Stories from Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Cassville teen was seriously injured in a two-vehicle wreck that occurred at 7 a.m. on Friday. The crash took place on Highway 60 five miles west of Monett when the driver of a 1996 Buick LeSabre, Jessica D. Heston, 19, of Holiday Island, Ark., failed to yield and drove into the path of a 2005 Ford F450, driven by Andy L. Morris, 37, of Harlington, Texas, who struck the passenger door of the Heston vehicle...

It's been a busy month so far for Purdy Police Chief Jackie Lowe according to a report he gave at the April meeting of the Barry-Lawrence Crime Stoppers. Three major incidents in Purdy remain under investigation. Lowe said a truck was stolen from 604 Fourth St. ...

Get ready for a smashing good time as Gizmo's Event Center is planning to host a demolition derby at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 in Wheaton. Friday will see stock and modified tough trucks race figure eights. The demolition derby will take place on Saturday...

SUPPORT GROUP: The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group of Cassville meets at 8 p.m. at 1308 Harold St. in Cassville. For more informa-tion, call 846-4044. SUPPORT GROUP: Anyone who is concerned about a friend's or loved one's drinking is invited to attend the Cassville Al-Anon Family Group, which meets at 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cassville...

Local drug court to hold graduation ceremony in honor of national event

Tom Gantt Ministries, located on Highway 37 south of Cassville, will be traveling to Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama to assist people living in the communities that were devasted by tornadoes last week. Gantt plans to focus relief efforts on smaller communities, similar in size to cities located in Barry County...

Around 30 community members voice opinions

The Barry County Commission and the Barry County Emergency Services Board are awaiting recommendations from legal counsel regarding Judge Neal Quitno's ruling in favor of the City of Monett in the tax increment financing (TIF) lawsuit. "Our legal counsel has not had time to review the decision and make a recommendation," said Cherry Warren, Barry County presiding commissioner. "I think it would be premature for us to make a decision before counsel gives us direction."...

Litigation over Monett's tax increment financing (TIF) program swung in favor of Monett as Judge Neal Quitno ruled in favor of the city against Barry and Lawrence counties and the Barry County Emergency Services Board. The judge granted summary judgment for the city on all the arguments, leaving no issues remaining to go to trial...

As spring rains continue to fall over southwest Missouri, area lake levels continue to rise. Later this week, Table Rock Lake is expected to crest at 931.7 feet, which is only around two feet lower than the record level of 933.25 feet recorded in 2008...

The trial of a former Cassville woman facing federal murder charges is scheduled to begin on Sept. 19 in federal court in Springfield. Kay Young, 56, of Novinger, and her friend, Katherine Mock, 57, of Cassville, and her friend, Kay Young, 56, of Novinger, are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of murder for hire...

A preliminary hearing date has been set for a Purdy man charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a traffic crash that killed a 10-year-old girl. Gregory Swaffar, 26, faces two charges of felony vehicular assault charges, one charge of involuntary manslaughter and one charge of driving while intoxicated, third offense. ...

The Barry County Judicial Center is making a change in how routine arraignments are now handled. The 39th Circuit Court is now utilizing the Polycom teleconferencing system, and it's already bringing a financial savings to the county. The $10,000 piece of equipment, purchased from law library funds, has nearly paid for itself through savings in manpower, travel expenses and housing of inmates currently incarcerated in other prisons throughout the state who face charges in Barry County...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Dogwood Car, Truck and Motorcycle Festival on the square in Cassville on Saturday, May 7. Car show participants can pre-register at the chamber office during regular hours from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. through Friday. Registrations will also be accepted after 7:30 a.m. on the day of the show...

Bill LeCompte to be honored by city, chamber members and businesses on Thursday

This Sunday, I will celebrate my first Mother's Day with Sophie. A year ago, I knew a little baby would be coming into my life. I knew that I would be responsible for caring for her, feeding her, changing her and playing with her, but being a mother is so much more than just meeting the physical needs of a child. Becoming a mother changes your life forever...

Dear Editor: This letter is to inform the citizens of Barry County that the residents of Big Bass Bend in Shell Knob are flooded in again. As of May 2, it has been seven days that the only road into or out of our neighborhood has been under water. There are approximately 50 people that live in the affected area full-time...

The Cassville Wildcats swept a pair of conference games last week, edging Mt. Vernon 2-1 and then pummeling Seneca 16-8. Ricky Nichols ripped two home runs to account for all of his team's scoring against Mt. Vernon. Nichols went yard on the first pitch of the game to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.The Mountaineers tied the game in the fourth inning, thanks to a bunt single and the following RBI. Then Nichols connected again in the fifth inning to regain the lead for Cassville...

The Pierce City track and field teams swept both the boys and girls divisions at the 89th Aldo Sebben Relays held at Missouri State University's Plaster Field on Tuesday, April 26. The Pierce City boys edged Ash Grove, 77-76, to win the championship trophy. Southwest scored 21 for 12th in the field of 17 schools...

The Purdy Eagles baseball team picked up a 13-3 victory over the Exeter Tigers on Friday. Purdy scored two runs in the top of the first and never trailed in the contest. The Eagles were deuces wild, scoring two runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings and three runs in the fifth inning...

The Southwest Trojans lost a pair of games on the diamond last week. The Trojans dropped a 2-1 decision at Sparta on Thursday and then were shut out at Diamond on Friday, 6-0. Batting slumps are frustrating things, and Kenny Ferguson's club had its fill of frustration in the two-game road trip...

The Cassville Wildcats claimed third place in the boys team standings at the Monett Relays last Thursday. McDonald County won the meet with 116 points, followed by Carl Junction with 105 and Cassville with 97. Even though the Mustangs won the meet, David Large's Wildcats moved a step closer to winning an elusive Big 8 Conference track title. Cassville has not won a Big 8 title since Large took over...

The Southwest Trapshooting Team won its seventh state title over the weekend, edging Branson by a single target, 480/500 to 479/500. According to Southwest's Mike Vining, over 170 teams competed in the championship event held at the Linn Creek shooting complex in central Missouri...

James William "Bill" LeCompte, age 83, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011, in Cassville Health Care and Rehabilitation. He was born February 7, 1928, in Cassville at the family home, to Norman G. and Dove (Edmondson) LeCompte. ...

Ernestine (Teena) E. Hooker Carpenter, 94, of Fayetteville, Ark., died May 2, 2011. She was born in Seligman to Ernest and Ruth McClain Hooker. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Fern Rubow, of Seligman, and Betty Walker, of Springdale, Ark.; and one brother, Paul Hooker, of Rogers, Ark...

Leon Laverne Paul, 82, of Washburn, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011, in Red Rose Health and Rehabilitation Center, Cassville. He was the son of Nelson Thomas Paul and Quintilla (Hall) Paul. He graduated from Washburn High School with the class of 1947...

Lucy Mae Dalton, 78, of Washburn, Missouri, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2011, in St. John's Hospital, Cassville. She was born July 15, 1932, in Jane, Missouri, the daughter of Eddie Lester and Stella Mae (Pendergraft) Baker. On April 17, 1954, in Jane, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Vern Dalton, who preceded her in death on June 4, 2008. ...

Services for Arthur H. "Junior" Axley, 88, of Claremore, Okla., passed away Sunday, May 1, 2011. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7 in the Chapel of the Garden at Rice Funeral Service, 631 E. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore, Okla., (918) 341-0376. Burial will follow at Gibson Cemetery in Stonebluff, Okla. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, with family receiving visitors from 4 to 7 p.m...

Mary M. Butcher, 82, of Eagle Rock, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, at the Red Rose Health and Rehab in Cassville. She was born on Nov. 5, 1928, in Pawhuska, Okla. Her parents, Albert Earnest Weston, and Lydia Estella (Beaver) Weston were born and raised in Seligman...

Mary Alice Reeb, 87, of Jenkins, formerly of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at her home. She was born on Nov. 1, 1923, in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from high school at the Holy Family High School in Columbus, Ohio, she enrolled in nursing school and graduated as a registered nurse. She was united in marriage to Alonzo E. Reeb, Jr. in Ohio on Oct. 5, 1942. He preceded her in death 18 years ago...

Marion Buck Calton, 86, of Cassville, passed away on May 1, 2011, at his home. He was born in Barry County at "Tom Town" south of Verona, on Jan. 10, 1925, the son of Marion Elby and Ethel Roberta Calton. After graduating from Verona High School, he was inducted into the Army where he became a member of the Eighth Air Force, 100th Bomb Group stationed in England...

Arthur Russell "Art" Kiefer, Jr., 90, of Shell Knob, died at his home Tuesday, April 26, 2011. He was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., March 23, 1921, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Russell Kiefer, Sr. On June 19, 1946, he was united in marriage to Margie Pearce who preceded him in death on Feb. 16, 2006. Also preceding him in death were his parents...

Access Family Care will hold a Women's Health Week events for area residents from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 12 at the clinic, which is located at 1101 Main St. The theme for this year's event is "It's Your Time." National Women's Health Week is a nationwide initiative that calls attention to the importance of women's health. ...

Stein Ancillary Services began offering speech, occupational and physical therapy at Red Rose Health and Rehab in Cassville last June. Certified therapists are available at the long-term care facility eight hours a day, five days a week. "We are very lucky to have them here all the time to offer services," said Teresa Smith, Pinnacle Healthcare and Red Rose outreach coordinator. ...