Stories from Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Wilma “Kay” Curry, of Bolivar, passed away in her home on Sunday, April 9, 2017. She was born on Nov. 22, 1934, to Vernon and Alta Shumaker of Golden. She suffered a short illness, which began shortly after her husband of 61 years, Johnny Bob Curry, passed just four months ago. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Lewis Keith Shumaker...

Allan Eugene Kochell, 65, of Wheaton, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was born Oct. 7, 1951, in Danville, Ill., the son of Robert and Doris (Hansborough) Kochell. On May 7, 2010, in Eureka Springs, Ark., he was united in marriage to Nickiey Nelson, who survives...

John W. Maddux, Jr., 56, of Cassville, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Cassville Health Care and Rehab. He was born on Oct. 18, 1960, in Richmond, son of John and Laura (Whipple) Maddux. He was a 1979 graduate of Richmond High School. In 1983, he graduated from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar with a degree in education. ...

Estell “Shorty” Maloney, 92, of Cassville, passed away Saturday, April 8, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice House in Bentonville, Ark. He was born March 13, 1925, in Eagle Rock. He was a charter member of Community Faith Church at Cassville. He was a long time farmer in Barry County...

Glen W. Scott, Sr., 87, of McDowell, passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2017, at Lacoba Homes in Monett. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at the White Funeral Home and Crematory, with Pastor Bob Day officiating. Burial will follow with full military honors provided by the United States Navy and American Legion Post #91 at the Corsicana Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville...

Sue A. Roddy, 68, of Shell Knob, passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at Circle of Life Hospice Home at Legacy Village in Bentonville, Ark. She was born Jan. 22, 1949, in Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of Roger Fredrick and Lydia Irene (May) Rice. On April 7, 1990 in Springfield, Ohio she was united in marriage to Lee Alan Roddy, who survives...

Harlan Lee Warren, 59, of Aurora, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017, in his home. He was born on May 20, 1957, in Sallisaw, Okla., the son of Lawrence and Goldie (Ridenour) Warren. On Feb. 14, 2005, he was united in marriage to Bertha (Snelling) Warren who survives. Also surviving are his mother Goldie Warren, of Wyoming, and two sisters...

Dear Editor, As a long time reader of the Cassville Democrat, I just wanted to compliment the paper on the addition of photographs to the Through the Years section of the paper.  I have always enjoyed that section of the paper as it brings back very fond memories of my hometown...

About six weeks ago, I realized it had been some time since there had been a visit with a couple of friends, Randy Yarnall and Kelley Williamson. So, with that in mind, I went to their favorite haunt, Cr-ose Restaurant on Main Street, and sure enough, they were at their posts at the community round table in the corner of the facility...

The hottest team in southwest Missouri is located in Purdy. In 15 games this spring softball season, the Lady Eagles (14-1) have allowed just 16 total runs. Nine times the squad has shut out their opponents, and twice this season they have defeated last year’s state champion Mt. Vernon in convincing fashion, outscoring the Lady Mountaineers by a combined count of 21-2...

With a brutal opening to the baseball season behind them, the Purdy baseball team is starting to show its potential. The Eagles, 3-6 overall, have won two of their last three and host Jasper and College Heights in a rare Friday doubleheader. Two wins would position the Eagles (3-6, 2-0) for a top-two district seed as well as in the driver’s seat for a conference title...

Sometimes players need a dose of total honesty about the way they play. On Monday, after a 10-5 loss to Purdy, Kenny Ferguson, Southwest baseball coach, turned into that messenger. He did not yell at or berate his team, but simply told his Trojans that they were a better team than what they showed against the Eagles...

For the Cassville track and field team, a trip to East Newton on Thursday will serve as another chance to continue stepping forward. “We are working on improving across the board on everyone’s times, distances and heights,” said Clay Weldy, Cassville coach. “The positive is, we are getting points from many areas and we are improving as the year goes on.”...

Racine Woolaway celebrated her retirement from Regal March 10. She had been with the company since 1999, a career span of 18 years.

Since attending school is one of the most important things students can do to help achieve academic success, Cassville Primary School staff recognize one class per-grade level each month with attendance awards.

The Exeter school district announced its Students of the Quarter for the third quarter of the school year.

Cassville Primary School announced its character students for March. The character word of the month was self-discipline.

The character word for March was “honesty” at Exeter schools.

Purdy High School celebrated its the second annual Evening of Excellence on March 31. Superintendent Steven Chancellor described the evening as “one of my favorite events of the school year, as it perfectly reflects our district motto - Excellence is the Standard.”...

Cassville High School National Honor Society student members participated in a special ceremony on Wednesday, April 5, to induct 27 students into the prestigious group.

The Cassville school district is reminding parents to get their children registered for kindergarten at two upcoming dates. To be eligible to attend kindergarten, children should be 5 years of age before Aug. 1, 2017. Registration opportunities will be held April 18 and 20...

• Christopher Lee Ames, Crane, dwi - alcohol, persistent offender, four years incarceration DOC, execution of sentence suspended, four years probation • Johnny J. Berry, Exeter, forgery, financial exploitation of elderly/disabled person, five years supervised probation...

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

Mike Anderson spins yarns to students, one of the special talents he is known for, along with his ability to play multiple instruments, including the guitar, banjo, jaw harp, noseflute and bones.

According to the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, there have been multiple cases of counterfeit money turned in recently, especially in $20 bills. Businesses are asked to be careful and watch for counterfeit money. The Shell Knob Chamber Economic Committee is sponsoring a series of classes with the Missouri State University and SBTDC on “Digital Marketing for Your Business.” There will be a series of three sessions, with two topics in each session. Cost for Chamber Members will be $10 per topic or $20 per session. All sessions will be held at the Central Crossing Senior Center on Wednesdays. ...

Several crafting activities for children were offered during the library’s Bunny Bash event for local families.

The 4-H Banquet was held at the Family Life Center in Cassville on Saturday.

Bob Mitchell, former editor and publisher of the Cassville Democrat, speaks about his time in the Navy during the Regional Media Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin on Thursday.

Local Barry County Girls Kimber Keller, Joscelyn Dover and Cammie Olson came home from the 2017 Midwest International Girl Finals with huge wins. But, they weren't the only ones in the county to win an award and make new friends. Girls from all across Missouri and Kansas competed against each other at the event, which was held March 24-26 in Branson at the Clarion Hotel...

With the growing season upon us, the Cassville Farmers' Market has begun setting up its seasonal smorgasbord of fresh produce on the Cassville courthouse square Saturday mornings for residents. Vendors will be available with a variety of fresh foods and homemade items from 7-11 a.m...

A Seligman man is facing a felony and three misdemeanors after allegedly driving drunk and leaving a wreck in Cassville. Steven Johnson, 33, of Seligman, is charged with felony driving while intoxicated and three misdemeanors: leaving the scene of an accident, driving while suspended and carless and imprudent driving...

At future public education or fire prevention events, school children and other passersby may see spots on a Cassville Fire Protection District truck — the spots of a Dalmatian. Two-year-old Halli, a special Dalmatian who belongs to Cassville Firefighter Shannon Wenkel, has unofficially joined the fire protection team...

Ethan Hoover, left, 13, of Shell Knob, gets a helping hand from Art Burkett, of Highlandville, while trying to land a trout in the fishing pond.

Voters in the Sugar Creek Special Road District in the Seligman area rejected an attempt to double the district’s property tax levy on Tuesday, leaving the district’s financial outlook very uncertain. The district had a property tax levy of $0.1542 per $100 of assessed property. Commissioners proposed increasing the levy by an additional $0.1676. Voters rejected the proposal by a 93-71 vote margin, offering only 43 percent support...

The hearts of employees at the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, and of many people throughout the county, are flying half mast this week after the loss of the man behind badge No. 76. Master Sgt. Carl Cosper Jr., 56, of Pineville, died Friday when his patrol vehicle, en route to a domestic disturbance call in Seligman, struck a school bus turning on to Highway 37 at Farm Road 1060...

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has ordered that the flags of the United States and the State of Missouri at all state government buildings in the counties of Barry and McDonald be flown at half-staff on Thursday in honor of Master Sgt. Carl Cosper, of the Barry County Sheriff’s Office...