Stories from Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Marilyn A. Boesche, 81, of Holiday Island, Ark., died March 22, 2017. She was born on Sept. 5, 1935, to C. Harold and Ethel (Lenenga) Johnson in Muskegon, Mich. She graduated from Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit, Wis. She later attended Kansas City University. On Feb. 2, 1957, she married John C. Boesche in Kansas City...

Robert Eugene Boyd, 74, of Purdy, passed away Friday, March 24, 2017, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 30 in Arnhart Baptist Church at Purdy, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, Missouri. Pastor Lawrence Shuey will conduct the services. Burial will be at Arnhart Cemetery at Purdy...

Avenell Carter, 82, of Shell Knob, passed away Monday, March 20, 2017, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. She was born Dec. 12, 1934, in Shell Knob, the daughter of George F. and Nancy Ledgerwood Dodson, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were two sons, Raymond Carter and Russell Brownsberger; three brothers; one sister; and one granddaughter...

Clifford Vernon Haver, II, age 58, passed away March 16, 2017, from ALS. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kan. Cliff was born Feb. 7, 1959, in Kansas City, Mo., to James Michael Haver and Joann Marie Close Haver. ...

James E. Hicks, 68, of Jenkins, passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born on June 23, 1948, in Winfield, Kan., son of James and Evelyn (Armstrong) Hicks. He joined the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Shell Knob and the 173rd Airborne Brigade...

Bethel Lorene Smith, 93, of Shell Knob, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. She was born April 7, 1923, in Monterey, Minn., the daughter of Ai and Elsie (Parson) Morris. On Dec. 24, 1943, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, she was united in marriage to Donald Harris Smith, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents, one brother and four sisters...

Richard D. Webb, 74, of Seligman, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born on Jan. 10, 1943, in Ventura, Calif., son of Louis and Lois (Allen) Webb. He spent most of his life in California before moving to Seligman in 2008. He attended the New Life Tabernacle in Seligman...

Jo Lynn Williams, 62, of Pea Ridge, Ark., passed away Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Ark. She was born Oct. 7, 1954, in Huntsville, Ark., the daughter of Johnnie and Joyce (Kales) Goldsmith. On Dec. 24, 1971, in Seligman, she was united in marriage to Norris Eric Williams who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents...

Wheaton basketball player Hilsden Moseley was named to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association All-Academic team last week.

With the first meet under their belts, Cassville track athletes are now preparing to head to Reeds Spring on April 4. “I felt like we did well overall, and it was a good start to the season,” said Clay Weldy, Cassville boys coach. “We scored points in a lot of areas, and we had several people set personal records at McDonald County. We have a pretty young team overall, so the more experience they get, the better we are going to be as the year goes on.”...

It’s something nearly every golfer has bragged about, but only a few have achieved. It’s the equivalent to scoring the winning touchdown or hitting the game winning home run — the elusive hole in one. On Thursday, Purdy senior Matt Wilson recorded his first career ace in the Neosho tourney...

The final and most prestigious awards were officially released on Wednesday with the revealing of the Missouri High School Basketball Coaches Association All-State teams. Two area stars, both juniors, were included in this year’s Class 2 list — Layne Skiles, from Purdy, and Belle Golubski, from Pierce City...

The Cassville Primary School recently recognized classes that excelled in attendance.

Sierra Lacy, junior at Cassville High School, has been accepted into the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. Lacy will attend the academy this summer on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield. The Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) is a three-week summer residential program for highly-motivated student artists in visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing and music. ...

The Southwest Little Theatre, under the direction of Wyatt Hester, held its 17th annual Angel Awards ceremony with Erin O’Flaherty, current Miss Missouri, as the host, on Saturday, March 11. Over 100 students performed monologues to the theme of, 'You’ve Got a Friend in Me.' The evening included a tribute to the SLT Seniors and a recognition of scholarships awarded by the Southwest Little Theatre Scholarship Angel Fund...

Exeter National Honor Society students presented a docu-drama to high school students on Friday, March 17.

Welding students from Scott Tech recently competed in the Midwest Technical Institute welding competition in Springfield.

Cassville FCCLA members Coleman Hoppes, Kaylyn Bryant, and Robert Elliott attended the Missouri Career and Technical Education Legislative Day in Jefferson City on Wednesday, February 8.  The day is designed for students to spend time at the state capitol advocating for career and technical education. ...

The Cassville Speech and Debate Team recently competed at the MSHSAA District Tournament.

Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri is thankful for the years Virgil Harrington served and led the bank as an executive officer, as he will be retiring on Friday. As CFO, Harrington was responsible for the accounting and financial reporting and controls over key banking processes. He has also served as the secretary of the Board of Directors. A retirement and open house reception will be held on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the bank in Cassville...

• Benjamin E. Babb, Cassville, no registration, $150 • Omar Banegas, Cassville, speeding, $85.50 • Jeremy Allen Doss, Exeter, stealing, $150 • Randy S. Gallaway, Jr., Springfield, stealing, $150 • Charity R. Hickerson, Charleston, Ill., no registration, $150.50...

• Jodi Lynn Baker, Republic, speeding, no seat belt, $40.50 • Michael James Bogle, Exeter, driving while revoked/suspended, two days incarceration jail, two days jail credit for time served plus court costs • James T. Boren, Aurora, operate motor vehicle owned by another knowing owner has not maintained financial responsibility, court costs plus $80.50 fine...

Meet Gaia, the Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week.

The White River Valley Sportsman's Association, a private shooting club, is opening its membership drive for the 2017 season. The WRYSA is located near Golden off Highway 86. It offers a rifle range, pistol range and trap shooting for all ages. Anyone interested in joining a shooting club that promotes camaraderie, good shooting habits and plain-old fun can visit our website at: wrvsa.org, or drop a note to: WRVSA, P.O. Box 1024, Berryville, Ark., 72616...

On February 24 and 25, the state of Oklahoma held the Auctioneer State Championship in Oklahoma City at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Home food preservation has changed since our grandmothers put food up many years ago. This is especially the case when it comes to how we destroy microorganisms during the canning process. But University of Missouri Extension food preservation classes can help consumers learn how to combat this threat of food-borne illness and preserve their harvest safely. ...

Commerce Bank and Commerce Bancshares Foundation recently donated $500 to the Barry County Museum.

The Eagle Rock Friends of the Library will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 8. The hunt will begin at 11 a.m. Parents may bring a camera for pictures with the Easter Bunny. People may also mark their calendars for May 6, when the friends are having their annual Yard Sale. For more information, people may contact the library at 417-271-3186...

Senior Life Solutions is starting a new networking group called Silver Discovery and is inviting area providers to a luncheon to network and help provide solutions for seniors. The purpose of the group is for providers to meet and learn about each others' services in their mutual goal of meeting the physical and emotional needs of seniors, as well as enhance their lives...

The Purdy junior-senior prom was held at the new Monett Museum on Saturday.

Butterfly enthusiast and advocate Karen Richardson was recently honored in Jefferson City when she received the 2016 CFM’s Conservation Educator of the Year award for her work supporting the Monarch butterfly. Richardson has given new flight to the winged creatures with her constant desire to educate the community, children, utility workers and those in conservation circles about the plight of the Monarch butterfly and its crucial role in the local food supply and ecosystem...

The professional studies program at Purdy High School, a new outreach to give students hands-on experience in a career setting, has demonstrated gains and opened doors for its participants. Michelle Hilburn, the professional studies coordinator, explained to school board members how the program has grown from a couple pilot trials last year to studies with an internship component this year...

A Seligman man is facing a felony and two misdemeanors after allegedly shooting a victim's vehicle after an argument at a home on Highway DD. Timmy Pritchett, 58, of Seligman, is charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor fourth-degree domestic assault and second-degree property damage...

A formal request has been made by the Purdy school district to collaborate with the city of Purdy on some beautification efforts in the community during summer school. Superintendent Steven Chancellor told city council members the district cannot create a class for community service, but a project-based learning class framed around science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) could serve the same purpose...

With spring officially here, residents out walking may notice a new sight along the Greenway Trail in the city park — brightly-colored birdhouses. The houses, which carry a history three-generations deep, are tough to miss with their robin-egg blue color. The story began in the 1960s, when the late Lawrence Beeson built the houses for a 4-H project to provide a home for bluebirds, Missouri’s state bird...

Two people were recently arrested at Roaring River and charged with multiple charges relating to theft, drugs and resisting arrest. Travis Dixon, 42, of Hot Springs, Ark., has two cases, one where he is charged with stealing, and another where he is charged with resisting arrest. Dixon's girlfriend, Jennifer Peschka, 37, is facing charges for possession of methamphetamine precursors, resisting arrest and delivery of a controlled substance...

The Shell Knob Elementary School recently held a literacy night and Community Open House event for grades pre-K through fourth grade. The theme was Super Heroes. “Teachers, staff and middle school students led activities and games for younger students,” said Luana Varner, middle school communication arts teacher and media correspondent. “The school hosts special events like literacy night twice a year,...

After several months of discussion, the Purdy school board decided to continue to operate the school bus system on its own, purchasing and leasing buses for the coming year. Superintendent Steven Chancellor and board members had held extended discussion over the future of the bus service, even asking Gale Webb Transportation, the company that serves Monett, Pierce City and Verona, for a price for a turnkey operation. ...

Aging Baby Boomers and local senior citizens dependent on the Meals on Wheels program may find themselves dealing with food insecurity issues and their related health complications if President Donald Trump's "skinny budget" is passed. The Meals on Wheels program, run through local Senior Centers, receives about 35 percent of its budget through the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program, which falls under the U.S. ...

A longtime editor and publisher of the Cassville Democrat will be inducted into the Missouri Southern State University Department of Communication’s Regional Media Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 6. The Hall of Fame honors media professionals from throughout the region for outstanding careers in print and broadcast communications. ...

A Cassville man is facing two felony charges after allegedly pointing a rifle at a woman and her children in a vehicle during a road rage incident on Highway 37. Landon Long, 22, of Cassville, is being held in the Barry County jail on a 24-hour hold and no bond, and he is expected to be charged with unlawful use of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child, both felonies...

The Thorco plant on Sale Barn Road in Cassville, which has sat empty approximately four years since it last manufactured retail displays, is tentatively scheduled to be the site of a new industry. WinTech Inc., based in Monett, recently purchased the building. ...

With spring now being upon us, arriving 10 days ago, we can wonder what is going to come down the pike now in the way of weather. We’ve already experienced a loss of the peach crop with the frigid weather that followed mid-March thunderstorms that spawned high winds, some tornado activities and a fairly good swath of hail damage that will keep insurance adjusters busy for several weeks...

Two Cassville storm chasers died on Tuesday in a car crash near Spur, Texas. Kelley Williamson, 57, and Randy Yarnall, 55, who contracted with the Weather Channel for the show "Storm Wranglers," died when their black suburban collided with a Jeep, being driven by Lee Jaeger, 25, of Peoria, Ariz. All three involved were pronounced dead at the scene...