Stories from Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Mike Alden Blankenship, 82, of Jenkins, passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at his home. He was born April 8, 1934, at Jenkins, the son of William Henry “Bunk” and Chloe (Hudson) Blankenship. On Oct. 3, 1953, he was united in marriage to Juanita Turpin, who survives...

Sharon Garrett, 70, of Monett, passed away Sunday, February 12, 2017. She was born on June 6, 1946, daughter of Hazel Hillegas and Shandy Stewart, in Lowry City. She graduated from Lowry City High in 1964. In 1982, she moved to Purdy and purchased the Monett Bowl, which she owned and operated until 1984. ...

Ruth Horton, 79, of Rocky Comfort, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. She was born Jan. 8, 1938, in Jane, the daughter of Charlie and Jewel (Dalton) Poe. She graduated from White Rock High School Class of 1957. She married Robert (Bob) Horton Dec. 29, 1956...

Andrea Irene Luney, 66, of Cassville, passed away Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at her home. She was born April 8, 1950, in Monett, the daughter of Andy Clyde and Ruth Mae McCormack. O

Andrea Irene Luney, 66, of Cassville, passed away Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at her home. She was born April 8, 1950, in Monett, the daughter of Andy Clyde and Ruth Mae McCormack. O

Andrea Irene Luney, 66, of Cassville, passed away Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at her home. She was born April 8, 1950, in Monett, the daughter of Andy Clyde and Ruth Mae McCormack. On June 17, 1967, she was united in marriage to Tom Luney, who survives. Additional survivors include: one daughter Angelia Renee Hawn and her husband David Lee Hawn, III of Lowell, Ind.; two grandchildren; and one great grandson...

Hal Eldon Mapes, 76, of Holiday Island, Ark., passed away on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. Memorial services were held on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Holiday Island Community Church with Pastor Jeff Timm officiating. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Allan Dale Sturgeon, 65, of Stark City, passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at his home. He was born April 8, 1951, in Monett, the son of Homer Garvin and Dorothy Charlotte (Beaver) Sturgeon. On May 7, 1977, he was united in marriage to Vicki Patterson, who survives...

A fun-loving Harold Shetley, one-time parts manager at Hailey Ford in Cassville, was a neighbor of ours in the Avon Apartments back in the early 1950s. He often completely embarrassed his wife, Mary Louise, with some of his antics. One of the best he pulled was convincing Carter Koon and I to fish Bass Lake at Roaring River State Park on opening day. ...

• Donald C. Alderman, Aurora, no adequate muffler, $100 • John William Anderson, Cassville, no registration, $30.50 • Micheal D. Ash, Sarcoxie, no valid license, no adequate muffler, no seat belt, one year unsupervised probation, $110 fine plus court costs...

Cassville Intermediate School staff announced its January character winners for demonstrating the character of responsibility.

The Wheaton school district announced its January Students of the Month.

Cassville FCCLA members, Kaylyn Bryant, Coleman Hoppes and Laura Stringer participated in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Legislative Shadowing Project on Wednesday, Feb.1. Samantha Cosper, local high school chapter advisor, accompanied the students to the capitol city. ...

Meet Sam Houston, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

Camp Barnabas is excited to announce Innovative Dental as the presenting sponsor of the 5th Annual Big Party Half-Marathon, 5K and Family Stroll events.  Its largest community fundraiser, the event will take place on April 1, at Jordan Valley Park in Springfield...

Lieutenant Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, acting superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announced that 38 people reported to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy on Jan. 2 to begin the 25-week training course to become a trooper...

The Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce will host a River Bassin’ Tournament on May 13. The River Bassin’ Tournament Trail sponsors fishing tournaments throughout the United States. These events are for kayak and canoe anglers who want to fish for bass on wild waters. ...

The first responders and firefighters of Central Crossing are holding their annual Chili and Soup Fest Fundraiser on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Viola/Shell Knob Community Building. The community building is located just off Highway 39, one mile south of Central Crossing Bridge on the east side of the road. ...

No signs of winter at Roaring River State Park, where many visitors stopped in to enjoy the great outdoors and unseasonably warm weather over the weekend.

Many visitors gathered to watch staff feed swarms of hungry rainbow trout Sunday at Roaring River State Park.

“Teeth, Toothy, Toothlees and Love” was the theme Thursday at the Parents as Teachers event at Cassville Elementary School.

Among the entertainers at the Wheaton Historical Society’s Valentine’s Dinner was this early rock quartet singing and harmonizing to “In the Still of the Night.”

An Aurora man was arrested on Thursday after allegedly breaking into a home on Highway 39 and fleeing when the alarm was tripped. Ronald Willis, 39, of Aurora, is charged with second-degree burglary and is being held in the Barry County jail on a $20,000 bond...

Students at Cassville High School are getting a unique opportunity to assist their fellow students, teachers, learn workplace skills and serve their school district. The students are able to do all of these things through a computer practicum course, which places them in a consultant-type role to help students and teachers with all manner of technological issues...

Active warrants have been issued for two Arkansas residents wanted for a burglary at a home on Private Road 1219 in Shell Knob. David Clark, 35, and Serina Mathis (Clark Cobb), 32, both of Rogers, Ark., are each charged with second-degree burglary, stealing and stealing a firearm...

When the porch of their home collapsed, a Seligman family with six disabled members, two in wheelchairs, had their world collapse, too. But, their home health aide, Sherrel Carlson, her family and McCarthy Construction heard about the family’s plight and came to the rescue...

In the new year, State Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, is rolling up his sleeves and setting out to change a few things for the betterment of the state and daily lives of its residents. His goals include things like cutting out red tape, bureaucracy, eliminating inefficiencies, stopping unnecessary spending, and reducing government in order to bring 21st Century innovations to the state, improve lives and keep Missouri’s future bright...

A former Barry County jailer has had his peace officer license revoked after being charged recently with statutory sodomy, child molestation and endangering the welfare of a child. According to Barry County Sheriff's Office Administrator Kathy Emo, Danny Brock worked as a civilian correction officer in the Barry County jail from August 2013 to September 2015, when he obtained his commission after going through the academy and became a reserve deputy...

Popcorn was a fan favorite at the Exeter Elementary School’s reading night.

Built in the 1930s, the American Legion building on Highway 112 in Cassville has been a meeting place for veterans, a venue for community activities and a historic landmark for generations. “It used to be the hub of activity,” said Pete Landstad, vice commander at the Irwin Easley Post 118 American Legion. ...

A Shell Knob man is facing two felony charges after stealing multiple items from a home on Highway 112 in Cassville and having someone else attempt to sell the items on Facebook. Terry Martin, 37, of Shell Knob, is charged with second-degree burglary and stealing...

The Roaring River Rumble 2017, hosted by the Wildcat Takedown Club, will be held Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. at the Cassville High School gym.

The Purdy girls basketball team improved to 22-1 on the season with a 67-38 win over Wheaton on Monday. The Lady Eagles were led in scoring by Layne Skiles with 29 points; Rion Boyd added 18 points; Sami House pitched in 8 points; Zoe Brown added 5 points; Hallie Henderon chipped in 3 points; and Devyn Callahan and Cailyn Spears added 2 points each...

Homecoming at Purdy High School on Friday featured the third annual Purdy High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Athletic Director Alan Spencer welcomed new member Brenda (Keeling) McNeil to the Hall. McNeil’s parents, Allen and Leona Keeling, members of the Purdy High School Class of 1960, joined her on the floor as she received her plaque, as did husband Dwayne and daughter Callie...

The basketball season is rapidly coming to a conclusion. Beginning Monday, the Purdy and Southwest boys and girls basketball teams will travel to Sarcoxie for district playoff action. On the girls side, Purdy claimed the No. 1 seed followed by No. 2 Pierce City, No. 3 Sarcoxie, No. 4 McAuley, No. 5 College Heights, No. 6 Jasper, No. 7 Southwest and No. 8 Thomas Jefferson...

A tall mountain faces the Exeter boys basketball team (1-21) as they enter the Class 1, District 5 tournament on Saturday. The No. 8 seed Tigers face No. 1 seed and No. 2 state-ranked Walnut Grove at 12:30 p.m. at Willard. No. 7 Wheaton entertains No. 2 seed Greenfield at 6:30 p.m...

For the Wheaton and Exeter girls basketball teams, the season comes down to a series of one-game playoffs beginning Saturday in Willard with the Class 1, District 5 tournament. Action begins on Saturday with No. 1 seed Walnut Grove and No. 8 seed Everton tipping off at 9:30 a.m., followed by No. 4 seed Exeter and No. 5 seed Golden City at 11 a.m...

Nowhere is the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat any more on display than at the district wrestling tournament. In wrestling, it is a one-on-one matchup, and there is no one to help you and nowhere to hide once the match starts. On Saturday, two Cassville wrestlers, junior Wyatt Goade and sophomore Logan Carlin, wrote their names into Wildcat wrestling lore by becoming the first two grapplers to qualify for the state tournament in the program’s short history...