Stories from Thursday, February 23, 2006

On March 1, the City of Cassville will find itself without the leadership of Kati Rose, who has served as city administrator for the past four years. Kati has resigned her post at the city to manage her family's business interests and spend more time with family, two very noble pursuits...

The Cassville Wildcats ended regular season play on a high note, defeating visiting Seneca to pick up Cassville's first Big 8 win on Senior Night last Friday. Cassville defeated the Indians by a score of 58-50, outscoring the Indians 35-28 in the first half and 23-22 in the second half...

The Cassville Ladycats had an exciting week of basketball tallying two wins, including a Big 8 overtime win against Seneca and a district opening victory over Reeds Spring. On Thursday, the Cassville Ladycats stayed at home to end regular season play against the Lady Indians...

Raymond Earl Lewis, 87, of Purdy, passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett. He was born July 20, 1918, in Purdy, to the late Jerry C. and Orra May Harlan Lewis. He was a retired cattle farmer and machinist. He was a graduate of Purdy High School...

Gwenafer DaLou Blanton-Trent, 35, of Wichita, Kan., formerly of Rocky Comfort, passed away Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, in her home. She was born in Springfield, Jan. 3, 1971. Survivors include: her husband, George Trent, of Wichita, Kan.; three sons, Wayne Barwick, of Rocky Comfort, Marvin Proffitt, of London, Ky., and Arron Proffitt, of London, Ky.; two daughters, Amanda Blanton, of Rocky Comfort and Sara Barwick, of Rocky Comfort; her mother and father, Carol and John Blanton, of Rocky Comfort; a brother, Jacob Mielke; and grandparents, Louis and Faye Gillespie, of Rocky Comfort.. ...

John J. Smith, 96, of Van Buren, Ark., passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006. He was one of Jehovah's Witnesses, a resident of Alma, Ark., formerly of Antlers and McAlester, Okla., and a veteran of WWII. Service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alma, Ark., under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren, Ark...

Robert Edward Maddux, 81, of Purdy, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. He was born in Trenton, N. J., Nov. 26, 1924, the son of Nathaniel and Edith (Taggart) Maddux. In 1950 he was united in marriage to Mary Bluebird who preceded him in death in 1985. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Esther and a brother, William Starling Maddux...

Margie N. Kiefer, 82, of Shell Knob, passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, in her home. She was born Nov. 7, 1923, in Poplar Bluff, the daughter of Frank S. and Mary (Boyet) Pearce. On June 19, 1946, she was united in marriage to Arthur Kiefer, who survives...

Wendell Lee Hilburn, 50, of Cassville, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, in St. John's Hospital, Cassville. He was born April 4, 1955, in Cassville the son of Claude and Betty (Boggess) Hilburn. On March 19, 1971, he was united in marriage to Wilma Ellis, who survives...

Elston O. Drummond, 69, of Cassville, passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, in St. John's Hospital-Cassville. He was born May 16, 1936, in Rushford, N. Y., the son of Fred. C. and Grace (Hutchins) Drummond, who preceded him in death. He graduated from Exeter High School with the Class of 1954. ...

Ruth Sanders Price died peacefully with her family on February 16, 2006, in Vinita. She was born May 5, 1920, near Butterfield, Missouri, to Pharis and Beatrice (Henbest) Sanders. She grew up on a small Ozark farm. Her memories of hoeing strawberries, making lye soap and butchering hogs have been recorded by Ruth for her grandchildren in a book she left for them. ...

Several counties in southwest Missouri, including Barry County, are now considered to be at extreme drought levels, according to the National Weather Service in Springfield. The latest Drought Information Statement released on Feb. 10 says that eight extreme southwest Missouri counties, including Barry, McDonald, Newton, Lawrence and Stone counties, are under extreme drought conditions...

The Barry County Health Department still has over 450 flu vaccinations available at its offices in Cassville, said Kathleen King, health depart-ment director. "Flu season is not over," said King. "People still have the potential to get the flu at this point in the season."...

Opening Day expected to lure 2,300 anglers to the river banks By Lisa Schlichtman Hatchery crews at Roaring River State Park are expecting about 2,300 anglers to line up streamside on March 1, the opening day of trout season. The last time opening day fell on a Wednesday, there were 2,340 trout tags sold. Last year, opening day attracted 1,827 fishermen...

Members of the Roaring River State Park staff work hard to prepare the park and its facilities for Opening Day of trout season, which is Wednesday, March 1. The crew, which represents the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Division of State Parks and concessions staff, gathered for a group picture in front of the newly renovated Civilian Conservation Corps falls on Feb. ...

Dear Editor: I feel that this issue with the Monett Rural Fire Department watching a building burn has been blown totally out of proportion. This is not the first time that this has happened, and it may not be the last. I can remember a home burning about 25 years ago and the department had to stand across the road and watch, because that family was not a member. ...

• McAuley Catholic Girls (59) - Exeter Girls (65). This game wasn't close in the first half, but when McAuley came out in the second, they matched Exeter point for point, but it wasn't enough to get them the win. Whitney Edie led Exeter in scoring with 27 points and two three-pointers. Ashley Porter and deAnna Harris followed with 12 points each, Kendale Savage finished with 6, Janelle Scott had 4 and Chelsey Brattin and Kendra Divine had 2 each...