Hooping for the holidays
The field at the 42nd Annual Southwest Boys Holiday Tournament is as competitive as ever, with last year’s champion retaining the No. 1 seed and two Barry County schools looking to dethrone the title-holder.
Southwest volleyball players honored

Eight Southwest High School volleyball players earned Academic All-State. They were: sophomore Olivia Hnem; juniors Rylee Hobbs, Emma Outhouse and Marissa Freeman; and seniors Montana Skelton, Riley Flippo, Laura Henry and Kaleigh Tull. The varsity grade-point average was 3.87. In other postseason honors, Freeman and Henry were each recognized. Henry, a setter, was named to both the Class 2 All-District team and All-SWCL Conference team. She led the team in assists and serve percentage. Freeman, a middle, was named to the All-SWCL Conference team. She led the team in kills, blocks and aces.
Through the Years, Dec. 25

30 YEARS AGO: JUDGED BEST OF DECORATIONS — Providing a more than adequate identification for Santa Claus as he next arrives in Cassville, this home decoration scheme was chosen best of the town by Chamber of Commerce judges. The home is that of Jim and Helen O’Dell on Fair Street.
Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week, Dec. 25

Meet Emmett, this week’s Pet of the Week! He was born June 20, 2017, and he’s a brown and black Belgian Shepherd Malinois/American Bulldog mix.
Arvest makes series of school donations

Arvest Foundation recently awarded the Exeter school district with a grant of $5,000 for its student fund.
Helen Geraldine “Gerri” Raines

Helen Geraldine “Gerri” Raines, age 100, died Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Concordia Nursing and Rehab in Bella Vista, Arkansas. She was born December 1, 1924, in Seligman, Missouri, the only child of Leon and Lena (Kelley) Skelton.
Dr. Darrell Gene Woods

Dr. Darrell Gene Woods, age 75, of Cassville, Mo., passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, in his home.
Jennifer White
Jennifer Paige White, 53, of Cassville, formerly of Pierce City and Mt. Vernon, died on Dec.
It’s a beaut, Batsche, it’s a beaut

On the north side of Cassville on Farm Road 1107, the glow of more than 13,000 Christmas lights shines bright on the Batsche property. First-place winners in the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Decorating Contest, Tom and Cristie Batsche spend more than a month prepping the Jewell and Billy Thomas farm for the happiest of holidays, earning a “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” nickname in the process.
Nurse practitioner joins CoxHealth Cassville Clinic

CoxHealth Cassville Clinic is welcoming Shelbi Cockrum, a family nurse practitioner, to its health care team. Cockrum’s journey began at age 4 when she received a toy stethoscope as a gift.