doing just that...

The Cassville FFA Booster Club will host the first-ever Buckle Series Ranch Rodeo, beginning Saturday, at the Bill Haley Arena in Cassville, which promises to provide plenty of entertainment over the summer months for families and the community, while also helping to support local FFA students...

The Missouri Department of Conservation and The Department of Natural Resources are holding the first Kids Fishing Day of the years and a Nature Festival on Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., 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 with many prizes given away...

Members of the business community and Cassville Chamber enjoyed meeting for coffee and conversation on May 4 at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

There will be a USDA Commodities Distribution from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday at the Cassville United Methodist Church, located at 601 Gravel St. in Cassville. Low-income households are invited to receive a free USDA Commodities food box. Families should bring proof of address for all household members. The church is an equal opportunity provider...

Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension, scouted wheat fields April 17 in the southwest corner of the state and found an unusual pest she determined was the winter grain mite. "I was scouting wheat fields and saw a small black insect with red legs and thought it was a nest of spiders at first. Then I began to see them everywhere, by the thousands, in the field and knew it was something else," said Scheidt...

A Seligman man was injured Monday in a wreck at 12:50 p.m on Highway 37 in Washburn. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Tommy Bottoms, 54, of Seligman, was riding a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound when a westbound 2004 Dodge Neon, being driven by Jackie Cargile, 70, of Washburn, pulled into the path of the bike...

A Cassville woman died Friday in a wreck at 9:43 a.m. on Highway 60, two miles west of Monett. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jimmie Davidson, 79, of Cassville, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet HHR southbound when her vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck in the side by a westbound 1989 Chevrolet pickup, being driven by Perry Cantrell, 80, of Springfield...

A Seligman man was injured on Thursday in a wreck at 8:35 a.m. on Route F in Roaring River State Park. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jesse Holder, 62, of Seligman, was driving a 2013 Honda motorcycle westbound when his vehicle skidded across the center of the roadway, overturned and skidded off the left side of the roadway...

On May 1, the Missouri House made a surprising decision when, in a 112-44 vote, it voted to allow anyone over the age of 18 with a terminal disease to use smokeless medical marijuana. HB 1554 moved to the Senate with less than three weeks remaining in the legislative session, which local legislators say doesn’t give it adequate time to succeed...

A new school year brings new things, and Cassville High School’s 2018-2019 school year will bring Nathan Carter on board as the new assistant principal. Carter will replace Keith Robertson, who will be moving into the role of principal, while Principal Jeff Swadley will be transferring into the intermediate school principal position...

With discussion about putting medical cannabis on the ballot for Missourians to legalize due to its documented merit for medicinal use, some discussions are now turning toward the business opportunity, and inherent challenges, within that initiative...

A Monett man was arrested in Cassville recently after allegedly breaking into Sater Pharmacy on Main Street and stealing numerous pills and syringes. Bill Dunbar, 34, of Monett, is charged with second-degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance, stealing a controlled substance, resisting arrest and first-degree property damage...

Details of the chase on April 27 that led to the Exeter Police Department’s 2009 Dodge Charger sustaining damage are clearer now with the arrest of a Stella man allegedly behind the wheel of the fleeing vehicle. David Grippando, 29, of Stella, is charged with first-degree assault following an alleged chase where multiple vehicles were damaged...

A Mt. Vernon woman was injured Sunday in a wreck at 8:14 pm. on Farm Road five miles east of Purdy. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Makenzie McDonald, 22, of Mt. Vernon, was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado when her vehicle went off the roadway and struck a tree...

The Lucas Gates Band, of Bentonville, Ark., kicked off the First on Front summer concert series on Friday evening at the Glen and Sharon Garrett Downtown Park on Front Street in Monett. More photos from the event may be found at: http://www.cassville-democrat.com/gallery/32795...

Sean Garner hangs on to a bucking bull Friday during the L.J. Jenkins Bull Blast at Bill Hailey Arena.

Heritage Medical Clinic, a walk-in style clinic that has served local residents for over a decade, will be closing its doors in May. Dr. Mark Matthews, D.O., has been practicing family medicine for over 20 years. The doctor did not return four calls placed to the clinic to comment about the closure and his future plans...

The Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Barry County has been chosen to receive $11,907 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. ...

The Show Stopper award at Saturday’s Dogwood Car Show went to Austin Drake for his 1956 Bel-Air.

Les Jacobs of Les Jacobs Ford, Cassville, test drives a car to promote the Ford Drive For Your Community Event sponsored by the business on Saturday.

A monthly Care Group for Single Moms meets on Monday at the Cassville First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, located at 602 West Street. The evening of fun, food and fellowship is designed to bless and encourage single moms. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. ...

A Seligman man was injured on Tuesday in a wreck at 6:10 p.m. on Route F, one mile west of Roaring River State Park. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Rodney Ozbun, 19, of Eagle Rock, was driving a 2014 Nissan Altima eastbound and was on the wrong side of the road preparing to turn into a private drive when his vehicle struck the side of a 1996 Kawasaki motorcycle, being driven by Craig White, 50, of Seligman. The motorcycle overturned, and White was ejected...

The Barry County Sheriff's Office is hoping jewelry found with human remains in rural Barry County will help identify the victim. According to Detectives Doug Henry and Rob Evenson, the remains were located by a landowner in the rural Jenkins area on March 26 after having been moved into a field by animals...

In just a few weeks, Cassville High School Assistant Principal Keith Robertson will take the reins as principal, and Principal Jeff Swadley will be taking over as principal of the intermediate school. Both have worked in tandem for the last three years as an administrative and disciplinary team to create pathways for a rich, successful educational environment and set appropriate boundaries for students to learn and flourish in...

A prom isn’t a prom these days without the 2000 DJ Casper hit, “Cha-Cha Slide,” being played at some point

The 32nd annual Dogwood Car Show will take place on Saturday on Cassville's downtown square. Admission is free and will include plenty of family fun, food, door prizes and music. Classic car enthusiasts will be delighted with rows of gleaming chrome, popping colors, sleek lines and rumbling engines, and will have the chance to take home awards in 20 different categories...

Cassville's third annual L.J. Jenkins Bull Blast, presented by event sponsor Marck Recycling, will take place on Friday at the Bill Hailey Arena in Cassville. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the events will begin at 7:30 p.m. A Missouri native, Jenkins is a world-class, PBR bull-riding champion, who started the tour three years ago to give young riders opportunities to compete in the sport and qualify for the PBR circuit. ...

The Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team served four search warrants on April 25 in Barry County, arresting a total of six people. The first warrant was served in the 19000 area of Hwy. 112 Cassville. Chester Cavins, 42, was arrested for delivery of a controlled substance and has charges from the Conservation Department for illegal possession of antlers. Billy Thompson, 40, was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance...

Shell Knob in the Spotlight (SKITS), a local theatre group in production since 2013, served up its 10th performance in its spring production, "The Groom Has Cold Feet," Friday through Sunday, a whodunit murder mystery that kept audience members' attention from the curtain call...

Barry County Associate Circuit Court Judge Johnnie Cox said Treatment Court, the outgrowth of Barry County’s Drug Court now under a broader umbrella, continues to outpace state averages in percentages of completions and success as an alternative to incarceration...

The city of Exeter's police vehicle was damaged on Friday following a chase where the suspect was arrested for a warrant. Kenen Martinez, Exeter police chief, said following a traffic stop at Washburn Street, the department was involved in a foot and vehicle chase...

More than 50 people gathered at the Monett Middle/Intermediate School FEMA shelter on Friday to continue Monett's tradition of hosting the Barry County Relay for Life. The "do-it-yourself" Relay, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, was conducted without a community coordinator from the ACS. ...

Preparations are complete for the premier First on Front concert, part of a series of Friday public performances at the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavilion in the new Glen and Sharon Garrett Park on Front Street in Monett. Amanda Lee, coordinator for the concert series for host First State Bank of Purdy, which continues on the first Friday of the month through July, said activities will start with a formal ribbon cutting at 5:45 p.m. ...

For the first time in decades, the water and wastewater conference for the southwest section of Missouri will be held in Springfield instead of at the Monett City Park Casino. The annual session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds...

Protestors held two separate protests at the Barry County Judicial Center, Saturday and Tuesday, calling for action to be taken in the case of three dogs shot to death in Eagle Rock in March.

Two people were arrested on Saturday after methamphetamine was allegedly found in their vehicle in Exeter. Heather Sartin, 30, of Exeter, and Michael Bogle, 33, of Purdy, are each charged with possession of a controlled substance. According to a probable cause statement filed by Kyle Kuhn, deputy with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place at about 2 p.m. ...

On April 23, the Cassville Community Teachers’ Association (CCTA) held its annual banquet to celebrate staff at the Cassville school district. The following staff were recognized for their ongoing dedication to students and the district. • Recognition of Retirees: Tina Jackson, Jacque Morris, Tammi Wilkes, Sandy Fitzpatrick, Debra Curnes, Mary Richmiller, Jill LeCompte, Joyce Ennis, John Sullivan, Robin Stockton, Lynda Downey, Jonelle Corn, Rita Beebe and Lennis Periman. ...

The Barry Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on Thursday and a new band broke out their picks and performed for the gathered members.

The Cassville Bull Blast will be held Friday at Bill Hailey Arena. Gates open at 6 p.m., with action starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-11 and free for children 5-and-under. The Barry County Southern Baptist Association began their Sunday worship at Roaring River State Park on April 1, continuing from at 9-9:30 a.m. ...

A Pierce City woman was injured Thursday in a wreck at 11:48 p.m. on Route C, one mile west of Purdy. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Cecilia Felton, 56, of Pierce City, was driving a 2004 Ford Explorer westbound when her vehicle exited the roadway and struck a mailbox, utility pole and fence...

Barry County Prosecutor Amy Boxx released a statement Thursday concerning the case of three dogs shot to death and mutilated in Eagle Rock. Dani Johnson, of Eagle Rock, said her two black labs, Gus, 7, and Tug, 11 months, as well as her yellow lab, Kaycee, 3, were shot to death, with one of the animals subjected to multiple gunshots to the gut and genitals. Probable cause statements recommending charges were submitted by Barry County Sheriff's Office detectives to Boxx's office on March 26...