Stories from Wednesday, July 12, 2017

As of July 1, a change to the state budget has eliminated state grant funding for sobriety checkpoints run by law enforcement throughout the state. State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, chair of the House Budget Committee, said the change is part of the state’s budget bill, which in the past authorized use of up to $20 million in a highway safety line for grants for checkpoints and saturation patrols. ...

The city of Cassville is searching for a new public works director, as Robert Forrest is no longer employed by the city. Forrest was hired by the city in December 2016. Public Administrator Steve Walensky will handle his duties while the position is vacant...

More than 100 people were at the CCC Campground in Shell Knob to watch the annual fireworks show above Table Rock Lake. More photos from the show may be found in a gallery at: http://www.cassville-democrat.com/gallery/30540

A Purdy man has been charged for allegedly stealing a vehicle from the Kum & Go store on Highway 60 in Monett on May 31. Randall Ford, 38, of Purdy, is charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. ...

A Washburn woman was arrested on June 28 and charged with two drug felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly stealing clothing items from Walmart. Heidi Brattin, 28, of Seligman, is charged with two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance and one count of misdemeanor stealing...

The Purdy school board adopted its preliminary budget for the 2017-2018 school year, anticipating spending out of savings to complete the planned storm shelter, early childhood and performing arts center. Superintendent Stephen Chancellor projected income of $6,159,655 in the coming year, and spending at $8,623,333.28. ...

Plans are complete for the sixth annual Purdy Festival, which will be held Saturday at the city park and on the grounds of the Purdy school district. According to Renee O’Neill, chairperson of the festival organizing committee, all the popular features will be back for the daylong event...

As a result of a state agency's name change, the Cassville and Shell Knob senior centers, along with more than three dozen senior centers across the state, will be changing some signage and communication materials to reflect the agency's new name. The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, which partners with local agencies to provide services to seniors, is now known as SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging, or just SeniorAge. ...

A Washburn woman was arrested in Wheaton on Friday after allegedly admitting to attempting to sell controlled substances found in her vehicle. Lee Ann Mahurin, 36, of Washburn, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance. According to a probable cause report filed by Clint Danforth, officer with the city of Wheaton, at about 12:52 a.m. ...

The annual community picnic at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stones Prairie, northwest of Purdy, will be held on Friday, July 21. Serving will begin at 6 p.m. The church is located west of Highway 37 on Farm Road 2060, north on Farm Road 1057, then west on Farm Road 2057...

The light show at Freedom Jam, a community benefit sponsored by the Wheaton Fire Department, kept everyone’s gaze from start to finish.

Intermittent rains may have slowed attendance at Seligman’s annual Independence Day celebration, but spirits of cakewalkers at the event were high, as many attendees circled the table to hopefully land a sweet treat.

Edgar and Sandy Schreiner, of Jenkins, and their son, Joshua, take their team of Paso Fino Paints, Nikita and Nikki, around Cassville Wednesday to run a few errands the old-fashioned style, via horse-and-cart.

Sugar, a.k.a. Yeller Dog, does not shy away from fireworks like most pets would.

The Cassville Aquatic Park has been getting a lot of use this summer, with many families getting out to enjoy the pool and sporting events.

The Central Crossing Senior Center will host a chicken dinner fundraiser on July 29 from 5-7 p.m. The menu consists of oven-fried chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, drinks and desserts. Good will donations will be accepted, and carry-outs are available. for more information, people may call 417-858-6952. The center is located at 20801 Highway YY-15 in Shell Knob...

If anyone wondered what type of a basketball coach Tommy Egan is and what his players thought about him, they need not look any further than two years ago. Playing McAuley in a district title game, Egan’s Eagles blitzed the higher seeded Warriors, a team that had defeated Purdy not more than 10 days earlier...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the third year of its Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) program during the 2017-2018 school year in conjunction with its leadership program for Cassville High School seniors.   TLT provides Cassville seniors an opportunity to learn more about the area and importance of community involvement, and brings students together with businesses and community leaders while educating the future of the community, said Brittany Farris, chamber director...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome 13 new teachers to the Cassville school district and community this fall and is inviting local businesses to partake in preparing their traditional new teacher welcome bags. "We would love to have goodies from your place of business to help fill our New Teacher Bags," said Brittany Farris, chamber director. "Please drop off your items to the chamber by Tuesday, Aug. 1. Call or e-mail if a pick-up is needed."...

The Cassville Cruisers car club presented Bill and Trix Long the Eddie Award at their June cruise-in. 

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

A new survey of journalists in the four-state area suggests the best way to get an article, media release, or news story in print is to do everything possible to make life easier for the local editor or reporter. "That means well-written, concise submissions that emphasize a local connection and news copy that does not need a lot of editing," said David Burton, civic communication specialist for University of Missouri Extension...

If e-mail messages are overwhelming you, take heart, says David Burton, civic communication specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Proven management solutions do exist for reading, keeping and deleting those e-mail messages. According to Burton, most people with e-mail feel overwhelmed at times by the volume of messages they receive...

• Anthony Craig Ash, Golden, dwi alcohol, persistent offender, four years incarceration DOC, execution of sentence suspended, four year supervised probation, Judgment CVC $46, alcohol • Dustin Jarrett Bass, Aurora, three counts assault, resisting/interferring with arrest for a felony, three years supervised probation, Judgment CVC $46, other...

It is the time of year when athletes must have their paperwork in order if they want to be eligible for high school sports competition. Not only must the student-athlete have their academics in order, they must also have a sports physical to obtain eligibility...

One of the keys to being a good journalist is having a heightened observational skill set. In every situation and setting, you watch how people react. Sometimes, it’s their body language that says everything, and that is the context needed in order to set up the next question...

Three days from now, I will turn 88. My mother — I’m sure for a number of reasons — always remembered July 15, 1929 (the day I was born) as the hottest of the summer. Long before air conditioning was upon us, she also remembered the kindness of Ben Irwin, who owned the Ben Irwin Hotel with his wife, Lillie...

Tammie R. Testerman, 51, of Cassville, passed away at her home on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. She was born on April 19, 1966, in St. Joseph. On Oct. 8, 2010, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Testerman. They moved to Cassville in March of 2016. Survivors include: her husband, Kenneth Testerman, of Cassville; one daughter, Jennifer Testerman, of Springfield; one grandson, Bray Gowens, of Springfield; and her father, Donald Smith, of Union Star...

Neva Stuart, 76, of Aurora, passed away at her home on Saturday, July 1, 2017. She was born on March 24, 1941, daughter of John and Verga (Cunningham) Nelson, in Springfield. On Dec. 19, 1986, she was united in marriage to John Stuart in St. Joseph...

G.E. (Bill) Leonard, 98, of Cassville, passed away Saturday, July 8, 2017, at Lacoba Homes in Monett. He was born Nov. 29, 1918, at Purdy, the son of Erskin and Gertie (Smith) Leonard. On April 5, 1941, in Monett, he was united in marriage to June Bush...

Debra Sue “Debbie” Huse, 55, of Cassville, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Cassville. She was born Sept. 11, 1961, in Kansas City, Kan., the daughter of James and Bonnie (Daniel) Sanders. On Oct. 6, 1977, in Exeter, she was united in marriage to Tyrone Huse, who survives...

Dalton Taylor Horn, 18, of Exeter, passed away Sunday, July 2, 2017, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. He was born Feb. 9, 1999, in Harrison, Ark., the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Ivie) Horn. Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents, Larry and Melody Ivie...

Nancy B. Goodman, 73, of Shell Knob, passed away Sunday, July 2, 2017, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville. She was born Jan. 13, 1944, in Dudley, Penn., the daughter of Roy and Emma (Shultz) Barto. On July 5, 1986, she was united in marriage to Glen Goodman who preceded her in death...

Carl Eugene Cooper, 86, of Wheaton, passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at his home. He was born July 14, 1930, in Webb City, the son of Albert Omer and Estella Florence (Peters) Cooper. On Aug. 12, 1950, he was united in marriage to Mary “Maxine” Hayden, who survives...

Donald “Donnie” Joe Coffey, 67, of Exeter, passed away on Monday, July 3, 2017, at Roaring River Health Care and Rehab in Cassville. He was born on April 1, 1950, son of George and Kathleen (Wear) Coffey, in Twin Falls, Idaho. He graduated from Wheaton High School in 1968. He was a truck driver, and in his later years he owned and operated Don’s Home Repairs...

Bill Cargile, 74, of Pineville, passed away on July 2, 2017, he was born on Nov. 8, 1942, son of Wayne and Lillian (Burns) Cargile in Washburn. He graduated from high school at Washburn. He married and had two children. Later, he remarried and gained three stepchildren...

Betty Arlene Copeland, 78, of Springfield, passed away Saturday, July 1, 2017. She was born in Barry County on Feb. 19, 1939, to Walden William and Ruby Savage Buchanan. She graduated from Cassville High School with the class of 1957. She married her classmate, Ira Copeland, on July 19, 1958, at the Church of God Holiness in Cassville...

Michael Renee Benbo, 62, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, died on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. He was born on July 26, 1954, in Los Angeles, Calif., son of Fred Benbo and Helen (Johnson) Brooks. On Nov. 2, 2008, he was united in marriage to Michelle Keyes in Surprise, Ariz. ...