Don't waste time (08/14/08)
The lazy days of summer are winding down and families everywhere are trying to cram in as many last minute activities as possible. It's a busy time and there's usually a lot to do before the start of another school year. With the busy schedules, it can become easy to miss what's really important...

Share the road (08/07/08)
Over the past several months we have witnessed a trend that we believe is a direct result of high gas prices. As we drive around the area, we have noticed more and more motorcycles on the road, and sadly, we have also found ourselves reporting a higher number of car-motorcycle injury crashes on county roadways than ever before...

Thanks for the baseball memories (07/31/08)
Dear Editor: During the three years with the Legion team, Jody and his teammates traveled to several interesting cities around the country to play ball. The boys got the opportunity to play in some very nice and some very nostalgic stadiums. The boys learned baseball, but I think more importantly, they learned to depend on each other and to sacrifice for each other. They learned many valuable lessons about getting along with each other and doing what is best for the team...

Local citizen offers GIS information (07/31/08)
Dear Editor: What is GIS? A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software and data for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports and charts...

No longer trapped on wrong side of lake (07/31/08)
Dear Editor: I have some more information to share with the residents of Barry County. There were five people trapped because of the high water levels on Table Rock Lake in Stone County, and the Stone County officials hauled in the necessary rock to get them out on approximately April 14. I was told it took 50 loads to get five people out. If you want to see what was done for these five people go down Highway H off of Highway 39 to Moonglow Road...

Local politics . . . do you really have a say? (07/31/08)
Dear Editor: Are we really given a choice of who we elect on our county level? Most of you will say yes. However, many of you can say a resounding no. Have you placed a sign in your yard or other location? Have you been contacted by one of our current county officials? Were you informed that you perhaps are in error on whose sign you have? Do we no longer have a freedom of choice?...

Make your voice heard - VOTE (07/31/08)
This Tuesday offers area voters a huge chance to get involved in deciding who will be running county government for the next four years. By now, no one should be surprised that an election is on the horizon. Political signs dot the landscape and the newspaper has been full of candidate ads for the past several weeks. ...

"Find more, use less" (07/24/08)
Last Friday, Congressman Roy Blunt made a sweep through southwest Missouri to unveil his new energy plan, which he calls 'Find More, Use Less." His travels included a stop at Fastrip in Cassville where several area residents came out to talk to him about their opinions and concerns about rising energy costs. ...

We need assistance with road issue (07/17/08)
Dear Editor: We are looking for any one who may be interested in a story about 47 American citizens who have been trapped and isolated for four months because of a Corps of Engineers-created flood. The main reason the Corps created Table Rock Lake was for flood control, not to create floods. Most flood victims are affected for a few days and then they can get on with their lives. We have been flooded in since March 19...

SK road issue needs to be addressed (07/17/08)
Dear Editor: Again, I apologize for sitting back and waiting for someone else to do something. Even in Shell Knob, few people realize the depth of this problem. Public opinion could insist more be accomplished than approach repair. No homes are flooded, only the road, which is the sole access in and out. ...

On-line awareness is rising (07/17/08)
I'm back this week to thank all of you who have offered feedback on our new website, which can be accessed at www.cassville-democrat.com. So far, we have received only positive comments, and we are excited that more and more of you are choosing to visit our site...

Barry County goes green (07/10/08)
Based on stories we've covered over the past few months, I'd say Barry County is "greening up." We have witnessed a sudden rise in opportunities for area residents to be kinder to their environment and save valuable resources in the process. If you haven't paid attention to this trend, let us remind you of some of these "green" efforts...

A legacy of love and faith (07/03/08)
On Tuesday morning, I arrived at work to receive the sad news that Heno Head, Sr., had passed away. Heno's death changed my plans for this week's editorial, because I find myself inclined to write about a very special man who touched my life and the life of my family...

Local dog dumpers should be punished (07/03/08)
Dear Editor: Once again, someone who did not wish to be responsible, inconvenienced, or that just didn't care, gave their "problem" to someone else. They dumped a mother and four puppies on the side of the road and left them there. Sincerely, John Rehwinkle...

Students learn a lot more than fishing (07/03/08)
Dear Editor: When I opened the door to my classroom at Cassville High School in early June, there were worms all over the floor. Now I am not "creature" kind of person, but there were feathers on the desks and minnows in some of the chairs. As you have probably guessed, they were all "pretend," because Rick Lawson, Darren Rhea and Officer Jim Stepp were conducting a "Hooked on Fishing" class during the month of June...

Why didn't county officials get 911 list? (06/26/08)
Dear Editor: The June 11, 2008, issue of the Cassville Democrat carried the message that county officials needed everyone to notify them of our new 911 addresses. Even before I was notified that I should use the new address, it was in the possession of numerous junk mailers, my phone company, AAA and J.C. Penney Co. Since this address change was a county-wide thing and all these others possessed my new address, then why did county officials get left out? Who dropped the ball?...

Preventing marine theft (06/26/08)
According to Monday morning's top headline in the Springfield News-Leader, Table Rock Lake is Missouri's top lake when it comes to thefts. I draw attention to this fact, not to detract from one of this area's biggest tourist draws, but to urge area boat owners to make sure they enjoy their visit to the lake by taking certain precautions to prevent marine theft...

City administrator praises Barry Electric (06/19/08)
To the citizens of Cassville: Thursday, June 19, will mark two years since I became your city administrator. In that time, much has been accomplished and much remains. In the past two years, the community has seen the resignation of one alderman who moved and the appointment of another to fill the remaining term. We have seen the election of two new aldermen and a new mayor...

ERGM fire district to use 911 number (06/19/08)
To the patrons of the Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Protection District: We are ready to use the emergency number 911 exclusively. If you have an emergency medical situation or fire, dial 911. By dialing 911, you will save time in our response to you...

Good news-bad news (06/19/08)
The Barry County Drug Court is currently facing a good news-bad news scenario. The good news is that the Court is up and running with five participants currently assigned to the program. The bad news is the Court was denied funding from the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA)...

An experience we'll never forget (06/11/08)
On the afternoon of Feb. 4, I rushed home from work to change clothes, grab my I-pod and hit the Greenway Trail. When I got there, I parked the car in the garage and rushed inside. I thought it was a little odd that my I-pod wasn't on the kitchen island where I left it that morning, but not worrying too much, I got all the way into the bedroom before I realized something was really, really wrong. ...

High gas prices exact real toll (06/11/08)
Dear Editor: Cedar County resident Ted Purvis picked up what amounted to a second mortgage a couple months ago -- but it wasn't so he could buy a summer lake house at Table Rock. It turns out Ted commutes more than 70 miles each morning from his home in Stockton to his job site in Joplin. ...

Prayers from home comfort local soldier (06/11/08)
Dear citizens of Cassville and Barry County: It is so easy for us to get caught up in all the negativity and criticism surrounding the war in Iraq right now. When we turn on CNN, FOX or any news channel, all we hear are the negative stories coming out of Iraq. ...

City administrator praises Barry Electric (06/11/08)
Dear Editor: This is a letter written by Cassville City Administrator Mike Hayslip, which he suggested we run as a letter to the editor. His letter is provided below. Dear Bill (Shiveley), I just received an e-mail from Gary Whyte regarding your new on-line bill-pay service. Fantastic...