Stories from Wednesday, July 17, 2013

County E911 Center, along with the Barry County Sheriff Department and Cassville Police Department, has been using a new communication system. The new digital system, known as Missouri Statewide Wireless Inoperable Network (MOSWIN), is a substantial improvement over the prior system according to Mike Phillips, Barry County E-911 director...

A full day of activities are planned for the second annual Purdy Festival on Saturday, July 20. Events will be held around the city parks and school campus. The festival will begin at 7:30 a.m. with two events. The first Angie Swadley Memorial 5K Run will begin from the parking lot west of the school baseball field, on the east side of the Purdy High School gymnasium. Registration for the run will start at 6:45 a.m...

"Thursday [July 11] was one of the best days, to have Howard Perryman back in custody." Those were the comments of Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly during a news conference held at Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D in Springfield on Monday, July 15. Epperly appeared with Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott, Christian County Sheriff Joey Kyle and Captain Juan Villanueva, the commanding officer with Troop D...

Although it seems as if summer vacation has just begun, it's time to start thinking about back- to-school time. The Barry County OACAC Neighborhood Center is hosting its 12th annual School Readiness Fair for approximately 150 students this year. The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8 at the Crowder College Cassville Campus Community Center...

One of Monett's oldest summer traditions, the annual Jaycees Carnival, begins on Wednesday, July 17 and runs through Saturday, July 20. Rides and games will again be offered at the South Park soccer fields, off Waldensian Road. Carnival hours will be 6:30 to 10 p.m. nightly. Discounted tickets are available at Top Hat Cleaners...

Annual BC land tax sale to be held The annual Barry County Land Tax Sale is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 26 at the Barry County Courthouse in Cassville, according to County Collector Jan- ice Varner. The land sale will be advertised in the Cassville Democrat for three consecutive weeks beginning on July 17. After publication, copies of the properties for sale will be available in the collector's office...

Two Seligman men are behind bars in Oregon for possession and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. According to an Oregon State Police report, Nethanial B. Neal, 20, and Robert B. Gonzales Jr., 23, both of Seligman, were arrested following a traffic stop for equipment violation. The stop occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. on July 11...

A Washburn woman and a child were injured in a single-vehicle wreck at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, on Farm Road 1010 about five miles west of Washburn. According to a Missouri Highway Patrol report, the crash occurred when the driver of a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Brandie S. Cotton, 22, of Washburn, swerved to avoid a deer, traveled off the left side of the roadway and overturned...

Access Family Care received a grant designed to assist patients in enrolling into affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Market- places or Medicaid. The $140,059 grant provides funding to hire, train, and certify Outreach and Enrollment specialists as part of the progression of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)...

As I woke last week, on our nation's Independence Day, I decided to read the Declaration of Independence. As I read the letter, the more recognizable portions, those we remember from our time in school and from hearing them in movies and in the speeches of politicians, brought me pride in our country, as always. As I read on, however, the letter from the 56 signers turned toward the stating of the specific abuses of power the King of England was exercising on the colonies...

Many of you are aware of the concerns raised recently about the White River being named a National Blueway by the Obama administration. For those of you who are not aware of the recent designation, here is brief account and timeline of what has occurred...

Students at Crowder College Cassville Campus are benefitting from a federal grant program aimed at providing services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This fall, the local campus begins its third year of the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant, which intially provided $220,000 in annual funding for the program, which is aimed at increasing college retention and graduation rates for its participants...

The annual Purdy Livestock Show will be held in conjunction with the Purdy Festival on Saturday, July 20. The event will be held in the air-conditioned elementary school gymnasium. Registration will be held one hour prior to the show with the exception of the hog show. Registration for the hog show will be at 7 a.m. There is no entry fee for any of the events...

A large number of Barry County students were named to the dean's list at Crowder College for the spring 2013 semester. To achieve this honor, a student must maintain a 3.5 grade point average or higher. Area honor students include: Joshua Akers, Amanda Anderson, Sidney Atkinson, Christina Bickford, Zach Blain, Caylyn Cieslinski, Ariel Cook, Brittni Cook, Tandi Goutney, Kendra Hadlow, Allison Hammond, Rebecca Haney, Mary Her, Brittany Hobbs, Susan Holenda, Elizabeth Horn, Marilyn Hughes, John Kho, Alyssa Knight, Marissa Lekarczyk, Crystal Mallory, Stephanie Malsberry, Amber Matzenbacher, Susan Meltabarger, Sarah Mills, Jamie Moore, Connor Nesbitt, Sydney Newman, Tracy Pride, Jessica Quick, Katie Stephenson, Evan Stubblefield, Lindsey Turn\er, Tamar Wilson and Melissa Yount, all of Cassville.. ...

The Haven of the Ozarks' pet of the week is Anderson Bean, a domestic short- hair orange tabby that is only 13 weeks of age. Animals available for adoption at the animal sanctuary are spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. Animals must be returned to Haven of the Ozarks if placement is not successful. For more information on Anderson Bean or other pets available at the Haven, call 835-3647 or visit thehaven.petfinder.com...

he annual Y Not Tri event, hosted by the Cassville YMCA, was held on Saturday, July 13. The 400-yard swim was contested at the aquatic center, the 15 mile bike leg covered a grueling loop between Cassville and Washburn, and the 5K run saw athletes complete an out-and-back loop on the Greenway Trail...

The Chamber of Commerce called it Christmas in July, but there was sure a lot of sweat flying for it to be a favorite winter hol- iday. Ninety-three runners/walkers/and stroller pushers turned out on Friday, July 12 for the Sno-Glo 5K, part of the monthly Friday Squared activities on the streets surrounding the historic Cassville courthouse. ...

On June 17, members of the Washburn City Council heard from James Libertus, public works employee, that the water and wastewater line upgrades are nearly complete. Aldermen requested Libertus install a two-inch drain with a check valve at the intersection of Highway 90 and Main Street during the relining of the manhole...

George Nuss, 75, of Cape Fair, passed away at his home on July 10, 2013. He was born on Oct. 12, 1937, in Great Bend, Kan. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1955, and in that same year he married Barbara Wesley on Feb. 23, 1955. Upon graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Army and later worked as a grocery merchandiser for Dillion's, retiring after 42 years. In 1993, he and Barbara moved from Kansas to Cape Fair to make their home...

Lawrence Irwin Miller, 91, Joplin, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital. He was born Oct. 27, 1921, in Cassville, son of the late A.M. Miller and Lula Irwin Miller. He grad- uated from Cassville High School and worked for a brief time before joining the U.S. ...

Sandra K. Ash, 70, of Joplin, formerly of Purdy, passed away Friday, July 12, 2013. She was a graduate of Purdy High School Class of 1960. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Cleta Ferguson. Survivors include: her husband, Gary W. Ash, of Joplin; two sons, Stephen Ash and his wife, Karen, of Joplin; and Tony Ash and his wife, Lisa, of Win- field, Kan.; four grandchil- dren; and one sister, Shirley Leonard and her husband, Charles, of Pierce City...

Billy R. "Bill" Thomas, 83, of Cassville, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013, at Cassville Health Care and Rehabilitation. He was born in Barry County on Sept. 21, 1929, the son of Clovis and Jessie (Henderson) Thomas. He was united in marriage to Mary Jewell Longshore, on April 5, 1956, in Neosho. She preceded him in death on April 5, 2010. He was also preceded in death by his parents...

Donald L. "Donnie" Powell, 66, of Wheaton, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013, in his home. He was born June 3, 1947, in Newton County, the son of Richard W. and Dora (Andrews) Powell. On Aug. 16, 1968, he was united in marriage to Linda Hobbs, who survives...

William Othello "Bill" Elliott, Jr., 79, of Urbana, formerly of Barry County, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2013, in his home. He was born May 13, 1934, the son of William Othello Sr., and Gracie Edith (En- nis) Elliott. He was united in mar- riage to Barbara Sue Ham- monds on May 8, 1969, and she survives...