Stories from Thursday, February 5, 2009

Cassville aldermen give authorization to negotiate contract with KC company

Barry County Conservation Agent Travis McLain will be available to tag and register bobcats at the Missouri Department of Conservation Forestry Office in Cassville from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 7. The forestry office is located on Highway 248 just inside the Cassville city limits...

"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." - Herodotus, Greek historian and traveler (484 BC to 430 BC) Herodotus never played basketball, and he never saw winter in the Ozarks either. ...

The Cassville Ladycats collided with Carl Junction's Lady Bulldogs on Monday, Feb. 2 with an opportunity to extend a two-game win streak. Despite an early blitz by the Lady Bulldogs, Cassville literally rebounded to a 51-40 Big 8 Conference victory...

The Southwest Trojans rolled to a stunning 93-54 win over the Sarcoxie Bears on Monday night and set the stage for their epic showdown with Purdy on Friday night at Washburn. Four Trojans scored in double figures against Sarcoxie, led by Josh Hartin with 28 points...

The Southwest Trojans rolled to a stunning 93-54 win over the Sarcoxie Bears on Monday night and set the stage for their epic showdown with Purdy on Friday night at Washburn. Four Trojans scored in double figures against Sarcoxie, led by Josh Hartin with 28 points...

Although last Friday night's game against Carl Junction resulted in a 63-59 loss, the Wildcats' performance has notably improved in the past few games, and despite a season record that leaves much to be desired, things seem to be looking up for this hopeful group of young athletes...

Southwest Missouri wasn't hit as hard by ice and snow

Officers from the Cassville Police Department and the Barry County Sheriff's Department were asked to assist with the capture of a Thai man who was arrested last Friday in Joplin on child pornography charges. Cassville Police Sgt. Larry Roller and Barry County Detective Brian Martin helped the Joplin Police Department execute a search warrant at the home of Sira Noitip, 26, of Thailand. Noitip was living in the United States on a tourist visa...

Community members who have visited The Fun Zone, a new party venue located in Cassville, probably noticed the colorful mural in the business's party room. The 280-square-foot painting is being completed by 18-year-old Sara Steward, of Cassville. "I've always liked art a lot," said Steward. "I enjoy drawing and everything. When I was 10, I published a magazine of cartoons."...

Department's call volume is on the rise while crime is down about 15 percent

On Friday, Barry County Jail Administrator Jan Smith released her summary report for 2008. During the past year, there were a total of 1,489 people booked into the Barry County Jail, which is 109 or 6 percent less than the number booked in 2007. The daily average of inmates housed in the jail during 2008 was 49. The jail was built with a capacity to house 32 prisoners...

Although Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon does not plan to cut funding for higher education next year, he has proposed a major funding cut for University of Missouri Extension, which provides local residents with a variety of agriculture and business programs...

A Cassville High School senior, Cheyann Essley, has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. She was nominated for this appointment by U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt. "These students are among the outstanding leaders and role models other students and teachers look up to," said Congressman Blunt. "They lead both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities...

A Barry County man has been arrested for robbery in connection with a hold up at the First Community Bank in Neosho last Friday. David James Owenby, 28, of Cassville, has been charged with second degree bank robbery. He also faces a felony possession of a controlled substance charge out of Barry County...

The U.S. Census Bureau is currently hiring full- and part-time workers to help with the 2010 Census. According to a Census Bureau press release, the temporary jobs will pay between $10.50 and $16.75 per hour. "We need people in every county across the nation," said Jerry Young, Census Bureau partnership coordinator for the Kansas City region, which serves six midwest states. ...

An Eagle Rock woman was killed in a one-vehicle crash at the junction of Highways 62 and 72 in Pea Ridge, Ark., on Jan. 26. According to the Arkansas State Police, the crash occurred when Terry Kelly, 56, who was driving a 2006 Suzuki sport utility vehicle, lost control on the icy roadway. The vehicle traveled into a ditch and overturned. Kelly was ejected from the vehicle and it rolled on top of her...

Cassville High School alumni Ben Craig is on his way to a successful career in video and film production. Craig, who will earn his master's degree at the University of Kansas this year, is currently working for Plum TV in Vail, Colo. "I have always wanted to pursue a career in something creative," said Craig, who graduated from Cassville High School in 2002. ...

In addition to impacting University of Missouri Extension, Gov. Jay Nixon's proposed budget cuts will threaten the completion of 10 building projects across the state. One of those projects is a 13,000-square-foot addition at the Southwest Research Center in Mt. Vernon...

MEETING: Meth to Miracles outreach group will meet at 7 p.m. in the upstairs of the Family Life Center in Cassville. All interested persons are invited to attend. SUPPORT GROUP: Anyone who is concerned about a friend's or loved one's drinking is invited to attend the Cassville Al-Anon Family Group, which meets at 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cassville...

Sgt. Derrick Watkins, who is a 1990 graduate of Southwest High School, became a part of history as a member of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), which supported President Barack Obama's Inauguration on Jan. 20. "I am elated to be a part of such a historic event and have the opportunity to render my service to my country in another form," said Watkins, who served as a light and heavy transportation noncommissioned officer during the inaugural events...

Facebook, the nation's largest on-line social networking site with an estimated 150 million users, used to be the exclusive realm of teenagers and college students. These young people use the site to keep in touch with friends and post information about themselves in the form of notes, wall posts and photographs. But in the past year, it seems that adults have discovered the world of Facebook and are joining the social networking site by the millions...

Dear Editor: Like so many others, we were without power during last week's "record-making" ice storm. Many stories of good deeds are being shared. In particular, we'd like to thank the Eagle Rock Post Office mail carrier. Marci went "above and beyond." Our mail was delivered every day. Her expert driving, rubber mallet to open mail boxes and her initiative to deliver mail to those that couldn't even get to their mail box is very much appreciated. Thank you, Marci...

Earl "Junior" McCracken, 81, of Monett, passed away Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. He was born Feb. 5, 1927, in butterfield, the son of Earl and Marie Prewitt McCracken. He was a mechanic and retired from Jumping-Jacks Shoes in Monett. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Freewill Baptist Church in Monett...

Randall H. Fincher, 74, of Cassville, Mo., passed away January 27, 2009, in Joplin, Mo. after a short illness. He was born November 3, 1934, in Shackelford County, TX to the late O.H. Fincher and Leatrice Bumpers Davis. He worked 32 years in Federal Service with the U.S. Post Office, Air Traffic Control Center both in Texas and Federal Investigation in New Orleans. He served in the U.S. Army. After retirement in 1993 he moved to Cassville, MO...

Heather Dawn Skelton, 37, of Seligman, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at St. John's Regional Hospital in Springfield. She was born Oct. 15, 1971, at Fayetteville, Ark., to Gayle Skelton and Catherine Catron Skelton. She was a life-long resident of this area, a medical claims adjuster for Walmart, a member of the Church of Christ of Seligman, and she worked with the mentally disabled. She was a writer most of her life and had several of her poems published...

Dorthy V. Scribner, 85, of Cassville passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Monett Health Care Center, Monett. She was born June 20, 1923, in Cassville, the daughter of Leonard and Bertha (Patton) Wiseley. On Dec. 11, 1948, in Springdale, Ark., she was united in marriage to Edward "Pat" Scribner, who preceded her in death on Feb. 21, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Blaine Wiseley and Harvey Royal Wiseley...

Kenneth L. Stahly, 80, of Shell Knob, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, at the Red Rose Inn in Cassville. He was born on April 17, 1928, in Gridley, Ill., to the late Clyde and Lucille Stahly. He was raised in Gridley, Ill. He graduated from Gridley High School in 1946. ...

Mildred Swearingen, 88, formerly of Exeter, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, in Windsor Gardens Nursing Home, Bardstown, Ky. Funeral services are pending under direction of Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville. A complete obituary will appear in next week's paper...

Clinton Ellis Reed, 84, of Cassville, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, in Select Specialty Hospital in Springfield, from complications of a car accident on Oct. 22, 2008, near Neosho. He was born June 16, 1924, in Alpena Pass, Ark., the son of George and Elizabeth (Turner) Reed. On Jan. 19, 1946, he was united in marriage to Leona Wilson who preceded him in death on May 22, 1984. He married Wilma Bailey in Miami, Okla., on June 2, 2000. She passed away Aug. 18, 2006...

Donald Leon Jackson, 64, of Cassville, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in his home. He was born Dec. 19, 1944, in Berkeley, Calif., the son of Andrew, Sr. and (McGill) Jackson, who preceded him in death. Survivors include: his common law wife of 18 years, Lunisa Marie Munoz; two sons, Ronald Jackson and Derrick Jackson; a daughter, Kim Hall; two stepsons, Celestino Munoz and Harvey Zepeda; one stepdaughter, Linea Marie Zepeda; two brothers, Andrew Jackson, Jr. ...

Paul E. Norvell, 76, of Purdy, passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at Red Rose Inn in Cassville. He was born April 10, 1932, in chicago, Ill., the son of the late Glen and Indianola (McCracken) Norvell. He was united in marriage to Bonnie Lansdown on May 22, 1954, and she preceded him in death august 23, 1994. He later married Mary Higgins on Nov. 16, 1996, and she survives...

Effie Irene Johnson, 95, of Arkansas City, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, at the Medical Lodge East Nursing Home in Arkansas City, Kan. She was born Jan. 6, 1913, in Viola, the daughter of Arthur and Annie (Collins) Allen. She moved to Arkansas City, Kan., in 1934 and moved to Missouri after her mother passed in 1966. ...

Survivors include: two daughters, Sonya Parker, of Cassville, and Brenda Ruiz, of Brea, Calif; three brothers, Charles Simpson, Lawrence Simpson, and David Simpson; two sisters, Sue Bowen, and Lanie Ingram; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Deana May (Simpson) Sullivan in 1980...