As we know, it’s late June in Barry County. 

As June gives way to July, the days seem to stretch a little longer, and our life settles into a familiar summer rhythm. Our lawns need mowing again just a few days after being cut. The crab grass is becoming more confident each day and is demanding attention. And, there are lots of reasons to stay outside until the last light fades from the sky. The sight of fireflies and the sounds of tree frogs and my bug zapper become my nightly companions on the back patio.

There is something about late June that reminds me of fun times growing up in our wonderful community. While we shouldn’t live in the past, we can draw upon our memories as a source of gratitude and inspiration for the future.

As you drive or walk around town you can see a prime example of this is the mural that has been painted by Cassville High School Art Teacher Teall Williams and her talented Summer School students on the wall of the Old City Hall property, at the corner of 8th and Townsend Streets. Their mural draws upon the mix of our community pride, culture and history. 

It also demonstrates that we have something many small towns in America would love to have — a proud past and a vibrant future. 

Another example is the plan for the former Hall Theater property, which burned down in 2022. The proposed Pocket Park, aptly named by Kyle Troutman, will honor our past while meeting community needs for today and the future. It will feature an outdoor pavilion that will bring added life to our historic downtown. 

The final example are the improvements to several downtown businesses, which have been spearheaded by the Cassville Community Foundation, made possible by a generous, anonymous grant, are showcases of the past inspiring the future. The improvements pay homage to our past while providing downtown businesses with facelifts that showcase community pride and vitality for future growth. 

As I walk and drive around our wonderful community and see what has been accomplished here in our quaint town, the words of the late U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy come to mind: “Some see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask, ‘Why not?’” 

That “why not” attitude is what drove Cassville’s growth and innovation in the past and continues our current path forward. Why not have a Greenway Trail? Why not have an Industrial Park? Why not have an Aquatic Park? Why not have a Performing Arts Center? Why not have a Trout Fest? Why not have an agricultural research farm?

The list goes on and on.

I always welcome your ideas for, “Why not have this in Cassville.” That is how we will continue to grow and thrive.

As you reflect upon the past or have ideas for the future, remember that these long June evenings will not last forever. Before long, school supplies will appear on store shelves and thoughts will turn toward fall. For now, though, we have the gift of summer before us. Perhaps the best thing we can do is simply appreciate it while it is here even if the crab grass gets more and more confident in its abilities. 

Wishing you fun summer days ahead.

Jon Horner is a local community bank president, published author, newspaper columnist, motivational speaker, and mayor of America’s Real Hometown. He can be reached at [email protected].