Stories from Wednesday, April 6, 2016

The Lil' Cats Volleyball League had 58 third- through sixth-grade athletes who participated in the league this season.

The Cassville wrestling team celebrated its inaugural season recently with an awards banquet.

Coach Lori Videmschek has things going in the right direction for her Lady Eagles softball team this season. A big, three-game stretch begins on Friday as they travel to Wheaton, then on Tuesday meet with Verona and on April 14 rematch with Mt. Vernon...

Front Porch Conversations with Garden People will meet at 7 p.m. on April 14 in the lower level of the Cassville Library. Kathryn Kufahl, a very popular speaker in each of the last two years, will present a program on viburnums and buddleias -- two families of landscape shrubs. ...

Another month is down the tubes. We've arrived at April, and this column just missed the opportunity for an April Fool's prank. Regardless of what's missed, the opportunities are wide for this month, with the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers." Other choices might make you think it's time to get into some warm-weather activities...

This week's pet of the week at the Haven of the Ozarks is Sara Lee.

Officials at Purdy High School have released the list of students named to the third quarter honor roll for the 2015-16 academic year. Students and their achievement are listed below. Freshmen: Shelby Heston, Justin McGuirk, Kyler Propps, Hannah Reid, Madison Renkoski and Mason Schallert...

Officials at Southwest Middle School have released the list of students named to the third quarter honor roll for the 2015-16 academic year. Students and their achievement are listed below. Fifth grade: Bryce Hammers. Sixth grade: Andrew Cornell, Jared Hayworth, Samuel Hennings, Ryan Lawrence, Christian Long, Amy Reeves and Elizabeth Ross...

Bright colors, cheerful people and munchy treats helped make the March Paint 'N Pour a hands down a good time for the 10 artists gathered to create a spring-themed painting at Creative Arts of Shell Knob. Each painting featured a bird, the sun, flowers and other spring-themed elements...

Four people were injured Wednesday in a wreck at 10 a.m. on Highway 76, two miles east of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Alejandro Roman, 17, was driving a 2000 Ford Mustang eastbound when his vehicle made a left turn into the path of a 1994 Toyota pickup, being driven by Lesa Fancher, 49, of Cassville. The vehicles struck head-on...

A Seligman teenager was injured Thursday in a wreck at 2:25 p.m. on Highway NN, four miles west of Washburn. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Nathaniel Aday, 17, of Seligman, was driving a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country northbound when his vehicle left the roadway and overturned...

Security Bank of Southwest Missouri gave a $500 donation to the Cassville Education Fund on Friday.

Reagan Bluel, Barry County dairy specialist program director, shares a presentation with residents at a meeting March 31 at the Cassville Branch Library to discuss a course on becoming a master gardener, which will be offered over the next 10 weeks.

Along with a name change, remodel and redesign of products and services at Price Cutter in Cassville, formerly named Ramey, Cassville Primary School Art Teacher Charla Curry and long-time Price Cutter employee Mary Lyall added some new scenery to the store, in the form of a unique Wildcat mural inside the entrance...

Cassville Walmart Assistant Manager Tim Wilkens puts his hat back on after getting dunked on Saturday in the lawn and garden area of the store.

Jenkins man Denny Wolf was recently given the Music Advocacy award by the Cassville School District. He was unanimously chosen by the school's music department staff based on his dedication to the department, through volunteering and advocacy. "Mr. Wolf was an easy choice for this year's Music Advocacy award recipient," said Mary Richmiller, Cassville High School choral teacher. ...

Keeping plants safe in between seasonal weather fluctuations can be tricky for gardeners, and even though Spring has officially arrived, plants are not out of the woods yet when it comes to unexpected freezes. Bouts of spring frost are common in the Ozarks, but knowing a few facts can help even novice planters ensure their new plants survive, and thrive, for the season...

When life takes unexpected twists and turns, Mercy Hospitals attempt to provide quality, innovative care to help patients heal and get back on their feet quicker. This time, they are providing a new standard of wound care to patients with a unique certification that nurses at Mercy Cassville and Mercy Aurora have completed...

The Southwest school district has been working diligently to implement its 1:1 initiative to put a Google Chromebook in the hands of all students and teachers. The district has already equipped students grades 5-12 with a device, and it has begun the next phase of the initiative, which involves equipping fourth-grade classrooms with a device beginning next year...

A Purdy man is facing four felony charges relating to a home burglary in Cape Fair and a vehicle allegedly stolen from a home in Cassville. Bryan Davis, 28, of Purdy, is charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, second-degree burglary, theft of a firearm and stealing...

Drugs allegedly found in both men's homes after searches Two Wheaton men have been charged after allegedly stealing items from the Yonkerville Store on Highway 60 in Pierce City. Jerry Hartkopp, 54, of Wheaton, is charged with burglary, theft of a credit card, first-degree property damage and stealing, as well as possession of a controlled substance after drugs were allegedly found during a search of his home...

Both Barry County legislators support a resolution that aims to prohibit the state from penalizing on organizations who act in accordance with their religious beliefs concerning same-sex marriage. State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, is a co-sponsor of the Senate Joint Resolution 39 and voted for it to pass through the Senate...

In the three-way race for Seligman mayor, Garry Thornton has come out on top and will assume the post not filled since former Mayor Jerry Montgomery resigned in September 2015. Thornton won the race with 21 votes (33 percent), Eric Freeman came in second with 17 votes (27 percent) and Everlyn Chisholm rounded up the field in third with 15 votes (24 percent). There was one write-in vote (2 percent)...

Voters Tuesday approved the continuation of the vehicle titling sales tax in Barry County and the city of Cassville, meaning vehicles bought out of state and titled in the county and city will be taxed at the county and city rates. For Barry County, the measure passed with 1,738 votes (56 percent) to 1,396 votes (44 percent). In the city of Cassville, it passed with 216 votes (56 percent) to 172 votes (44 percent)...

Voters in Barry and Lawrence counties offered little support for a 7-cent increase in the property tax levy for the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library on Tuesday. In trying for its first property tax increase since 1990, the library issue failed to gain any significant traction in either county. Barry County voters gave the measure only 36 percent support -- 1,129 for and 2,012 against. Lawrence County voters provided slightly more support, giving 45 percent in favor, 1,443 to 1,744...

The Wheaton school district has been working toward getting a FEMA building, and it took another step toward the goal on Tuesday by passing a $1 million bond issue to raise funds for the project. "We submitted a notices of interest a couple of years ago with no plans for a district match," said Wheaton Superintendent Lance Massey. "But, with the bond issue, it puts us with a clear plan for a district match."...

Jade Samborski, Cassville baseball coach, likes the way his Wildcats are starting to come together as a team. Samborski preaches a simple concept of team unity and team accomplishment. His philosophy is rooted in the simple truth that nine guys working as a unit to accomplish a goal is tougher to stop than putting the pressure on just one or two guys...

Jeremy Marple and Chad Yarnall will join the Cassville School Board on April 14, as the two finished in first and second place out of four candidates for the at-large board seats. Marple won the race with 769 votes (35 percent), while Yarnall came in second with 695 votes (32 percent). Gamon Sparkman finished in third with 535 votes (24 percent), and Doyne Damon Brown rounded off the field with 175 votes (8 percent). There were 16 write-in votes (1 percent)...