News

The Barry County Health Department has released details concerning the county’s fourth death related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). An 86-year-old male patient of a congregate home with multiple underlying health issues has died. Health Department and Emergency Management officials wish to offer their sincerest condolences to the family and friends on their loss...

The number of new COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases each week in Barry County is beginning to plateau, and county officials are hoping for them to begin to fall in coming weeks. According the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 256 (+24) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, including one presumptive and three antibody positives. ...

A former Cassville choir teacher has been welcomed back to the district as the new band director. Micah Boise, served the district for two years, from 2016-2018, then he moved on to a local church to serve as a youth minister for two more years. “I was officially hired on as the band director July 12, 2020,” he said. “My professional experience is in band as a percussion performance major.”...

Barry County’s Primary Election on Tuesday saw a large turnout, with 7,787 of the total 20,962 registered voters casting ballots, a 37.2 percent showing. The election has a touch more voters than the 2016 primary, which saw six Republican candidates running for sheriff. That 2016 election, with a 35.5 percent turnout, was the third-highest in the last 30 years...

Last year the Phillips brothers of Exeter brought their community The Depot Auto Show in hopes to start a community tradition. This year they continue that tradition with the second year of trophies, cars and music. Kenneth Phillip, organizer and host of The Depot Auto Show 2020, said this year’s event will be on Saturday from 1-6 p.m. on Front Street in Exeter...

Between May 11 and July 21, Four States Flooring Company had been working daily on the Wheaton school district’s new gym floor. Trish Wilson, Wheaton superintendent, said the floor itself is completed, but there are still some transitions that need to go in...

As the 2020-2021 school year approaches, there have been many changes made in the Wheaton school district. Lance Massey has retired from his position as superintendent and Trish Wilson, former elementary principal, has taken over Massey’s position as superintendent. Jordan McFall will be the new face as the district’s new elementary principal...

The city of Cassville is starting a pollinator garden at the south end of the Greenway Trail, east of the softball fields, to bring beauty, educational resources and new growth of indigenous plants to the community. David Brock, Cassville public works director, said the 2,000-square-foot project will begin in September, with hopes of having fall plants in bloom shortly after completion...

A rural Verona man is facing four felonies, including attempted murder, after allegedly assaulting, then shooting a shotgun at two people on his property on Aug. 2. Tommy Summers, 45, of rural Verona, is charged with first-degree domestic assault, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action...

Purdy school board members approved replacing an older bus with a new International 64-passenger unit that is wheelchair accessible. “It comes from Midwest Transit Equipment in Nixa, so it will be close for repairs, if necessary,” said Mindi Gates, superintendent. “We have student that can benefit from the wheelchair accessibility.”...

The Purdy school district is enrolling students in Kindergarten through 12th grades, that are new to the district, through Friday by appointment only. Parents or guardians should call Susan Funkhouser at 417-442-3216, extension 1282, to schedule an enrollment appointment...

On March 16, the Cassville Senior Center made the difficult decision to close its doors to the public. Due to the high risk of the people seen on a daily basis, COVID-19 is a real risk for those who most frequent the center. Kristina Atwood, Cassville Senior Center regional lead, said the center is closed to the public, but they are still working every day to provide meals to seniors...

Shipped Straight to Us on the Frisco! The Purdy Eagle family is delighted to welcome 10 new staff members to the Nest as we enter the 2020-2021 school year.

The Cassville school district took a photo of its new teachers hired this year, introducing them to the public.

Dianne Hermann, of Joplin, places a bid during the Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County silent auction and bingo event Saturday at the Family Life Center.

A Stuff the Bus school supply drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Body of Christ Ministries in Wheaton. Supplies and donations for area students will be accepted. Registrations for supplies will also be held at this time Cassville High School will be purging the cumulative school records for the graduating class of 2015. ...

A Shell Knob woman died Saturday in a wreck at 3:05 p.m. on Highway 39, three miles north of Jenkins. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Lori Cupp, 42, of Shell Knob, was driving a 2012 Nissan Sentra southbound when her vehicle crossed the center line...

The Barry County Health Department is reporting the third COVID-19 associated death of a Barry County resident. “Our third fatality was a 71-year-old woman with serious underlying health issues,” said Roger Brock, Department administrator. “The person was a resident of a congregate care facility. Health Department and Emergency Management officials wish to offer their sincerest condolences to the family and friends on their loss...

A Cassville man was injured Tuesday in a wreck at 8:28 p.m. on Farm Road 1107, one mile north of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Stanley Beeson, 69, of Cassville, was driving a 2000 Harley Davidson FLHTC northbound when his vehicle struck a deer in the roadway...

The number of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Barry County were consistent in the last week, again gaining 26 (even) from the previous week, and with 24 people recovering. According the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 232 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, one presumptive and two antibody positives. ...

More than 30 people from school districts in Barry and Lawrence counties, including superintendents, administrators and school nurses, met with the administrators of the counties’ health departments Monday for a question and answer session regarding plans to return to school this month amid the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic...

The Cassville school district has released a 28-page document dubbed “Return to Learn” describing its reentry plan for the upcoming school year amid the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said in a letter to patrons that the goal now is to evaluate, plan and provide the safest opportunity for teachers, staff and students to return to school...

On April 21, 2009, a group of people gathered together to celebrate some of the hardest things they have ever had to overcome — they celebrated their recovery. The Celebrate Recovery program in Cassville began 11 years ago in likeness to the Monett program, and since then, other programs have started in Barry County following the same standards...

A rental unit fire on July 24 resulted in the total loss of 55 years accumulation of equipment, linens and other items needed to host the annual Barry County Youth Camp at Roaring River State Park in Cassville. Jane James, one of the founders and committee members for the organization, said the contents of the storage bay at Dohmen Rental Units, located in the 1100 block of Roosevelt in Monett, were a complete loss...

A former Southwest school district substitute and drama teacher has pleaded guilty to two felonies stemming from having sexual intercourse with a student while employed by the district. Chelsie Leroy, 25, of Seligman, pleaded guilty to second-degree statutory rape and sexual contact with a student. On July 6, she received a suspended imposition of sentence and five years of supervised probation. She was also sentenced to pay $150 in restitution and court costs...

An Aurora man is facing four felony charges after allegedly attempting to ram a vehicle into Flat Creek from atop the old Jenkins bridge while the vehicle had children inside. William Moore, 49, of Aurora, is charged with four counts of first-degree domestic assault...

Clayton Schowe, of Cassville, with the N.C. Cattle Company, brought three head of cattle to show at the Ozark Empire Fair.

The Southwest Missouri Waste Management District N will hold its monthly Executive Board Meeting at 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday. This meeting is open to the public. Due to recent concerns regarding COVID-19, the district is asking all participants to call in. A teleconference number will be available for this meeting, and participants should contact the District office at 417-236-9012 or 417-342-6306 prior to the day of the meeting for the call-in number and passcode...

Voters in the State Senate’s 29th District have elected outgoing State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, to the open Senate seat by a 52-48 margin. In the vote to replace State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, who has termed out of the office, Moon, who has termed out of his House office, had 17,761 votes (52 percent), and first-time candidate for state office David Cole, R-Cassville, had 16,077 votes (48 percent)...

Cassville Police Detective Danny Boyd will be the next sheriff of Barry County after defeating one-term incumbent Gary Davis and challenger Travis Hilburn in the Missouri Primary Election on Tuesday.

In the race for Southern Commissioner of Barry County, Gene Robbins eked out a 210-vote win over Wade Hermansen on Tuesday in the Republican Primary Election, earning him a spot on the General Election ballot. With 1,949 votes (53 percent) Robbins moves forward with his campaign to face three-term incumbent Wayne Hendrix in November. Hermansen garnered 1,739 (48 percent)...

A Fairview man was injured Monday in a wreck at 6:22 a.m. on Highway 37, one mile north of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Samual Brown, 42, of Fairview, was driving a 2006 Pontiac Vibe southbound and while approaching a prior crash on Highway 37, Brown’s vehicle drove off the left side of the roadway and overturned...

The Barry County Health Department has reported a second COVID-19 associated death in the county. The second person was a 67-year-old man with underlying health issues. “The Health Department and Emergency Management officials wish to offer their sincerest condolences to the family and friends on their loss,” said Roger Brock, Barry County Health Department administrator...

A Shell Knob woman died Friday in a wreck at 7:52 a.m. on Highway 39, five miles north of Shell Knob. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Tessie Mead, 74, of Shell Knob, was driving a 2017 Nissan Rogue northbound when her vehicle crossed the center of the roadway and struck a 1994 Freightliner FLD120, being driven by Freddy Stephens, 57, of Diamond...

Two people, including an infant, were injured Friday in a wreck at 2 p.m. on Farm Road 2180, six miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Monte Lucas, 19, of Cassville, was driving a 2002 Buick LeSabre eastbound when his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a tree and a house...

A Monett man was injured Monday in a wreck at 6:22 a.m. on Highway 37, one mile north of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Johnathon Harper, 21, of Garfield, Ark., was driving a 2007 Lincoln Towncar southbound when he fell asleep at the wheel and struck the rear of a 2007 Toyota Camry, bring driven by Christopher Leroy, 49, of Monett. The collision caused the Lincoln to skid off the right side of the roadway and the Toyota to skid off the left side of the roadway...

The number of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Barry County is now over 200, slowing to being up 26 (-3) from the previous week, and with 43 people recovering (+3). According the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 206 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, one presumptive and two antibody positives. ...

A 71-year-old Barry County man has died from complications associated with a positive COVID-19 (coronavirus) diagnosis. Barry County Health Department Administrator Roger Brock said the man, who was hospitalized after the positive result, was known to have other underlying health issues. “We are extremely saddened to have learned this person has succumbed to complications related to the COVID-19 infection,” Brock said.”...

The inaugural Cassville TroutFest will be in conjuncture with the 175th anniversary of Cassville, aiming to bring the community together for two days at the Cassville Aquatic Center park and soccer fields. The community will celebrate the city of Cassville on Aug. 14, followed by the TroutFest on Aug. 15...

Despite the multi-month economic shutdown from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, local sales tax receipts in July to local cities and county governments still show little evidence of stress, marking the second consecutive month where receipts grew significantly...

For 16 years, Barry County E9-1-1 Director Mike Phillips has seen changes and upgrades to the 911 centers around the country. Recently, the Barry County 911 center upgraded its technology to MULES (Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System) 5, which will help expedite many tasks performed by 911 dispatchers...

The city of Exeter has been awarded nearly $35,000 in funds from FEMA for flood damages in the city over the past few years. Exeter started the process of obtaining FEMA money in 2019, and the deadline to finish FEMA projects is Jan. 9, 2021. Marissa Robbins, Exeter treasurer, said the process to get the money was extensive...

In the city of Seligman, officials have found a solution to the issue of unpaid fines — community service. Brian Nichols, Seligman city clerk, said the city will allow people to pay off fines in the form of community service, which includes picking up trash, cleaning the community center and other weekend projects...

Miller Hollingsworth, 6, of Cassville, curves his way to the end of the slide while swimming at the Cassville Aquatic Center Saturday.

Kayla Walker, booth owner, showed Sandra Stogdill her variety of custom tumblers on Saturday during the Summer Craft Fair in Seligman.

The Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County will host a fundraiser on Aug. 8 from 4-8 p.m. at the Family Life Center in Cassville. There will be a silent auction, Bingo, tickets for Branson attractions and possibly a live auction. The cost is $1 per ticket, $5 for six tickets or $20 for an arm’s length. ...

An Exeter man was injured Tuesday in a wreck at 9:30 a.m. on Highway 123, four miles north of Fair play. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Israel Brown, 38, of Exeter, was driving a 1993 Toyota pickup northbound and his vehicle crossed the center line, striking a 2002 Chevrolet Astro van, being driven by Tammy Resz, 45, of Stockton. The collision caused Brown’s vehicle to travel off the roadway, strike the ground, overturn and strike a fence...

Two Clever residents were injured Saturday in a wreck at 3:10 p.m. on Highway 39, two miles south of Aurora. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Dennis Cisneros, 59, of Clever, was driving a 2015 Can-Am Spyder three-wheeled motorcycle southbound when his vehicle struck the rear of a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country van, being driven by Trenton Schmidt, 43, of Salina, Kan., which was stopped in traffic for another southbound vehicle in front of it making a turn. ...