Stories from Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Official charges have been filed against three Verona residents accused of stealing items from residents in Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties. The Barry County Sheriff's Office recovered about $40,000 in stolen property Tuesday at a home on Highway VV near McDowell, arresting three individuals at gunpoint...

After the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2014 annual performance reports to all the school districts, Cassville and Purdy saw double-digit declines, while Exeter, Southwest and Wheaton trended upward and Shell Knob remained constant...

There won't be any parades in Cassville to mark the occasion, but Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. While not important to some, to approximately 3,000 Barry Countians who have served in the Armed Forces of this country, this will possibly bring back memories -- some good, some bad...

A guardianship hearing for 18-year-old autistic man Tyler Cairus scheduled for Friday was pushed back, as Cairus' mother, Wendy Cairus, filed for guardianship on Thursday. According to Judge Robert Foulke, who is presiding over the case, the petition from Wendy Cairus came too close to the hearing date, forcing the delay. Foulke said all parties must have at least five days between the time such petitions are filed and the time of the hearing...

A Cassville native and lifelong resident, Joe Preddy, 86, left a mark on the city that will not be forgotten. Described by his daughter, Annette Henderson, as a quiet man and strong leader, Preddy may not have had too many words, but he has left a legacy of volunteerism and selflessness with his actions...

The Cassville School District has made its move on Phase II of its 1:1 Initiative about two months early, resulting in savings of about $125,000. Melanie Stringer, middle school principal who is overseeing the initiative, was approved by the board of education to spend $244,525 to enter a 3-year lease for 575 new Chromebooks, which are personal laptop computers that run Chrome OS...

Two people were arrested on Oct. 29 in Washburn on suspicion of manufacturing methamphetamine. Bart Jermain, 54, of Seligman, and Sarah Brooks, 20, of Garfield, Ark., were arrested by the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force after an investigation at a home on Farm Road 1085...

The Barry County Sheriff's Office took a name off its Most Wanted list with an arrest in Seligman on Oct. 28. Bradley Hufford Jr., 34, of Seligman, is facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, relating to his Tuesday arrest. He was on the Sheriff Office's Most Wanted list for a separate possession of a controlled substance charge. Hufford is being held in the county jail on a $10,000 bond...

The Missouri Department of Transportation was on hand in Cassville on Oct. 29 to discuss its upcoming sidewalks project for Main Street. The project, in its infancy stages, would aim to bring the sidewalks under MoDOT control to be compliant with the Americans for Disabilities Act...

The Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director. Twilia Harrison, 54, replaced Karen Elsey in October. Elsey was the executive director for about 2-1/2 years. Elsey resigned for personal reasons, said Pat Bingley, chamber president. "She was not let go," said Bingley, who is a part of the chamber's executive board, which hired Harrison...

The Seligman Police Department plans on leasing a 2014 Dodge Charger over a four-year period to upgrade the city's patrol fleet. The city is looking to pay $7,000 per year, said City Clerk Brian Nichols. Starting this year, those payments will come out of the capital improvement account, which receives funding from a half-cent sales tax...

Crowder College Cassville Campus students enrolled in 4,157 credit hours this fall, a decrease of 730 hours over fall 2013 and 689 hours over fall 2012, according to documents from the college. "We had such a drastic [change] last year because of the restrictions from the Public School Retirement System," said Angela Seymour, director of the Cassville campus. "We are restricted with the number of hours that a teacher can teach if they are part time...

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved an $80,000 grant toward a new preschool program in the Southwest School District. Springfield-based Missouri Equipment Leasing Inc. will construct and transport a 1,296-square-foot modular building to house the preschool children on the southeast corner of the Washburn campus. The classroom space has to be at least 700 square feet to accommodate for the maximum of 20 students in both the morning and afternoon sessions...

Seligman hired Olsson Associates for $5,000 to pursue a plan that would better irrigate the city lagoon. The contract costs with the engineering firm's Springfield office include the complete site plan, the stationary gun configurations, the length and the amount of piping, the grid layout and the materials list, said City Clerk Brian Nichols...

The Barry County Sheriff's Office requires the public's help in identifying a male suspect that allegedly stole a motor vehicle on Farm Road 1200 north of Highway 76. He also allegedly stole credit cards from another vehicle, and the credit cards have been used at various businesses in Arkansas, according to an Oct. 20 posting on the Sheriff's Office...

Exeter students in pre-k through sixth grade display their Halloween costumes Thursday.

Liliana Burgess, 2, of Cassville, slides downs an inflatable bouncy castle as a fairy pirate Friday at First Christian Church's Fall Festival. Kingston Nichols, 3, of Cassville, dressed up as Captain America. Jason Johnston reporter@cassville-democrat.com...

Christian Renfrow, left, 4, of Wheaton, walks the Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation's Trail of Treats Friday as a zombie.

From left, Junior Nunez, 10; Daniel Barrintos, 10; and Brian Nunez, 10, all from Wheaton, swing at the Wheaton Fall Festival Friday. They each dressed up as Ghostface from the "Scream" movies, but they did not have their masks on at the time.

Heno Head Jr., left, a science instructor and author from Branson, throws a boomerang at Thursday's Red Ribbon assembly for Cassville Intermediate students. Head performed science experiments for the students. Jason Johnston reporter@cassville-democrat.com...

Cassville Middle Schoolers run a hula-hoop relay Oct. 29 at the Wildcat Football Stadium during positive, behavior and support reward day. Students who met attendance, behavior and grade requirements participated in activities throughout the day, said Becky Haynes, middle school library media specialist. Jason Johnston reporter@cassville-democrat.com...

Eric Schroeder, an independent contractor, talks to community members about active shooter scenarios during a Run, Hide, Fight seminar Friday at the Crowder College Cassville Campus. Schroeder, who has been a police officer with the Springfield Police Department since July 2000, said "what if" are the words to remember most when referring to situations involving active shooters or violent intruders. Jason Johnston reporter@cassville-democrat.com...

The Shell Knob Merchant's 7th Annual Holiday Open House will be held Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each individual business. There will be refreshments and door prizes, including a chance to win $100 cash. Businesses participating include: Farmers Daughter Floral, Old Church Gallery, Ski & Sports, Neill's Home Store, Jug & Plug, Creative Arts of Shell Knob, Treasures Then & Now, Wee Flee, the Eagles Lodge Ladies Auxiliary and Next Door...

Down 47-20 and pinned deep in their own territory, the Wildcats' last play from scrimmage in 2014 was a Gabe Kirk keeper up the middle. The play ran out the clock on the Wildcats' third straight district semifinal loss, and that's a hump Head Coach Lance Parnell is anxious to overcome...

With a loss in the opening round of district play, the work for Cassville Coach Hannah Ketterman and her Lady Wildcats volleyball team is just beginning. "Our girls fought all season," Ketterman said. "We just didn't get the wins to show it." Ketterman said this season had been a whirlwind, and at times, she wasn't able to spend enough time to work on specific problem. All that will change this offseason...

The Ozark 7 Conference released it all-conference volleyball awards, and Southwest won the regular season title with a perfect 6-0 conference record. For their effort, the Lady Trojans secured the top honors of Coach of the Year and Player of the Year...

Stan L. Rinker, 56, was born July 8, 1958 in Enid, Oklahoma to Samuel Ray & Helen Louise (Norvell) Rinker. He died November 2, 2014N at his home in Yukon, Okla. He worked as a truck driver for Hobby Lobby. He was preceded in death by: his father, Ray Rinker; and his mother-in-law, Leona Hargrave...

Vickie D. Howell, 65, of Rogers, Ark., died October 28, 2014. She was born on October 16, 1949, to the late Perry Patterson, Jr. and Norma (Dalton) Patterson, of Washburn, Missouri. Vickie loved to crochet, play games, and spend time with family and friends. She had a great love for her puppies as well...

John J. Dabbs, 93, of Rocky Comfort, passed away Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, at National Health Care in Joplin. He was born Aug. 20, 1923, in Oklahoma City, Okla., the son of John M. and Bessie Dabbs. He was united in marriage to Phyllis, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents; one brother, Paul Dabbs; and two sisters, Wyvona Duggar and Loraine Smith...

Polly Ann Hunter, 50, of Aurora, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, in her home. She was born April 4, 1964, in Springfield, the daughter of Sherman King and Doris Melton. On April 6, 1979, she was united in marriage to Steve Hunter, who survives. Also surviving are: three sons and spouses, J.D. ...