January 2024

8 Lady Trojans earn Academic All-State
A total of eight Southwest High School volleyball players earned Academic All-State. They include, from left: Lyric Bernard, Marissa Freeman, Montana Skelton, Riley Flippo, Kaleigh Tull, Laura Jean Henry, Brooklynn Slye and Juliauna Sierra. Coach Steve Voyak said the combined varsity grade point average was 3.94.

Gaming is a sport at school?
Those who don’t want to play traditional winter sports like basketball have a new opportunity in Shell Knob — Esports. Esports is short for electronic sports, referring to competitive video gaming in tournaments and leagues.
Lady ‘Cats 2nd in Monett Invitational wrestling tournament
The Cassville boys and girls wrestling teams brought home a combined 10 medals, including two golds, from the Monett Invitational tournaments on Friday and Saturday. For the Wildcats, 106-pounder Kaleb Artherton earned a firstplace medal, pinning his way through five opponents.

Drug drop box installed at Cassville City Hall
The Cassville Police Department participates in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s annual Drug Take-Back Day, but due to the number of drugs brought in throughout the year, a greater solution was needed. Det.
Sales tax totals end year on down note
Sales tax revenue to Barry County cities and county government entities ended 2023 on a down note, with five of the seven cities receiving less than they did a year ago. The calendar-year totals showed more gains overall from the previous year, but a much more mixed picture than the last three years following the end of the 2020 COVCID-19 pandemic surge in local shopping.

Purdy FBLA raises $1,350 for employee battling breast cancer
The Purdy High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, in conjunction with the Purdy High School Volleyball Team, raised $1,350 in their annual October Pink Out fundraising effort. Funds were raised from T-shirt and cake pop sales, a hat day, volleyball raffle and a serving contest at the Pink Out Volleyball Game.
Cassville Senior Center launches ‘Business Partners Program’
3 levels of sponsorship to aid Center's activities, celebrations In a bid to foster community support and enhance the overall experience for its members, the Cassville Senior Center is excited to announce the January launch of its Business Partners Program. This initiative marks a significant step forward in building stronger connections between the local business community and the thriving senior population of Cassville and surrounding areas.

Mark Elliott returns to Wildcat Nation as assistant principal
A former teacher and coach at Cassville Middle School is returning to the district after two years at East Newton. After five years of service to the Cassville school district, at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year, Mark Elliott departed from Wildcat Nation to launch his career in educational administration at East Newton.
News brief, Jan. 10
A $5 chili and soup Benefit Super will be held on Jan. 20 from 5-8 p.m.

Patriots upset Trojans in tourney title tilt
All had been going as planned for the Southwest boys basketball team at the 41st Annual Southwest Holiday Tournament, then a scoring drought at the start of Friday’s championship game against East Newton proved to be too tough a hole to escape.