News

Two people were injured Wednesday in a wreck at 7:20 a.m. on Highway 76, eight miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Rebecca Boyd, 39, of Shell Knob, was driving a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe westbound when her vehicle slid off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree...

A Seligman man died on Monday in a wreck at 6:45 p.m. on Arkansas Highway 37, north of Highway 62 near Gateway. According to an Arkansas State Police report, Darrell Skelton, 60, of Seligman, was driving a 2003 Buick southbound when his vehicle went off the roadway and struck a fence...

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has announced that U.S. Army Sgt. John V. Phillips, 25, of Cassville, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II, was accounted for Dec. 11, 2019. In 1941, Phillips was a member of Headquarters Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942...

The Barry County Commission meets at 10 a.m. Thursday to unveil and approve the county's budget for 2020. In general, the proposed budget shows an upbeat financial picture, with no dramatic shortfalls and incorporating a major initiative to improve the county jail...

Purdy Mayor Bo Prock said his goodbyes on Jan. 14, as he is resigning his position due to his moving out of the city. Prock, 35, whose family purchased a property in McDowell, will be replaced by Mayor Pro Tem Brian Bowers. Prock’s term will expire in April 2021...

The Southwest school district made some important discoveries concerning it performance amid the busy steps of a campus lockdown recently. On Jan. 15, Rene Jalbert, 37, of Cassville, caused the district to implement a lockdown when he arrived on campus and knocked on a window at the middle school. ...

Right on schedule, the cold weather is keeping people indoors, and winter illnesses are beginning to run wild. Dr. Lisa Roark, owner of Roark Family Health and Medical Spa in Cassville, said right now, she is seeing a lot of strep, influenza and gastroenteritis, or the stomach bug...

Annual agriculture conferences for dairy and beef producers will be held by the Monett Chamber of Commerce and the University of Missouri Extension Service on Feb. 4 at the Monett National Guard Armory. The annual conferences provide relevant information for ag producers, highlighting both experience from local producers and research from experts in the field. Around 150 total people have historically attended the conferences...

The Purdy school district recently added five new computers to its classrooms as part of a program through U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt’s office to get computers into rural schools. Derek Banwart, Purdy high school principal, said he received the call in November...

Local law enforcement officials continue to handle calls about squatters illegally occupying area houses that are vacant because they are under renovation or under contract with a realtor for sale. Members of the Barry-Lawrence chapter of Crime Stoppers heard from Lt. Det. Dave Haskins, with the Monett Police Department, that officers continue to respond to calls concerning illegal occupation of homes within the city limits...

Built by R. and W. Construction Co. of Little Rock, Ark., with a white spire that rises 62 feet above ground, the First Christian Church in Cassville opened its newly built doors on Jan. 17, 1971. With stained glass windows from the former church building, which form four biblical scenes, and a seating capacity of 280, the five-year project was finished and ready to see its first service...

The speaker for the annual Chamber Banquet at Cassville High School Saturday was former school administrator Terry Jamieson, who gave an at times emotional speech about his daughter’s recovery from drug addiction, his feelings about returning to Cassville and what makes a community...

Lexie Sanders, Rachel Steinmann, Sheridan Beach, Jhandi Shears and Alyse Brown perform the Spice Girls song “Wanna Be” during the winter concert Saturday at the FEMA Event Center.

The Barry County Democrats will meet on Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cassville Branch Library. Bring Valentines to sign for residents of our local nursing homes. Guest speakers are coming from Southwest Missouri Democrat headquarters and the Chairperson for the 29th Missouri Senatorial District. The group will discuss setting up its local campaign headquarters and support needed for local candidates. People may call 231-343-2727 for more information...

A Cassville man who was on the Southwest school district property Wednesday, causing the district to go into a brief lockdown, is now in the Barry County jail. Rene Jalbert, 37, of Cassville, is charged with felony resisting arrest, misdemeanor careless and imprudent driving and second-degree trespassing...

The Southwest school district was on a brief lockdown Wednesday when a man who is not allowed on school property was seen in the parking lot. Tosha Tilford, Southwest superintendent, said the trespasser had been removed form school grounds in the past, and a letter was sent to him saying he was not allowed on district property. She said there is also an active restraining order against him, and the person who has that order was also on campus....

The city of Cassville is mulling its options for what to do about the bridge on 7th Street into the city park since the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied requests for funding to build a new bridge. FEMA said the city’s request was denied because the scope of work did not meet FEMA code, the scope of work was not eligible for hazard mitigation and the cost-benefit ratio did not meet the required factor...

The conversation about the city of Cassville’s animal control ordinance continued this month, with Nadean Davis again addressing the council and making a new request. Davis, whose daughter, Kristie Preddy, was mauled by two dogs in August 2018, has addressed the animal control ordinance every month since except for December, when she had a medical emergency and a friend addressed the council in her place...

The deadline to file for a seat in the April 7 election is coming up fast, on Jan. 21, and so far, only a few contested races have developed. For the Cassville school board, there are no challengers. Incumbents Becky Henningson, board president, and Jon Horner have refiled. Incumbent David Haddock’s seat is up and he is not planning to refile. Chad Johnson is currently the only person who has filed for the third seat...

Roaring River State Park Hatchery employees traveled to the Missouri Capitol on Thursday to receive the Governor’s Award for its First Hole program. Paul Spurgeon, Roaring River Hatchery manager, said the Governor’s Award was received for the programs quality and productivity in the innovation category...

Purdy High School celebrates Homecoming this week with special activities and a basketball contest Friday against the Sparta Trojans. This year’s theme is “Kick Your Boots Off and Stay Awhile.” Special themed activities during the week include Camo Day, Pajama Day and Country/Western Day. Homecoming Week will conclude on Saturday with a semi-formal Homecoming Dance at 7 p.m., hosted by the Purdy High School Student Council...

Livestock profitability, how to read hay and fertilizing strategies will be the topics for the 91st annual Barry County Soils and Crops Conference, slated for 6 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Cassville. Reagan Bluel, conference organizer for the University of Missouri Extension, noted that an ongoing discussion among cattlemen for years has been whether or not it pays to sell cattle to a feed lot to reach finishing weight or to keep them on the farm and feed them locally to capture the highest price at market. ...

Many people experience that one moment in life that helps push them to do something out of their comfort zone and try something new. For Rachel Moore that moment came when she survived a near-death illness. Moore, local self-published author of two books, said she published her first book in November 2017, and her second book was just released...

A Rocky Comfort man is facing four felony charges after allegedly being found in possession of multiple weapons and drugs during a traffic stop in Cassville. Stephen Lucariello, 35, of Rocky Comfort, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm...

The city of Seligman recently decided to purchase a new tractor from LS Tractors in Stark City for $19,800. Brian Nichols, Seligman city clerk, said the city had replaced a mower within the year and officials decided to purchase a tractor for its multiple uses...

Cupcakes are sweet and so is friendship, the Cassville Branch Library hosted a cupcake decorating class for children on Thursday.

Due to good behavior for an entire quarter of the year, Cassville’s third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students who made the list got to spend their Friday afternoon watching Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.

Four people were injured on Wednesday in a wreck at 7:36 p.m. on Highway 37, one mile north of Purdy. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Darrin Dodson, 48, of Purdy, was driving a 2016 Nissan Altima northbound and slowed to make a left turn when his vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2011 Chevrolet HHR, being driven by Nicholas George, 23, of Cassville...

An Arkansas woman was injured and subsequently arrested following a wreck at 8:39 p.m. on Highway 112, four miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Lori Greene, 39, of Deer, Ark., was driving a 2017 Nissan Versa eastbound when her vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a tree...

The Jenkins Bridge Historical Preservation Society has obtained its non-profit status and is hoping to take possession of the Jenkins bridge in coming months. Dawna Skaggs, president of the Society, said the group had hoped to take possession by the end of 2019, but more things still need to be done...

It’s supposed to be a happy time of year, but squatters, counterfeiters and thieves are making themselves a nuisance to both their victims and law enforcement officials tasked with holding them accountable. At a recent meeting of the Barry-Lawrence County Chapter of Crime Stoppers, Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe noted several counterfeit currency cases reported in Barry County...

A Wheaton family has been displaced following a fire on Friday morning at a home on Gilman Avenue. According to Taylor Lombard, with the Wheaton Fire Protection District, first responders arrived to a home with fire affecting two rooms. “Smoke was visible, and we started an interior attack,” he said. “It took about three hours, and we got back to the station at about 10:30 a.m.”...

The Cassville Community Foundation handed out $5,550 in grants to eight different area organizations in 2019. Recipients include: • His House Foundation, $500 • Barry County Genealogical & History Society, $250 • Cassville High School Backpack Program, $500...

The Exeter school district is making steps to increase the opportunity for staff, and two staff members have put in the work to be accepted into a program that will allow paraprofessionals to become certified teachers in an 18-month course. The Missouri Achievement Through a Collaborative Teacher Residency Program is through the Southwest Center in Webb City...

A local pastor is still coming to terms with the events of last week, as his church’s van was stolen and involved in a police chase into Oklahoma. According to reports, Jerry Rowe, 36, of Noel, allegedly stole the van from the First Baptist Church in Wheaton and was in Neosho when spotted by Newton County Deputy Joe Childers...

Recess at Cassville school on Monday was extra fun, as students got to see the continuous work being done on the Vision 150 expansion work by Branco Enterprises Inc.

Pumping iron to stay in great shape takes dedication, and Joshua Verde has what it takes at the Cassville YMCA.

Community National Bank, a Monett-based national banking association since 2002, has announced plans to merge with Freedom Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank located in Cassville. Community National Bank and its branch in Aurora will become branches of Freedom Bank...

The first licenses for medical marijuana services in Missouri have been announced by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Dispensary licenses are expected to be announced around Jan. 24, 2020. The only cultivation license awarded in Barry County went to Holistic Missouri LLC, listing an address of 19130 Highway 37 in Cassville...

The Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County has been building homes for families in the area for years, and the most recent project that broke ground in October 2018 is nearing completion. But, a possible partnership with Missouri National Guard in Pierce City may help speed up the projects in years to come...

Sales tax revenues in December provided a feast-or famine scenario to end 2019, as most of Barry County’s recipients fell short of last December, but big payoffs in other towns left a positive balance for the month. Countywide sales taxes produced results out of line with the municipal patterns. Barry County’s two .5 percent taxes each generated $181,576, both down $6,298.96 from last December, the first revenue decline in three months...

At four years old, Jonah Meshell and his family moved to Cassville, and his mother joked that he was signed up for a trial lesson in karate before utilities were set up in their new home. Not only was he practicing karate at four years old, but he was excelling, earning belts and learning forms. His passion was in learning forms, which he learned in many different types of karate...

Some well-deserved attention has been focused on Frost Street in Seligman over the last year, and the city is now one step closer to repaving the street. In March, the city was working on the process of determining which streets needed the repaving the most...

The Exeter school district made the decision to upgrade a firewall used by the school for the last 10 years. Ernest Raney, Exeter superintendent, said in 2008, the school installed a Cisco ASA5500 firewall to its systems. “It served us well over the years and it has been very reliable,” he said. “But, as we develop more into the one-to-one programs with each student having access to a Chromebook, the use of our network has exploded.”...

In 1964, Wayne and Tommie Tomblin purchased Kenneth Brown’s Jewelry Store on the Cassville square and established Tomblin’s Jewelry and Gifts. The Tomblins were married in 1945 in a twist of fate that began a love story for the ages. When they were asked to be witnesses at their friends wedding, and their names was put on the bride and groom spot by mistake. The two looked at each other and decided right then that they would be married...

The Cassville school district is preparing to update its handbook to add e-cigarettes and CBD products to its list of unauthorized substances after a sharp rise in recent years of vaping incidents. According to school officials, there have been 40 vaping infractions at the high school in the first 17 weeks of class, which is nearly double the amount in the same period in 2018 and far above the 6 infractions in 2016...

An Eagle Rock woman was injured Sunday in a wreck at 9:35 a.m. on Highway 112 at Roaring River State Park. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Mary James, 76, of Eagle Rock, was driving a 2008 Cadillac DTS eastbound when her vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck the bridge...