Stories from Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Mikala Deffenbaugh has been named the recipient of the 2014 MariCorp U.S. Scholarship. Pictured above, from left, are: Steve Weeks, Kyle Wilkerson, Mikala Deffenbaugh, State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob. Deffenbaugh is daughter of Robert and Lisa Deffenbaugh. ...

Justin Mills, pictured above, graduated with honors from the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas on May 10. Mills earned Bachelor of Science Degrees in Business Administration in both Information Systems and Marketing. He was awarded as a First Ranked Senior Scholar with Summa Cum Laude honors. ...

A Purdy High School graduate has been named to the Missouri State University College of Education's Dean's List for the 2014 spring semester. Jennie Smith, who is working toward a degree in early elementary education, earned a 3.8 grade point average during the past semester...

Amy Stockton Henry recently graduated from the University of Arkansas, Sam M. Walton College of Business with a bachelor of science in business administration in supply chain management with minors in Spanish and marketing. Henry was a member of the Gamma Beta Phil Honor Society and was recognized for high scholastic achievement in Beta Gamma Sigma in the International Honor Society fo Collegiate Schools of Business in the University of Arkansas Chapter...

Lydia Alipio, a sophomore at Blue Springs High School, in Kansas City took third place at in the Class 4 state track meet in Jefferson City, as part of the school's 4x100 relay team. Alipio is the daughter of Manny and Laura (Maloney) Alipio, and the granddaughter of Jim and Ann Lassiter of Cassville. Contributed photo...

The second annual Angie Swadley Memorial Scholarship 5K Race will be held Saturday, July 19, in Purdy. Proceeds from the race provide a $1,000 scholarship to a Purdy graduate each spring. The cost is $25 for adults and children race free, but may pay $5 for a T-shirt...

Chris Shore, Cassville cross-country coach, has plenty of reasons to smile this summer, but the biggest is the renewed interest in the XC program. "We had over 50 show up to our middle school to high school summer program," Shore said. "Things are looking up. We had a large group of runners last season and this year's group is even bigger."...

Cassville Soccer Coach Andrew Hoskins has a knack for getting his Wildcats to be playing their best by the time district playoffs roll around each season. Cassville has played in three of the last four title games, but their last title came in 2011, a fact that the Cassville coach is ready to reverse...

Norris Eric Williams, 62, of Pea Ridge, Ark., passed away Thursday, June 19, 2014, in Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg, Va. He was born Sept. 6, 1951, in Cassville, the son of Opal G. and Hazel V. (Lawson) Williams. On Dec. 24, 1971, in Seligman, he was united in marriage to Jo Goldsmith, who survives...

Murl Gene Wallis, 71, of Jenkins, passed away Saturday, June 21, 2014. He was born Jan. 30, 1943, in North Little Rock, Ark., the son of Marl and Emma (Crumb) Wallis. On Feb. 13, 2010, in Perdido Kay, Fla., he was united in marriage to Joyce DeAnne Patterson, who survives...

Sarahi Rivera, 1-year-old daughter of Fernando and Maria P. (Salas) Rivera, of Butterfield, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in her home. She was born May 12, 2013, in Monett. Survivors include: her parents; one sister, Dayana Rivera, of the home; grandparents, Yolanda and Jose Rivera, of Butterfield, and Juan and Elva Salas, of Monett; and great-grandparents, Elvira and Juan Huerta, of Mexico, Julia Rivera, of Mexico, and Petra and Eugenio Salas, of Mexico...

Larry Moore, 62, of Cassville, passed away on Monday, June 23, 2014, at Mercy Hospital, Springfield. He was born on June 16, 1952, son of Clarence and Mabel (Thomas) Moore, in Cassville. He was a 1970 graduate of Cassville High School. He was employed by George's and later worked as a cashier at Ramey Supermarket...

July 1, 1964 The newest tourist attraction in this area is the Roaring River Deer Park on Highway 112, south of Cassville. The business is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Merl Emmert. The exhibit has six species of deer, a children's zoo and features animals native to this area...

The Wheaton Volunteer Fire Department has set its annual barbecue for Saturday, Aug. 23 in Wheaton's city park. There will be free rides for children beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing throughout the day. Large tents will be set up for crafters. There will be no charge for the booth spaces, and anyone interested in a space may call Lindy Lombard at 417-652-7359 to reserve a spot. ...

Legion awards, next year's commanding officers named By Murray Bishoff Cassville Democrat Cadets in the Junior ROTC program at the Scott Regional Technology Center recently received awards for achievement. Recognized for their work on the color guard were: Anthony Benavidez, Sierra Coy, Charles Edwards, Kristian Gomez, Jaqueline Gonzalez, Virginia Higdon, Nicolas James, Matthew Kelly, Jonathon Keplinger, Tanner Marney, Elio Rodriguez and Nakia Zamniak...

Five Barry County residents received Red Cross Disaster Aid during the month of May, three of which were children. All of those receiving assistance were involved in the same incident. The Southern Missouri Region of the American Red Cross helped a total of 41 individuals in its 10-county service area in May. Sixteen of those were children under the age of 18, and four people were over the age of 60...

Caleb Pyle, 5, a pre-kindergarten student at Cassville's summer school, shows his excitement as he eats a parfait during Kids Kitchen. Representatives from the University of Missouri Extension Service put on the Kids Kitchen program, which aims to teach children how to make healthy snacks. Kyle Troutman/editor@cassville-democrat.com...

Kathy Henry, a second-grade teacher at Wheaton Elementary School, does not see her teaching position as a job. Henry's attitude and the quality of her teaching style have helped her win the Wheaton R-3 School District Teacher of the Year award. The purpose of the award is to recognize the effectiveness and quality of the teachers in the district. Henry was nominated by fellow teachers and other staff members, then chosen by a local committee, assembled by Superintendent Lance Massey...

By Melonie Roberts Cassville Democrat Local law enforcement personnel in Purdy are seeking information on the identity and location of a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with cashing stolen checks at a chain store retailer in southwest Missouri...

A Golden man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Roaring River State Park. According to the Highway Patrol report, James A. Huffman, 64, was riding a 2000 Big Dog motorcycle westbound on Highway F toward Highway 112 Thursday at 4 p.m. The vehicle began to pass a line of cars, but then impacted the front of a 2014 Ford Expedition driven by Ann K. Allen of Fort Worth, Texas, as it was making a left turn...

A 93-year-old Shell Knob woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 39 about three miles south of Mt. Vernon. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report indicates a 2003 Mercury Sable, driven by Alleen L. Finnegan, 93, of Shell Knob, crossed the center line and struck a 1998 Chevrolet 1500, driven by Adrian X. Crumm, 47, of Aurora, head-on at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to keep residents in town on a Friday night with an upcoming event. The 2014 Friday Squared event will take place on the courthouse square with the theme of Christmas in July. It will feature live music from the 221 band and a screening of the film "Jack Frost." Surrounding businesses and restaurants will also stay open late for the event...

Nurse Wendy March, left, played by Sue Beck, reacts to Nurse Ivy Drip, played by Marlene Woolf, who is confused by a turn of phrase during the Shell Knob in the Spotlight's performance of "Dogsbreath Devereaux, the Dastardly Doctor or ... Nurses! Foiled Again!" The Shell Knob duo are two of more than 30 volunteers, most of whom live in Shell Knob, that were involved in the play's production. Kyle Troutman/editor@cassville-democrat.com...

A mainstay for the Cassville R-4 School District for nearly three decades, Director of Maintenance Jerry Lyall has stepped down from his position and is heading into retirement. Lyall worked in the district for 28 years keeping the school buildings and grounds in order. He said it's hard to say what he's most looking forward to during his retirement, and he is going to miss the people he worked with in the school district the most...

An audit of businesses paying sales tax by the Missouri Department of Revenue has prompted a surge in revenues for local cities and counties. Barry County receipts rose 46 percent, approaching the last major rebound of 52 percent in March 2012. Cassville's 1-percent sales tax for general expenses generated $72,201.38 for May, a new record at $15,670.12, up 28 percent from a year ago. The sum topped the old May record from 2009 by $11,000. Prior to 2008, receipts never topped $20,000...

A Monett man was sentenced recently for a string of Barry County thefts in 2010. Howard Perryman, 64, of Monett, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of receiving stolen property and one count of tampering. Perryman received 15 years for each of the five counts, with three sentences running concurrent and two running consecutive for the total of 30 years...

Glen Scott, 19, of Monett, flips a calf on its side before tying it down during the calf roping event at the 70th Annual Rotary Rodeo. Hampton Rodeo Co., of Springdale, Ark., put on the International Professional Rodeo Association show Friday and Saturday at Bill Hailey Arena in Cassville. Kyle Troutman/editor@cassville-democrat.com...

The Exeter R-6 School District is hoping to provide better security on its five school buses by installing new camera systems. Ernest Raney, superintendent of Exeter Schools, said the school board has been asking for bus cameras for a couple years, and he is happy to finally be getting them...

The city of Cassville has issued five permits for temporary fireworks stands to be opened inside the city limits. The amount of stands opened inside of city limits has increased each year since the permits began being issued in 2011. "Last year, we issued four permits, so there has been a slight increase in the number of stands for this year," said Jennifer Privett, Cassville court clerk. "The number of permits given usually stays between two and five."...

While they are not common, failed grease trap inspections can cause havoc in sewer and water treatment plants, and Cassville is taking a proactive approach in ensuring businesses keep the traps cleaned. Steve Walensky, Cassville public works director, recently reported a failed inspection for a grease trap at Ramey in Cassville, and the report prompted the city council to ask to amend the sewer ordinance regarding the traps...

The city of Exeter's police car is not seeing much action for the time being, as former Police Chief Marion Jacobson resigned from the role on June 14, taking another job outside of law enforcement and leaving the police chief position vacant...

These days, Saturday night is nothing special in Cassville, not like it once was about 70 or so years ago when the town, at least parts of the square, were hopping with activities. Of particular interest was the south side of the square. That was where the Cassville Democrat published for decades after the fire of 1893 destroyed the west side of the public square and the upstairs location of the newspaper. ...