Stories from Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Chad Brattin and Anthony Brattin, both with Brattin Tree Service, work to clear a tree that was split and blown over Third Street near High Street in a heavy storm on Wednesday morning.

Before the spring rains hit, the city of Cassville hired local contractor Barry County Ready-Mix for a second phase of maintenance of Flat Creek in hopes of increasing water flow and capacity, part of an initiative started last year to address the flooding problems in the city...

Work on the Cassville Intermediate School renovation project is in full swing, and parts of the project have changed from the original plan, adding about $500,000 in flood mitigation costs. Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said the district voted to add two more pier wells to the original one, and it has removed from the plan a pressurized line that was determined to be unnecessary to prevent flooding in the building...

The low-water bridge crossing on 7th Street in the city park is now “a wash” after recent rainfall finished off patchwork the city had completed to repair damage from the 2015 floods. In the interim, the bridge will be off limits while the city works to find a contractor and have a new bridge structure built. Temporary repairs were out of the question due to safety, according to City Administrator Steve and Public Works Director Robert Forrest...

The 16th Annual Grin Iron Classic has released its 2017 rosters, and several area players have made the cut. Cassville Head Coach Lance Parnell will serve as the linebackers coach, and Cassville’s Rick Lawson will be the assistant head coach of the West All-Star team...

Despite a little more than 3 inches of rain falling Thursday through Saturday, Roaring River State Park and Barry County as a whole managed to avoid any major flash flooding catastrophes. David Compton, Barry County emergency manager, said nearly 3.5 inches fell in the county, leading to five of six road closures in low water areas, but no major rescues were needed...

The Purdy Board of Education has opted to offer an increased health insurance benefit to its employees for the coming school year, rather than raise base pay rates. At the April board meeting, board secretary Anna Marie Erwin reported that health insurance rates, under the Missouri Educators' Trust (MET) consortium, would rise 6.5 percent for the coming year. The district has been paying $395.35 per month on premiums for its employees...

Sometimes, the original football play call simply will not work against the defensive alignment, and the quarterback is forced to call an audible and change the play to achieve success. Such appears to the case for the nearly 90 athletes signed up to play in the inaugural Cassville-Monett Alumni Football game which will now be played on June 24, at 2 p.m. in Mt. Vernon...

Spring playoff softball begins on Monday, and for several area teams, that means a trip to this year’s host site Clever. Purdy was voted the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s eight-team pod. Clever was slotted as the No. 2 seed, followed by Southwest, No. 3; Wheaton, No. 4; Exeter, No. 5; Marionville, No. 6; Billings, No. 7; and Verona, No. 8...

The Purdy school district hosted a docudrama for high school students on April 18 to stress the dangers of distracted driving. School officials staged a two-vehicle crash on the east side of Gabby Gibbons Drive to illustrate for students how a momentary distraction while driving can have devastating consequences. The staged collision had a Kia mini van hit broadside by a Honda car...

An Exeter man is facing two felonies after allegedly being caught printing counterfeit $20 bills at his home on Farm Road 2200. Carl Lincoln, 30, of Exeter, is charged with forgery and possession of a forging instrument. According to a probable cause report filed by Det. Danny Boyd, with the Cassville Police Department, a search was initiated at Lincoln's home on Thursday at 3 p.m...

The Purdy City Council has rejected the request of a food truck vendor seeking permission to conduct business in the city’s parking lot for the Purdy Community Center and park on Fridays and Saturdays. According to City Clerk Debbie Redshaw, a woman called city hall and asked about placing a food truck offering Mexican food in the city’s parking lot from 3-9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays...

An Exeter Woman is facing six felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly possessing drugs and bringing them into the Barry County jail following a traffic stop in Cassville. Heather Sartin, 29, of Exeter, is charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of delivery of a controlled substance at a jail, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of marijuana...

Application letters are due by Friday for children wishing to attend the 2017 Barry County Youth Camp, which will be held May 30 through June 2 at Camp Smokey at Roaring River State Park. Those who are accepted will receive a letter of notification and a bus schedule for transportation to the camp around May 15...

A Seligman man is facing multiple felonies after allegedly stealing a truck from the Stage Stop convenience store in Butterfield. Levi Slye, 35, of Seligman, is charged with two counts of tampering with a motor vehicle, and one count of stealing a firearm...

Major steps have been taken advancing the new storm shelter for the Purdy school district. Superintendent Steven Chancellor reported making a visit to the State Emergency Management (SEMA) office in Jefferson City, where he received the final go-ahead paperwork to begin work on the shelter, which will also serve as a new performing arts center for the school. ...

It's that time of year again — spring cleaning time — when residents have the opportunity to 'clean house,' and eliminate physical clutter in their homes, garages and yards. The city of Cassville aims to make that process easier with its bi-annual city-wide cleanup event, set for May 8-12...

Just about every area of the Cassville City Park was occupied by families Wednesday evening, who came out to enjoy recreation opportunities and the nice weather, too.

The city of Exeter held its 22nd Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, April 22, at the city park.

2 Cassville students place at state Cassville Speech and Debate competed at the annual Missouri MSHSAA High School state tournament, hosted at Missouri State University on April 21-22. Schools throughout Missouri compete at their district tournaments to qualify at the state-level. Alexander Mackey and Jacob Whitham earned this honor. Mackey placed second in the state in Poetry, and Whitham placed 14th in the state in Dramatic Interpretation...

It was with heavy hearts that Central Crossing Senior Center bid farewell to lead cook Jeff Jordan on Wednesday, April 19.  Jordan served the center well as an interim lead cook, and returned to the Springfield area to continue his career closer to home...

Meet Schnieder, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

Gale and Scott Spencer, of Poplar Bluff (formerly of Cassville) announce the marriage of their daughter, Caroline, to Jay Kelly Robbins, both of Little Rock, Ark.

Regal retiree Francisco Saldana celebrated his retirement on April 19.

With its championship win at Southern Missouri Battle of the Brains, the Scholar Bowl team from Exeter R-VI School proved themselves worthy to play on a national stage, and on April 28, the team will represent their school in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments Small School National championship tournament, testing their knowledge of history, science, literature, fine arts, geography, social sciences and current events...

Ole Miss volleyball player Aubrey Edie was among 78 University of Mississippi students to receive the 2017 Taylor Medal it was announced recently at the 74th annual Honors Convocation at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The Taylor Medal is the highest academic honor a student can receive at the University of Mississippi. ...

Cassville High School senior Levi Hodge has been selected as an Honorable Mention student in the 2017 Missouri Scholars 100, a prestigious statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri’s top academic students in the graduating class of 2017.  “Levi is an amazing young man who is actively involved in our school,” said Cassville High School Principal Jeff Swadley. “He works extremely hard to be successful in all areas of life, and I am very proud of his accomplishments.”...

Fifth grade: Caleb Ayer, Landon Bernard, Lyric Bernard, Emma Brown, Tehya Ross, Natalie Sanko, Emilee Whesten and Lilly Wolf. Sixth grade: Treyzon Milne-Jones and Jackeline Quintanilla Seventh grade: Andrew Cornell, Ryan Lawrence, Christian Long, Jessica Munday, Amy Reeves and Elizabeth Ross...

Between the mid-1950s and 1986, Cassville was very fortunate to have three District Seven highway engineers with the Missouri Highway Department, each of whom were sensitive to problems that existed in this area. The connections were either through past associations in Jefferson City, appreciation for project support in the area, and even the love of Rainbow Trout fishing at Roaring River State Park...

Mary “Louise” Edmondson Shultz, age 76, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri. She was born September 11, 1940, in Anderson, Texas the daughter of Raymond “Jack” and Bessie Mae (Hammett) Curbo. ...

Glen W. Scott, Sr., 87, of McDowell, passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2017, at Lacoba Homes in Monett. He was born on March 28, 1930, in Buena Vista County, Iowa, son of Walter and Merle (Arthur) Scott. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1954, serving during the Koren Conflict. On Nov. 15, 1956, he was united in marriage to Wilda Taggs in Brookfield. He was a farmer for most of his life...

Linda Sue Newell, 76, of Cassville, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Cassville Health Care and Rehab. She was born on March 4, 1941, in Independence, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Goin) Spendal. On May 8, 1960, she was united in marriage to Lester Newell in Lexington. She was a member of Blessing Heights Worship Center in Cassville...

Dr. Robert C. (Bob) Miles Ed.D, 87 of Shell Knob, MO, passed away at his home on April 20, 2017. He was born in Lebanon, South Dakota to Irving and Ida Miles. He came to Missouri at a young age. He graduated from Clever, MO High School in 1948. He attended Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield, MO, where he received his B.S. ...

Don Douglas “Doug” McCasland, III, 51, of Seligman, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017, at his home. He was born April 2, 1966, in Oklahoma City, Okla., the son of Don Douglas McCasland, Jr. and Pamela (Sallinger) McCasland. On Nov. 14, 2016, he was united in marriage to Sherri Bray, who survives. ...

Terry B. Marshall, 55, of Exeter, passed away on Thursday, April 13, 2017, at Cox South Hospital, in Springfield. He was born on June 15, 1961, in Stella, son of Bobby and Bobbi (Hill) Marshall. He was a Cassville High School graduate and lived in the area for most of his life. ...

Evelyn “June” Henry, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., (formerly of Diamond) passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Circle Of Life at Legacy Village in Bentonville, Ark. She was born June 2, 1935, the daughter of Albert and Ethyl (Renfro) Carrick, who preceded her in death...

Bert Catron Jr., 95, of Branson West, formerly of Aurora, passed away on Monday, April 17, 2017, at the Wedgewood Gardens Assisted Living Facility. He was born June 13, 1921, in Fairview, the son of Bert and Blanche (Hankins) Catron Sr. He grew up in Purdy, and was a 1939 graduate of Purdy High School and graduated from the University of Missouri with his master’s degree in Agriculture Management. ...