Kyle Troutman

Kyle Troutman

Purdy City Council to ride in Yule parade

BY MURRAY BISHOFF Special to the Cassville Democrat With holiday activities approaching, the Purdy City Council discussed participating and preparing for the New Year. Ken and Julie Terry, who host the July 4 celebration, will again offer the Purdy Community Christmas parade at 10 a.m.

Dakoda Pettigrew: The meaning of the Declaration

The rain was falling with misty, unrelenting force as President Calvin Coolidge rose to deliver the greatest speech of his life. It was Monday, July 6, 1926, and the rain beat the president’s face as he stood before a crowd of 35,000 on the grounds of the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American independence and constitutionalism. “Despite a fine drizzle, which became a heavy downpour,” The New York Times reported the next day, “the crowds patiently lined twenty miles of streets to pay their respects” to a man whose cool and quiet demeanor hid a patriotic intellect that could not be contained.

Miss, Mr. Merry Christmas candidates announced

Cassville’s Miss and Mr. Merry Christmas candidates for 2024 have been announced. Front row, from left: freshman Samantha Baugus, daughter of Sam Baugus and Jessica Minor, of Cassville; junior Joei Blankenship, daughter of Clit and Bobbi Blankenship, of Jenkins; senior Lauren Sparkman, daughter of Gamon Sparkman and the Late Shelley Sparkman, of Cassville. Back row: freshman Will Finch, son of Mark and Paula Finch, of Cassville; sophomore Caleb Pyle, son of Joei Pyle and Christy Butler Pyle, of Cassville; junior Cash Gray Smith, son of Weslie and Jamie Johns, of Cassville; and senior Jonathan Cole Cash, son of Daniel Cash and Jona and Robert Anderson, of Cassville. Not pictured: sophomore Savannah-Lynn Connor. Candidates will be raising money to donate to the Barry County Neighborhood Center’s Share Your Christmas Program. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville- democrat.com

Lady Trojans double numbers

The Southwest girls basketball team has doubled its roster from last year, embarking on a season without no seniors and under new management. Shawn Johnson, former assistant coach in his first year as head coach, said he brings 23 years as a coach, including 13 in JV or junior high basketball and 10 in varsity softball, and he’s excited to see what the Lady Trojans can do this season.

Thanks for Fridays

How many people does it take to put on a home football game? Fall Fridays are sacred to Wildcat Nation, and to make the experience the best it can be, many volunteers and school staff work year-round. Lance Parnell, Cassville athletic director, said there’s a lot that goes into the four or five Fridays the Wildcats get to play at home each year, not counting any postseason contests.