Stories from Wednesday, January 11, 2017

A recent juvenile well-being check at an apartment on Highway 112 in Cassville led to four arrests and charges relating to drugs, weapons and three improvised explosive devices found in a vehicle. Joseph Cramer, 28, of Anderson, is facing five felonies and two misdemeanors; Larry Delano, 55, of Cassville, has been charged with four felonies; Vanessa Ramos, 28, of Washburn is facing two felonies; and Alana Tate, 18, of Cassville, is charged with two felonies...

For the first time since 2012, sales tax totals for Barry County and its city governments dropped in December, closing 2016 with a much more mixed result than a year ago. The seven Barry County cities with sales taxes received $596,166.34. Comparing the same taxes in place a year ago, factoring out Monett's old Justice Center tax and new transportation taxes, the total represented a 6-percent drop. Only Exeter and Wheaton bested totals from the previous December, both by very small margins...

After more than two years in federal court, a Cassville man has been sentenced for pleading guilty to one count of child sexual exploitation and one count of enticing a minor for illicit sex. Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced Thursday that Chase Trevor Norman, 26, of Cassville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 16 years and eight months without parole at the Federal Correctional Institution in Seagoville, Texas...

A Monett man and a Pierce City man have been arrested and charged after allegedly stealing items from the Cassville Walmart, as well as other Walmarts in the area. Keith Rock, 21, of Monett, and Joshua Rust, 33, of Pierce City, are each charged with felony stealing...

There are many ways to ring in a new year, but a group of people in conjunction with Missouri State Parks gave their new year's resolutions more than just lip service. Participants in the First Day Hike put their feet on the trail and made fitness and enjoying their natural surroundings a priority on the very first day of 2017...

Effective Jan. 1, changes in the state criminal code, including changes in the definitions of third-degree assault and harassment and new reporting requirements, could mean that a student, regardless of age, could potentially be charged with a felony for circumstances resulting from fighting in school...

Economics for managing and improving cattle operations will receive the spotlight for the 48th annual Monett Beef Cattlemen's Cattlemen's Conference, slated for Jan. 31 at the Monett National Guard Armory. According to Jeff Meredith, Monett Chamber of Commerce executive director, the conference has been moved out of February to avoid conflicts with winter calving...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce is hoping to bring smiles to its members' faces in February when it welcomes Kent Rader to perform at the annual banquet. Rader, known as the world's cleanest comedian and humorous keynote speaker, has been selected as the special entertainment at the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the commons area at Cassville High School...

The local Cub Scouts of Pack 76 will be holding their annual Pinewood Derby tournament races on Jan. 21 in Cassville. The traditional races have been enjoyed by boys and parents for decades, and involves a simple activity of building and designing a race car out of an ordinary block of pinewood. ...

Patty Ewing's third-grade class at Cassville Intermediate School spread a little extra holiday cheer at Christmas when her students created Christmas cards for soldiers stationed in Hawaii.

Adult coloring, which came on scene last year as a stress-relieving activity for adults, was not just a passing fad, as it is still in vogue at the Cassville Branch Library.

With the masses turning to their smart phones more often to read the news, there are still those who prefer to get their news the old fashioned way -- by reading the paper version over their morning coffee. Three centuries after the first newspapers were printed the industry has come a long way, evolving until the current modern digital age, when electronic and social media now offer many options by which people may get their news. Even so, local patrons make a case for traditional newspapers...

An Eagle Viewing will be held on Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center at Roaring River State Park. A short video will be shown, and attendees should bring binoculars and dress for the weather. The Pop-Up Library will be at the Seligman City Hall Community Room from 1-4 p.m. on Jan. 23. No library card is needed to take advantage of the free loan of library materials, with something for all ages. People may call 417-847-2121 for more information...

After a unanimous vote of support from the Cassville R-IV Board of Education, the Cassville school district approved up to $1,500 toward replacement of windows on the east side of the Golden Community Center, which is owned by the district, and was previously known as the Golden School House...

The RWTB Family Martial Arts Center celebrated its 15th year of teaching martial arts in Cassville with its annual end of the year awards banquet and belt testing which was recently held at the Family Life Center. The event was attended by the founder and president of RWTB, 10th degree black belt Grand Master James Rosenbach...

Students at Cassville Middle School (CMS) spent the last school day of 2016 raising funds that were donated to Woodmore Elementary School in Chattanooga, Tenn., after a school bus traveling from the school flipped over and collided into a tree. The accident resulted in six fatalities, dozens of injuries and many devastated families...

The Wheaton school district announced its December Students of the Month.

Meet Poker Alice, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

The week after climbing the mountain and winning the Southwest Holiday Tournament has been followed by consecutive losses for the Cassville girls basketball team. On Friday, the Lady Wildcats (7-5) fell 60-48 to Purdy, and on Monday, the team dropped a 34-26 decision to McDonald County...

The young wrestling program at Cassville put on a dominant performance at the Seneca Junior Varsity Tournament Saturday. "The kids wrestled really well today," said Nathan Fortner, Cassville coach. "They have made huge improvements in their technique and knowledge of the sport. I am also very proud of the way our wrestlers kept their composure during adversity throughout the match. There was no quit in them. They wrestled tough throughout the entire match."...

One huge game looms on the Purdy girls basketball team's schedule this week. The Lady Eagles (9-1) host a varsity boys-and-girls double header, against Pierce City on Friday. Purdy is still knocking off the rust of playing just three games since Dec. 15...

Thursday marked the 29th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest basketball players to grace the hardwood -- Pete Maravich. Maravich earned the name "Pistol" from his high school habit of shooting the ball from his side, like he was holding a revolver in a quick draw competition. He was driven to be the best. He and his father invented drills to improve his skills and would spend hours practicing ball control tricks, passes, head fakes and his shots...

This time of the year is an appropriate time to once again clean off "the spike" that is holding notes and reminders for some time during preceding months. The spike is a holdover from old-time newspaper days when the tools were hung at various locations throughout the plant for necessary jobs that had to be accomplished in the future. There might even be a couple of up-to-date comments as well...

Dear Editor: As I look back on 2016, I can't help but grin. I reflect back on the highs and lows of the past year, and I picture what I saw, felt and heard at Camp Barnabas. I see campers smiling from ear to ear as they eagerly enter our gates. I feel the tears rush down my cheek as I watch parents of a new camper experience the joy that comes when they see their child is unconditionally loved and accepted. ...

Kevin Jon Whitcomb, 56, of Purdy, passed away in his home on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. He was born on Feb. 4, 1960, in Wooster, Ohio., son of Charles E. and Irene Jeannine (Knowlton) Whitcomb. He graduated high school in 1977 in Santa Monica, Calif. He worked for 10 years at Justin Boot in Cassville. He was a Mason and attended Arnhart Baptist Church in Purdy...

Tammy Kay Smallwood, 52, of Purdy, passed away Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. She was born Jan. 14, 1964, at Aurora, the daughter of Jack and Martha (Risley) Purdom. On Jan. 1, 1995, at Washburn, she was united in marriage to Perry Smallwood who survives...

Liesbeth "Betty" Oswald, 82, of Shell Knob, passed away Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, in her home. She was born on Oct. 11, 1934, in Kronfeld, Germany, the daughter of Emil and Emelie (Schmaltz) Hartwig. On April 23, 1955, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, she was united in marriage to Waldemar "Wally" Oswald, Sr., who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents and nine brothers and sisters...

James "Sonny" Marbut, 74, of Garden City, Kan., died January 6, 2017, at Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City. He was born on October 5, 1942, in Cassville, Missouri the son of Elijah and Josephine (Womack) Marbut. Sonny grew up in Cassville, Mo., where he attended Oak Grove Country School. ...

Arthur Wade "Toby" Luper, 77, of Eagle Rock, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at his home. He was born Feb. 10, 1939, in Kansas, Okla., the son of Ben and Florence (Winfield) Luper. On April 25, 1958, in Tahlequah, Okla., he was united in marriage to Iwanna January, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents; one brother, John Luper and one sister, Bonnie Erlich...

Willie "Don" Fletcher, 85, of Exeter, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at Cassville Health Care and Rehabilitation. He was born Oct. 21, 1931, at Washburn, the son of Melvin and Dorothy (Hickman) Fletcher and was raised by his grandparents, Elizabeth and William Hickman. ...

Kenneth Leroy Ellison, 77, passed away Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, at his home in Stark City, and his wife of 58 years, Letha Leann (Parker) Ellison, 73, passed away on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, in Mercy Hospital, Joplin. Kenneth was born May 30, 1939, in Emerson, Iowa, the son of Ernest and Waive (Farrington) Ellison...

Bobby "BOB" Roger Elliott, 78, of Joplin, formerly of Cassville, passed away Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin. He was born on Feb. 6, 1938, in Cato, Mo., the son of William and Gracie (Ennis) Elliott. He was a veteran serving his country with the U.S. Army and the United States Air Force...

Helen M. Crowe, 86, of Cassville, passed away on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Memorial services were held Saturday at the White Funeral Home and Crematory, with pastor Jamie Smith officiating. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Carter, 70, of Purdy, passed away Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. He was born July 1, 1946, in Atkins, Ark., the son of Bennie and Cora (Garner) Carter, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were three brothers, Robert, Herman and Paul Carter...

Ruth A. Cammas, 79, of Eagle Rock, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Ark. Funeral services were held Monday at the White Funeral Home and Crematory, with Pastor Jamie Smith officiating. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Dan Bauer, 80, of Monett, passed away on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at Cox Hospital in Springfield. He was born on Nov. 2, 1936, in Alliance, Neb., son of Ira and Doris (DeBusk) Bauer. On Dec. 23, 1961, he was united in marriage to Shirley "Pooch" Rourke in Moberly. He was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witness. He attended the Monett Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses...