Stories from Wednesday, July 5, 2017

The city of Cassville is applying for a federal grant that, if received, would allow it to hire an additional police officer and pursue a new model of policing the community. According to Dana Kammerlohr, city police chief, the city council approved application for the 75/25 percent matching grant through the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS program (Community Oriented Police Services), which would fund most of the officer’s salary...

President Donald Trump has formed a commission to investigate voter fraud in the United States, and local lawmakers believe information the commission is asking for should be turned over, so long as it is legal for the state to do so. In a June 28 letter from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, states were asked to provide publicly available voter roll data. ...

The Cassville Democrat’s longtime editor and publisher will be inducted in the Missouri Press Association’s (MPA) Hall of Fame.  Bob Mitchell will be one of four inductees at the MPA’s annual convention on Friday, Sept. 29, at the University Plaza in Springfield. ...

No party is complete without food, and the Purdy celebration of the nation’s birthday on Monday had hot dogs, beans, chips and drinks for anyone who wanted to eat at the evening’s gathering.

The Cassville Police Department is looking to replace one of its vehicles that was declared totaled after being flooded on April 28. Dana Kammerlohr, Cassville Police Chief, said insurance paid out $11,000 on the 2014 Ford Explorer, used as a patrol and D.A.R.E. vehicle, and the city should have money in capital improvement funds to replace it...

Southwest Senior Blanche Kirk was recently chosen to be a fellow Youth Ambassador to South America. Along with Cassville resident Marisa Padilla, Kirk was one of several fellow ambassadors chosen from 16 states to represent her community, state and nation in Colombia, South America, which will first include traveling to Washington, D.C., for one week, then to cities in Colombia for three weeks as part of Partners of the Americas’ U.S. Youth Ambassadors program...

Open season on bullfrogs and green frogs began at sunset on Friday. For anyone who hasn’t tried the sport, or fried frog legs for dinner, it’s worth the experience, local Barry County conservation agent Daniel Shores said. The Missouri Department of Conservation and Shores shared the latest guidelines and tips on hunting the plentiful frogs, which are making their distinct, throaty voices heard in backyards near water sources...

Most people know of someone who is always counting down to Christmas. Jokingly, they remind their friends months in advance of this traditionally Christian Holiday season, and for those of who have lost track, early July marks the midway point in the year until Christmas...

One generation taught another how to do “The Twist” during Roaring River Health and Rehab’s fireworks celebration in Cassville Saturday night.

Pamela Stilwell, with the Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Department, gives a thumbs up to patron Laree Votruba, of Eagle Rock, after giving her a plate of barbecue at the department’s annual Fired Up & Smokin’ 4th of July event.

Camp SPARKers enjoy looking at an assortment of painted rocks on display during the Family Night event Thursday at the Family Life Center.

All species got involved at the Barry County Youth Fair, held at the Exeter Corn Maze recently.

The Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Department’s annual Fired Up & Smokin’ fireworks display originally schedule for Sunday was rained out. The fireworks show, where more than $18,000 in fireworks will be lit, has been rescheduled to Friday at dusk, about 9 p.m. ...

Jon Horner, President of Security Bank of Southwest Missouri, recently announced the addition of Dr. Brent Herrin, Bobby Ennes and Troy Green to the bank’s Board of Directors. They replace retiring directors, Eric Fields and State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville...

Twenty years ago, Charles Fletcher of Edgewood Dairy and Creamery, attended a grazing school offered through the University of Missouri Extension. It would change the future of the family dairy operation. Fletcher's father started the dairy farm in 1966. His father milked cows by hand 365 days a year, morning and night. In 1993, the Fletcher family formed a partnership that included poultry and dairy. Rising input costs and time forced them to look at other options...

A prominent Springfield dairy farm played host to 49 youths ages 8 to 18 as part of the Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp May 24-26. According to Karla Deaver, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Robthom dairy farm has hosted Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp for 22 years, and the 2017 camp was a record-breaking year for attendance...

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

Bill and Dianne (Jeffries) Shiveley will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on July 8, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Cassville.

Cassville High School graduate Steven Cupps received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in Health Care Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in a commencement ceremony May 14. Cupps graduated in the top five percent of his class, and was named a Palmer Scholar at the ceremony. ...

More often than not, officials are usually on the negative end of fans’ conversations. When a team is struggling to win, it is easy to criticize the men and women whose job is simply to try to ensure fair play. For one area official, Mike Vining, that chatter falls on deaf ears. His involvement is for the youth and keeping things fair...

Central Methodist University student Tyler Musick, a business major from Purdy, was one of more than 300 CMU student athletes recognized for athletic achievements during the 2016-17 school year. Central held its annual All-Sport Awards Ceremony on April 27, during which many of the student athletes were honored...

Cassville Mayor Bill Shiveley, right, reads a proclamation designating July 13 as Cassville Arrows Day in the city.

While watching the St. Louis Cardinals struggle through one of their recent games, a view of the stands brought back a pleasant memory involving a group of Barry Countians. Sparking the memory was a view of two senior citizens who were wearing Cardinals replica jerseys of the past. They were seated in front or behind each other so the names on the back of their jerseys were obvious. They must have been fans of Stan Musial and Joe Gargiolia...

Michael Clifford “Mike” Young, 71, of Cassville, passed away Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born in Concord, Mass., the son of Robert Young and Antoinette Ruggerio. On Dec.14, 2012, in Palm City, Fla., he was united in marriage to Catherine “Cathy” Caputo who survives...

Lawrence Hobert Ridenour, 93, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2017. He was born July 6, 1923, the son of Thomas Hobert and Lydia Ann Ridenour. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army. He married Myrtle Mae Ridenour on Sept. 21, 1946, in Belleville, Ill. ...

Cathryn “Tiny” Newton, 63, of Eagle Rock, passed away on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. She was born on Dec. 31, 1953, in Eunice, N.M., daughter of Smiley and Babe (Dazey) Newton. Survivors include: one son, Ben Walker, of Cassville; one daughter, Elizabeth Walker, of Lawton, Okla.; five grandchildren, Patrick Walker, Ruth Walker, Cordella Walker, Lilyanna Walker, and Harper Walker; three brothers, Romey Newton, of Kasilof, Alaska, Roy Joe Newton, of Recluse, Wyo., and Johnny Miles, of Westwego, La.; two sisters, Carolyn Deal, of Eagle Rock, and Vinita Head, of Duncan, Okla.. ...

Darlene J. Murphy, 73, of Cassville, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. She was born on Sept. 26, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wis. On May 25, 1963, she was united in marriage to Michael R. Murphy in New Berlin, Wis., and he preceded her in death. She worked at the Cassville Forest Ranger Station and retired after 30 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Purdy, and the Cassville Hospital Auxiliary...

L.E. May, 88, of Cassville, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2017, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation Center. A graveside service was held Monday at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Wellington, Kan. He was born May 17, 1929, in Exeter, to Rob and Goldie May. ...

Carl Martin (Marty) Haney III, 62, of Cassville, was called home and healed eternally of his cancer on Thursday, June 29, 2017. Marty was born on May 27, 1955, in Riverside, California, to Dale and Dorcas Haney.  In the summer of 1975, he met and fell in love with the woman who would become his wife in six short weeks at a church in Ceres, Calif.  Marty and Connie Haney were united in marriage on Aug. ...

David Wayne Edwards, 43, of Pineville, passed away Tuesday, June 27, 2017, in Mercy Hospital, Joplin. He was born June 30, 1973, in Everett, Wash., the son of Raymond and Esther (Guyll) Edwards. On April 18, 1993, he was united in marriage to Tina Allen and to this union three children were born. On June 11, 2016, he married Heather McDonald who survives...

Charlotte Ayers Murphy, of Emerald Beach Village, Golden, passed away on July 2, 2017, in Kansas City. For many years, she was a Road Commissioner of the White River Road District. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Lloyd Murphy. She is survived by her daughter, Kandi McCasland, her husband Mark, and two grandchildren...

Richard Eugene “Rich” Casey, 79, of Shell Knob, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2017, at this home. He was born July 8, 1937, in Nebraska City, Neb., to Walter and Myrtle (Reeves) Casey of Dunbar, Neb. He graduated high school in Auburn, Neb., in 1955...

Janice R. Brasel, 80, of Cassville, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at Cassville Health Care and Rehab. She was born on Oct. 30, 1936, in Mattoon, Ill., daughter of Raymond and Helen (Weighel) Kastl. She graduated from Manual High School in Peoria, Ill., and received a degree from Brown’s Business School in 1979. On Aug. 14, 1954, she was united in marriage to James Neal Brasel in Peoria...