News
Denali to drain wastewater residuals lagoons in Missouri
The draining of Denali Water Solutions’ storage lagoons in Newton, McDonald and Macon counties is scheduled to begin after the company’s signing of an administrative action issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Jan. 31.

Hometown BBQ hero Joel Curren remembered
Friends and family of Joel Curren, pitmaster who founded and operated BBQ Station in Cassville for 15 years, gathered at his establishment on Sunday afternoon to celebrate his memory. Curren, who specialized in Texas-style hickory smoked barbeque, died on Jan. 17 after a battle with illness. Sharing stories of his friendliness and ownership of BBQ Station were his father Gil Curren, left, of Bentonville, Ark., and Jean Passley, of Cassville.

Crowder nursing receives $60K grant for simulation lab
The nursing program at Crowder College Cassville Campus received a $60,000 boost in funding in January, given by the South Barry County Hospital District Board. Sandra Wilson, Crowder's director of nursing, said the college is happy to have such a strong partnership with the local board “Partnerships with clinical sites are significant to our nursing programs,” Wilson said.

Shaw, Nelson crowned in Exeter
Former Exeter Homecoming Queen Emma Sorensen, center, crowns 2024 Queen Kenze Shaw, left, as 2024 King Kason Nelson looks on, at right.
Highway 248 one-lane bridge to close during day
A bridge closure on Highway 248 in Barry County will affect traffic in the Jenkins area for up to two weeks.

Purdy Homecoming court named
Purdy High School will crown its 2024 Homecoming Queen and Mr. Tip-Off at a special coronation between JV and varsity boys’ basketball games on Friday. The JV contest against Billings begins at 6 p.m. This year’s Homecoming theme is “Eagles Through the Years.” Front row, from left: senior Raeley Henderson, junior Rosa Schad, sophomore Gabriela Groomer and freshman Allison Lopez. Back row: junior Will Henderson, sophomore Damon Mahurin and freshman Logan Manwarren. Not pictured: senior Gauge Davidson.
News briefs, Feb. 7
The Cassville school district will host a Community Viewing Event on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the FEMA Event Center, showing the documentary “Childhood 2.0: The Living Experiment.” The documentary aims to educate parents, guardians and community members about the inherent challenges and dangers of the digital world.

Southwest students look toward futures on Career Day
Blake Whitley, front right, and Kacy Whitley, front left, speak to Southwest juniors, from left, Jesse Townsend, Matthew Bise, Hunter Cain, Brycen Cox and Noah Lamphere, about a possible career as a pharmacist.

Across America: Traveling minister visits Cassville
A Kentucky man was turning heads and opening hearts in Cassville over a five-day period last week, carrying a wooden cross on his cross-country mission to spread Christian love and ministry. Gregory Jones, of Lexington, Kent., arrived in Cassville on Jan. 24 by way of Eureka Springs.
County Republican caucus, Democrat primary set
Presidential primaries are underway across the nation, and in Missouri, the process for local voters to select their presidential and congressional candidates has vastly changed. From 2000 to 2020, Missouri held a state-run presidential primary, a process state lawmakers repealed in 2022.