January 2024
First snow of year dusts Cassville
Curtis Hobbs, 8, and Kole Hobbs, 4, both of Exeter, teamed up to build a snowman on Friday morning.
Responding to God’s gifts, a look at Matthew 7:11
I would like to share an article from a guest writer for my turn at the devotional page this time. My wife, Jamie Fugitt, wrote this for a daily devotional publication.
Through the Years, Jan. 10
Y ears 50 years ago Jan. 17, 1974 — Gas Service Requests New Rate Hike The Gas Service Co., supplier of natural gas to about 365,000 Missourians, has filed application for rate increases that would cost the average domestic consumer about 55 cents extra each month.
Haven of the Ozarks’ pet of the week, Jan. 10
Meet Girly! She has been up for adoption in the Haven of the Ozarks shelter for over 570 days. She is accustomed to leash walks, loves all the attention you can give her, and seems to get along great with other dogs. She is still very active and could use some training to not jump. Due to this, we suggest a home with only older children. Girly has so much love to give and craves a family of her own. She would thrive having an active lifestyle which may include walking, swimming, hiking, playing ball, etc. She might act ferocious behind the chain link fences of the Haven, but Girly really is just a big wigglebutt with the biggest smile. Her estimated date of birth is July 12, 2018, and she is about 49 pounds. All Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary pets are fixed, up to date on their vaccinations, and microchipped. The Haven is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.
Merlyn Johnson: Breaking down the Cassville school district calendar
As we turn the page on the 2023 calendar, it is time for us at Cassville R-IV School District to begin preparing for our academic calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. Five years ago, our state legislators voted to require the school start date to be no earlier than 14 days prior to the first Monday in September.
Lynn Hilburn: Worry for our future history
As president of the Barry County Genealogical and Historical Society, I realize my editorials should probably be mostly about the history and genealogy of present and past residents of Barry County. This editorial is about what I would consider the “future history” of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Barry County residents and of the whole United States. I will endeavor to keep this as apolitical as possible.
Kyle Troutman: A tisket, a tasket, a city council packet
As recently as 2016, once a month, the city would drop off its council meeting packet at my office — about 60-100 pages of agenda, minutes, the check register, project bids and department reports. I referred to the file as my monthly light reading, but I’ll let you in on a little journalism secret: some of the best news is buried.
Berry turning 70
Local resident Walter Berry turns 70 on Sunday. A celebration dinner will be held at Adelita’s in Cassville at 7:30 on Saturday for anyone wanting to help Berry and his family celebrate.
4 injured in new year’s day crash
Four Purdy residents were injured on Jan. 1 in a wreck at 6:55 p.m.
Exeter Holiday Joy Food Drive exceeds goal again!
Exeter students, parents, teachers, staff and PTO worked together again this year to collect and distribute 23 food baskets and cases of water to local families in need of assistance during the 2023 holiday season. Exeter collected just over 2,000 non-perishable items last year to meet its goal, so this year it set 2,500 as the goal to collect. Participants brought in 2,874 items, thanks to classes competing to be the biggest “givers!” The winning class in the elementary was Mr. McNabb’s third-grade class, bringing in over 1,000 items. With only 13 students in the class, that was just over 97 items per student brought in, since that is the fairest way to calculate the donations based on class size. The eighth-grade class won the Middle/High School competition, bringing in 7 items per student in their class of 21 students, totaling 149 items donated. The students in those classes celebrated their big hearts on Dec. 21, 2023, with pizza parties courtesy of Pizza Hut of Cassville. Pizza Hut also recognized six of the top charitable students with certificates for Personal Pan pizzas.
