Stories from Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Colton Roark, left, and Kadence Slane, right, participate in one of Professor Proton's experiments during the "Spin, POP, Boom" presentation by the Mad Science Lab. Professor Proton is played by Daniel Bush, of Springfield, and Roark and Slane were attending the Cassville Branch Library program with the God's Little Kingdom Preschool Daycare at First Christian Church. Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com...

Amber Reeder, left, points to her 6-year-old son, Isaiah Reeder, as she talks to Angela Seymour about getting Isaiah ready for school. In the background is a line out the front door of the Family LIfe Center, as hundreds of people attended the Ozarks Area Community Action Center's Back-to-School fair Saturday. Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com...

A Cassville woman was injured Sunday morning in a wreck on Hwy. 86, one mile north of Eagle Rock. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Melissa Moore, 23, of Cassville, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu when her vehicle went off the roadway, struck a sign and came to rest in the ditch...

Grass and hay growers saw a much-needed, late growth of forage early this month. This year has been a bad hay year with a lack of sun and dry soil slowing grass growth earlier this summer. The cool weather made it difficult for farmers to find dry days for hay baling early in the season, according to Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension forage agronomist...

A new program is being offered at Mercy Hospital in Cassville that aims to help seniors 65 and older who are dealing with depression and similar symptoms. Kathy Holle, a licensed practical nurse at Mercy, is also a nurse for the new program, The Senior Life Solutions program, which starts on Aug. 20 and is still accepting patients...

The cereal leaf beetle has been spotted on both sides of the state in southern Missouri, threatening to strip the leaves of wheat and can reduce yields. Wheat producers should scout their fields for beetles, according to Wayne Bailey, University of Missouri Extension Entomologist...

An Omaha, Neb., company is preparing to invest $2.6 million to expand its facility in Butterfield, bringing with it four new jobs. The Scoular Company, which buys, sells, stores and transports grain, food ingredients and feed ingredients, has a facility with a 475,000 bu. storage capacity, with upright steel storage and two flat storage structures...

Construction is moving ahead rapidly at the Purdy Schools to finish renovations for the opening of school on Aug. 12. Superintendent Steven Chancellor reported completing an additional duct connection in the cafeteria would finish ceiling work. From there, crews could paint the entire expanded facility and lay floor tile under climate controlled conditions. Ceiling tiles in the kitchen have been replaced...

The Barry County Circuit Court is planning to implement the Missouri Electronic Filing System next month, aiming to enhance access and efficiency. The implementation is one of a growing number of changes that allows the smallest, most rural court, up to the Supreme Court accept filings from attorneys electronically...

Meals will cost more in the Purdy R-2 School District this fall, as school board members voted to raise the fee by 25 cents per meal with the beginning of classes. "With federal requirements for food prices, we've dodged this for several years," said Steven Chancellor, Purdy superintendent. "We don't have a choice."...

The former Eagle Rock postmaster has received a sentence of three years and eight months in federal prison for conspiring to rob or burglarize a convenience store in 2012. Michael Joe Stubblefield, 51, of Cassville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner in federal district court in Springfield on Thursday...

State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, votes in the Republican primary election Tuesday at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Fitzpatrick has been reelected state representative for the 158th District, as he ran unopposed in the primary and is unopposed in the general election Nov. 4. Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com...

For the fourth time in seven months, sales tax receipts have jumped by more than 20 percent compared to the same month a year ago. July numbers registered a 21 percent spike, with every town except Seligman registering gains. The seven Barry County cities generating sales tax received $561,319.13. Comparing the same taxes collected a year ago, that represented an increase of 12 percent...

After an almost two-month investigation, Cpl. Donnie Privett of the Cassville Police Department has returned to work after it was ruled his use of force was justified in the June 10 incident that killed a Cassville man. Johnnie Cox, Barry County prosecutor, said the decision to not file charges was based on internal reports from the Cassville Police Department and Barry County Sheriff's Department, each of which responded to the scene; autopsy and toxicology reports; and a full investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.. ...

The Regal Athletic 10-and-Under softball team took second in the Bernard Memorial USSSA State tournament. In the front row, from left, are: Madison Williams, Abby McCaffrey, Karsen Rhea, Ema Short, Paige Copeland and Bethany Rogers. Back row: Kalysa McGuire, Lauren Shallert, Kinzey Stellwagen and Taylor Southard. Not picture are coaches Jack Williams and Haley Williams. Contributed photo...

Barry County Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren won a sixth consecutive term Tuesday night, defeating one of his challengers by only 141 votes. Warren, 75, of rural Exeter, won Tuesday's Republican primary with an unofficial count of 44 percent (2,360 votes). Coming in second was Eddie Davison, 65, of Shell Knob received 42 percent (2,219 votes), and in third was Terry Burgess, 31, of Seligman received 14 percent (734 votes)...

Monett attorney Amy Boxx was elected as Barry County prosecuting attorney Tuesday to replace Johnnie Cox, who was elected to the associate circuit judgeship. Boxx, 42, who garnered an unofficial count of 62 percent (3,216 votes), defeated Matthew Weatherman, 30, of Golden, and Steve Dunker, 50, of Cassville. Weatherman received 20 percent (1,044 votes), and Dunker received 18 percent (952 votes)...

One of the first trips I ever took without my parents was to the state capitol when I was 10. I was with a small group from 4-H and we had a great time. We toured the dome in Jefferson City, met then-Governor John Ashcroft, sat in on a session of the legislature, and then rode the bus four hours back home...

No one can't blame Kelly Shryock for wanting to sit in his trailer and have people that want to talk to him come inside. The circles under his eyes, dirt under his fingernails and smell of transmission fluid and fuel tell a big part of the tale. By the time the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) hit Monett on Sunday, it was the third race in three days for Shryock, of Fertile, Iowa...

With area summer sports camps in full swing, it is important for the participants to stay hydrated. Pictured, from left, are Mighty Mites participants Zane McCracken, Daven Madrid and Kristopher Cloud as they take a water break to stay hydrated during a summer youth football camp. Jared Lankford sports@cassville-democrat.com...