There will be a BBQ Cook-Off at The Gathering Place in Purdy on Oct. 18. Prizes will be awarded, and categories include baby-back ribs, chicken and baked beans. Entry fees vary. To enter the contest, or for more information, people may call Ken Terry at 417-850-8781.

Southwest NHS sponsoring Pumpkin Carving Contest in October

The Southwest High School chapter of the National Honor Society is hosting a pumpkin decorating/carving contest for Pre K-8th grade students in October. Pumpkins entered into the contest must be labeled with the student’s name and grade level. Two winners will be picked from each grade, and all participants will get a small prize. Pumpkins must be turned in from Oct. 27-30 (no pumpkins will be judged on Oct. 31). The categories include: board games/video games, movies/ TV shows, food, sports, careers, animals and seasons/holidays. Anyone with questions or concerns may contact either NHS President Rylee Hobbs or Adviser Steve Voyak (svoyak@swr5.net), or call the high school at 417-826-5413.

Blood Drive at Southwest High School Oct. 15

A blood drive sponsored by Southwest High School Student Council and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will be held Oct. 15. The event, in the high school gymnasium in Washburn, starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. and is open to the staff, students and the public. To schedule an appointment, people may call 417-227-5006 or go to www.cbco.org/donate blood. All donors will receive a Kansas City Chiefs T-shirt and be entered into a drawing for tickets to a future game.

Purdy Road District meeting

The Purdy Special Road District will met Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the district road barn.

ERCA hosting Hymn singalong

The Eagle Rock Community Association is hosting an Old-Fashioned Public Hymn Singalong in the Pavilion at 27824 Hwy. 86 Eagle Rock on Oct. 19 from 4-5 p.m. All voices and all faiths are welcome! Music by local talent. For question, people may contact Nancy Plagge at 870-654-5231.

Zone 4 hosting Bingo, Trivia

Zone 4 Mini Golf & More will host Bingo on the patio at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Trivia on the patio at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18.

Democratic Central Committee meeting set

The Barry County Democratic Central Committee will meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Cassville Library, 301 W. 17th St.

Corsicana Road District to meet

The Corsicana Special Road District will meet in regular session on Tuesday at 7 pm, at the home of Garry and Pam Bartkoski, located at 5086 Farm Road 2057 in Monett. The public is welcome to attend.

Capps Creek Road District meeting set

The Capps Creek Special Road District will meet in regular session on Oct. 17 at noon at the home of Garry and Pam Bartkoski, located at 5086 Farm Road 2057 in Monett. The public is welcome to attend.

Waste Management District to meet

The Southwest Missouri Waste Management District N will hold its Executive Board Meeting at 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday at the Angus Branch Steakhouse in Monett. This meeting is open to the public. A teleconference number will also be available for this meeting. People may contact the district office at 417-236-9012 or 417-342-6306 prior to the day of the meeting for the call-in number and passcode.

Parents as Teachers event on Oct. 23

Children ages birth to 5 years old are invited to join Cassville schools for the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Fall Group Connection meeting on Oct. 23 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Rocky Edmondson Park. PAT is a program available at no charge offered by Cassville R-IV that promotes the early development, learning and health of children ages prenatal to 5 years old. Interested in learning more about PAT? Call 417-847-5106.

Haven hosting vaccine clinics in November

Pet owners whose animals are in need of vaccines or spay/neuter services may schedule an appointment at https://tinyurl.com/PetClinic2025. The Haven of the Ozarks Animal Shelter will host a free vaccine clinic on Nov. 6 and a low cost spay/neuter clinic on Nov. 13.

Pioneer Road District quarterly meeting set

The Pioneer Road District will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Wheaton Volunteer Fire Department building, located at 407 E. Hurlbut in Wheaton.

SADD hosting Fun Color Run

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at Cassville High School will host a Fun Color Run on Saturday, with registration at 7 a.m. and the race at 8 a.m. The event begins at the Cassville Aquatic Center, and participants should wear a white shirt and eye protection. The cost is $20, and proceeds benefit Cooper Hendrix for his kidney transplant. People may register at https://cassville.revtrak.net/high-school/hs-sadd/#/v/sadd-color-fun-run.

Special Election on Nov. 4

Are you registered to vote in Barry County? If you are not registered to vote in Barry County, Oct. 8 is the deadline to register to be eligible to vote in the Special Election on Nov. 4. Please notify the County Clerk’s Office if you have moved and have not updated your address or had a name change. Photo ID is required to vote. Absentee voting runs through Nov. 3 at the Barry County Clerk’s Office in Cassville, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If unable to vote in person, you may send a written request or a completed application to the office of Joyce Ennis, Barry County Clerk, 700 Main St. Suite 2, Cassville, MO 65625 or fax to: 417-847-5311. The office will need: Name, physical address, mailing address, date of birth, last four digits of Social Security number, phone number, reason for voting absentee and signature. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Oct. 22. Two week in-person no excuse absentee voting begins Oct. 21. For more information, people may call the Barry County Clerk’s Office at 417-847-2561 opt: 3 or email jennis@barrycountyclerk.com or ajohnson@barrycountyclerk.com.

4-H Carnival coming up

The Barry County 4-H Carnival will be held on Saturday from 2-8 p.m. (or until food and prizes are gone) at the Sho-Me Plaza Suite 10 on Highway 248 in Cassville. Ticket prices are 50 cents each, or $20 for unlimited games. All games cost one ticket, and some cost two. A silent auction will run until 6:30 p.m. Food and drinks range from 75 cents to $3 and include: hot dog, chips, popcorn, nachos, bowl of chili, chili dog, nachos with chili, water, tea and lemonade. All proceeds benefit Barry County 4-H members.

Softball Tournament fundraiser on Oct. 18

A Softball Tournament Fundraiser will be held on Oct. 18 at the Wheaton Ball Fields, beginning at 10 a.m., with proceeds benefitting Glenda Ball, a retired Wheaton elementary teacher diagnosed in 2001 with Diffuse Large Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a blood cancer. Softball teams of 10-15 people may register by Oct. 16, with a $250 registration fee turned in at Wheaton City Hall. There will also be a home run derby at $10 per entry. Chicken dinner with sides will be available for a donation, and there will be a live auction. For more information, people may contact Clint at 417-693-3145, or Libby at 417-846-7984. Auction items and cash donations are also being accepted.