Opinion

The Aug. 2 election showed us two things in Barry County, the power of hoofing it through rural parts of the Ozarks, and the power behind a rural precinct ballot. Steve Blankenship, of Jenkins, won the Barry County presiding commissioner race over Chad Johnson and Andrew W.

The 2022-2023 school year will begin on Tuesday, August 23. We are excited to welcome our students and staff back for another great year at Cassville R-IV School District.

Cassville’s main drag from 10th Street going south has taken on various looks over the decades, some for the good and others that have depleted the commercial potential. It’s still an interesting thought to remember those former contributors to our way of life, which was once called “the good life, in our own way” by one metropolitan writer.

I’m writing from a condo on North Beach of Tybee Island in Savannah, Ga., and it’s a small miracle we are here. My family has always driven to vacations.

Before Table Rock Dam was completed in 1958, the area in and around the reservoir got an early look at what water would look like when an impoundment was in place. There are a number of recollections about this happening, none more memorable than a couple of Violaarea men who stepped up to an important job at the time and probably never got adequate recognition for their efforts, which is often the case in civilization.

Next January, Barry County will have a new presiding commissioner. Who will it be? That’s for you to decide.

Cassville has always been a good baseball community. Even as far back as Mineral Springs playing Star City, the true Blues of the semi-pro KOMA league, the town team Blues, and the American Legion team.

An exciting and adventurous look outward this week was tempered with news that should force us to look inward just as hard. On Monday, NASA released the first photo from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the deepest infrared image of the universe ever.

It’s difficult to believe that one of the best representatives of Cassville and Barry County was operating nearly 60 years ago. The Barry County Sheriff’s Posse, which lasted through three sheriffs and covered 18 years, was one of the best diplomats for this area that ever existed. Unfortunately, changes in lifestyle and interests of individuals and groups permitted the Posse to fade out of the picture.

Most voters are passionate. Whether for a specific candidate, issue or tax, motivations for voting span the gamut.