Stories from Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Some students and teachers will see a slight increase in breakfast and lunch prices this year at Cassville's elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools. The increases are in increments of 5 cents, 10 cents or 25 cents, and Richard Asbill, superintendent, said prices had to go up to meet state and federal guidelines...

After years of talks and negotiations, the City of Purdy faces one final hurdle to resolving its conflict with the Missouri Department of Revenue (DNR) over its sewer system. Chris Erisman, the city's engineer with Allgeier, Martin and Associates, announced Monday that the state agency has lined up a grant and loan deal to accompany the city's plan to send its sewage to Monett for treatment...

Mindi Artherton, left, former director of the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, hugs Gary Whyte, representing the Hillbilly Golf Tournament committee, after he recognized her for her six years of service at the Chamber.

Previous generations may remember dreaded truancy officers who would find wayward children playing hooky from school, hauling them back in to face the wrath of their parents and teachers. Associate Circuit Judge Johnny Cox, in conjunction with the juvenile office, the Barry County Judicial Center and Cassville schools, is working on a plan to put a modern-day truancy court in place...

Making preparations for the coming school year, the Purdy school district adopted a budget for the new school year, calling for pay raises for all employees. According to Superintendent Steven Chancellor, the step increases constituted a pay raise of approximately 1.95 percent for certified and non-certified staff...

Only one of the seven Barry County cities collecting a sales tax failed to surpass last July's totals. The cities' totals came in at $720,868.15, up 23 percent from a year ago. Cassville's 1-percent tax hit an all-time record for July of $119,268.55 for the general fund, up $27,929.22...

Since it was moved there in approximately the 1970s, many parents, teachers and children have walked by a familiar old bell on their way to school at Eunice Thomas Elementary in Cassville. "It's probably been there since sometime in the 1970s," said John Sullivan, Cassville School Board president. "That's about when the building and circle drive was put in. There is a lot of significant history to the bell. It was originally on the courthouse lawn in the 1860s."...

The City of Seligman accepted a proposal from Anderson Construction for a geographical interaction system (GIS), which includes an interactive, online digital planning and zoning map that would lay out the city's entire water and sewer systems. The cost to the city is $150 a year, and Brian Nichols, city clerk, said it will be extremely helpful for daily use, and for the upcoming water study. ...

School starts in Cassville on Thursday, and Superintendent Richard Asbill is hoping parents, grandparents and guardians will apply for the free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch program. The application form is now available and determines a household's eligibility for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch...

The Purdy school district welcomed 10 new staff members to its ranks for the 2015-2016 school year.

For those who are at risk for having diabetes, heart disease or other chronic conditions, or just want to do some preventative care at a reduced cost, area residents can take advantage of a Health Fair Tuesday at the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob...

With summer ending and a new school year beginning, signaling another life transition for parents, children, teachers and the community, stress can creep up unannounced and rear its ugly head. Even with happy events, such as a child starting kindergarten and or advancing to the next grade, starting a new job or a wedding, stress can take a toll with all the associated activities and fretting that go along with them. ...

Cassville school buses travel, on average, about 1,700 combined miles each school day, as the district includes not only the city of Cassville, but the surrounding rural areas of Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Golden, Mano, Butterfield, Roaring River and Jenkins...

Friends of the Library President Vera Ray of Cassville organizes bingo prizes Thursday night during bingo at the Cassville Branch Library.

Hairdresser and Preschool Teacher Lindsey Joeckel gives Tristan Larson, 3, a haircut at God's Little Kingdom Preschool in Cassville to get him ready to go back to school next week.

Harrell Family Reunion to be held Sunday The Harrell Family Reunion will be held Sunday at the Fairview Community Center. Attendees should bring food and drinks. Lunch will be at 1 p.m. Tax sale set for Aug. 24 The Barry County Collector's Office, headed by Collector Janice Varner, is preparing for the annual Barry County Real Estate Delinquent Tax Sale. ...

Here we are smack-dab in the middle of the dog days of summer -- a time years ago that such things as swimming in Flat Creek were discouraged. That was in the era of Polio being the dreaded disease that it was. Come to think of it, not in my memory was there ever a case of Polio connected with the waters of Flat Creek...

High school football in Missouri starts unofficially Friday night with the annual football jamborees getting underway. What, in reality, is nothing more than a glorified practice, the jamboree gives coaches a chance to evaluate their respective teams...

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), in conjunction with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), has released its annual football points of emphasis list. The list is used to inform coaches, players and officials of areas where penalties are more likely to be called...