Cassville Democrat: Opinion

Only 10 more days until spring (03/11/10)
Spring will officially begin on March 20. With the return of warmer weather, I have shoved my winter coat to the back of the closet, pulled out my sandals and chosen to focus on sunnier topics. This week, I would like to share some of my favorite things about the approaching spring and summer months...

More than just a sporting event (03/04/10)
I am an Olympics junkie. From the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony, I am hooked, and thanks to the DVR, I missed very little of the sports action in Vancouver. I have my favorite events, which include short track speed skating, snowboarding, alpine skiing and women's figure skating, but I have even found myself caught up in nordic skiing and ski jumping, although curling is still a reach for me. ...

Celebrating another Opening Day (02/25/10)
Roaring River State Park has always been a big part of my life. As a youngster, I remember spending time lounging in the water near Dry Hollow, playing on the old wooden playground in the picnic area and fishing near the falls with my grandmother. As a teenager and young adult, I often enjoyed driving down to the park to walk around the spring pool and raceways to feed the young trout...

Democracy in action (02/18/10)
The Tea Party movement is something I have watched with interest since Cassville hosted a gathering last year. The Tea Party network started small with locally organized protests in communities all across the country and now the effort has grown to the point where Tea Party followers from across the country have staged several national rallies in Washington, D.C., and other cities. ...

Help share county's musical roots (02/11/10)
Over the next four months, a group of local community members will be working to plan events that will complement a special exhibit scheduled to open at the Barry County Museum on June 19. These community members hope to schedule musical performances, children's activities and programs to draw visitors to the museum. Some of these events could include a talent contest, arts and crafts programs and storytelling sessions with local musicians and artists...

Setting the bar high (02/04/10)
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry B. Adams Henry Adams' quote sums up the vitally important role teachers play in a student's life, and I am one who has benefitted personally from a teacher's influence. ...

Thank you for making Cassville great (01/28/10)
On Saturday night, local community members gathered in the Cassville High School commons area for the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce's annual membership banquet. This yearly event gives chamber members and other community leaders an opportunity to come together and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and plans for the coming year...

How can I help? (01/21/10)
The news reports pouring out of Haiti are gutwrenching. Never in my lifetime have I seen so much death, so much destruction and so much despair. Images of bodies piled in the streets and newly orphaned children crying for their parents and reaching out to any adult who comes their way are ones that will forever tug at my conscience. ...

Congratulations Barry County schools (01/14/10)
In 2009, three area school districts received one of the most prestigious awards handed out by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The Shell Knob School District received DESE's Distinction in Performance Award for the fourth consecutive year, and the Cassville School District received its third recognition. The Wheaton School District also excelled this year and received its first Distinction in Performance Award...

A look back at 2009 (01/07/10)
As 2010 begins with a frigid blast of winter weather, we take time to look back on the past year and reflect on all that has been accomplished. Despite a stalled economy, a war being waged in Iraq and Afghanistan and a new president, Barry County has managed to weather 2009's rollercoaster ride better than most communities across the United States. ...

Be counted in the New Year (12/31/09)
The 2010 Census will do more than provide the Census Bureau with demographic information about individual states and counties in our country. Census information is also used to determine the number of congressional seats awarded and the amount of federal funding available to each state. Missouri's 2010 Census Count is especially important. Depending on the response generated through the Census Count, Missouri stands to either lose one or retain one congressional seat next year...

CELEBRATE The Magic Of Christmas! (12/24/09)
Here's hoping you and your family enjoy a four-star season filled with lots of magic and wonderful surprises. For the gift of your friendship, we offer you our heartfelt thanks. From your friends at the Cassville Democrat

C2000 needs community support (12/17/09)
Last Thursday, Cassville Community 2000 voted to move forward with a process that could provide the organization with a $125,000-per-year grant over the next five years. Approval of a federal Drug-Free Community (DFC) grant would allow Community 2000 to continue to work to reduce risky drinking among 12- to 25-year-old individuals in our local community...