Stories from Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Curtina Jean “Tina” Autrey, 62, of Cassville, passed away Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. She was born Oct. 8, 1954, in Monett, the daughter of Bob and Vera (Harris) Blythe. On Aug. 22, 1975, in Cassville she was united in marriage to Tom Autrey, who survives...

Roy Leo Baumgarden, 66, of Shell Knob, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, at his home. He was born May 25, 1951, in Clinton, the son of Estel and Frances (Williams) Baumgarden. On Dec. 10, 1983, in Springfield, he was united in marriage to Judy Marmon, who survives...

George Christensen, 71, of Holiday Island, Ark., died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. He was born on May 6, 1946, in Blair, Neb., to Robert and Irma Christensen, who preceded him in death. He graduated from Blair High School in 1964. After spending four years in the U.S. Air Force, he graduated from Dana College earning a B.S. degree in accounting. He later earned a MBA from Central Missouri State University. He married Joeta Prather in St. Charles on April 25, 1970, and she survives...

William Andrew “Drew” Crawford, 32, of Cassville, passed away on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. He was born on Dec. 20, 1984, in Monett, son of Berlie and Queeta (Dummit) Crawford. He was a 2003 Purdy High School graduate. Drew and Kasey (Hall) Gauss were married on July 19, 2014...

David Paul Shepard, 58, of Purdy, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. He was born Feb. 20, 1959, in Branson, the son of Cledis and Alice (Pride) Shepard, who preceded him in death. Survivors include: two sons, Aaron Moore and his wife Reneé of Cassville, and Paul Shepard of Golden; one daughter, Jewel Shepard and her husband Michael Marcucci of Cassville; five brothers, Wilbur Shepard and his wife Carol of Kimberling City, Wendel Shepard and his wife Ruth of Shell Knob, Dale Shepard of Golden, Ronnie Shepard of Shell Knob, and Tommy Shepard and his wife Delana of Golden; four sisters, Virginia Boyken of Aurora, Carol Greenhall and her husband Joe of Tahlequah, Okla., Wanda Corning and her husband Terril of Arkansas and Tina DeLong and her husband Robert of Lampe; one granddaughter; four step-grandchildren, Michael, Kelly, Allison and Kendal Marcucci; one great grandson, Noah Henson.. ...

Back in the days of the Cassville and Exeter Railroad, all types of commodities arrived on the single set of rails. The train ran up hill for four miles to reach active Frisco rails, and then afforded a downhill coast back to the home depot. In sharp contrast, trucks now deliver goods to serve the public...

Last week, we were able to finally report what happened in the shooting incident between Aurora Police Officer Weston Welch and Thomas Eugene Sekscinski on Aug. 31, 2016. The public needs to know how bad outcomes — in this case, a fatal shooting — occur. It’s not just an internal police matter when a life is involved...

The Cassville cross-country team began the season on the right foot as the girls took first and the boys finished second at the Seneca Cross-Country invitational.

On paper, bull riding is easy. The goal is simple, hold on with one hand, stay seated for eight seconds, do not let the free hand touch anything and you will win. In reality, you are strapped to a 1,500-pound bull that is spinning, jerking, twisting all at the same time trying to punish the rider for having the audacity to sit on his back...

“We have got to grow from this,” were the words Cassville Coach Lance Parnell gave his team on Friday after a disappointing 21-14 loss on Homecoming night. “We’ll have to figure out how we’re going to handle someone coming into our house and punching us in the mouth,” Parnell continued. “I’m disappointed in this loss, and I want to come back from it. If we want to talk the talk, we have to walk the walk.”...

Early fall is the optimum time to establish a cool-season lawn from seed according to Kelly McGowan, horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "Turf species such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass establish well from seed at this time, the weather is cooling and rains are more regular, and weeds are easier to manage," said McGowan...

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

  The Exeter Corn Maze will open Saturday at 1 p.m. with yet another new and fun attraction — Archery Tag. Each year, the maze expands and ads something new for the everyone to enjoy. This year will be no different. On Sept. 23 and 24, the maze will host its 5th annual craft fair. The craft fair is one of Barry County’s largest and will be Exeter’s best one yet...

Cassville High School seniors Colin Hang, Garrett Knight, Brian Oliphant and Coleman Hoppes, were selected to attend the American Legion Boys State of Missouri leadership experience that took place this summer at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg...

The Barry County Republican Club will meet on Sept. 26 at the Angus Branch Restaurant in Monett at 6:30 p.m. The Cassville High School Class of 1957 will hold its 60th reunion on Sept. 30 at the Barry County Museum on Highway 112 in Cassville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coffee and donuts will be available all morning, and a light lunch will be served at noon. A class photo will be taken at 4 p.m. This will be a casual gathering. All classmates, family and friends are invited to drop by to visit...

“There’s No Place Like Home” is the theme for the 2017 Discovery Quilters Quilt Show in Shell Knob.

An employee from Blevins Asphalt pulls off sections of new black top to reveal the crosswalk at the corner of 6th and Main streets in Cassville.

High school football players wave to students and teachers lined up for the homecoming Parade on Kid Kat Drive Friday afternoon.

Fishing with magnets was one of many activities set up at the first Parents as Teachers event of the school year at Cassville Elementary School Thursday.

Jesse Edie, right, was named Homecoming Queen Friday. Dalton O’Neill, right middle, was crowned Homecoming King; Schauna Dilbeck, left, won Homecoming Princess; and the 2017 Homecoming Prince is Reilly Nichols.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced its results from the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division’s 2017 annual school bus inspection program, and the Cassville fleet has earned outstanding results. Cassville schools earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award by receiving a 100 percent approval rating on 26 buses inspected, with no buses placed out-of-service...

For the 12th year in a row, Shakin’ in the Shell is returning to rock Chamber Park. Now a staple in fall fun, Shakin’ in the Shell kicks off Friday from 6-10 p.m. with Funky Friday Night, featuring a show from 7-10 p.m. by Earl & Them, a blues rock band...

Multiple communities in Barry County came together last week to donate a trailer full of supplies to be sent to Texas for Hurricane Harvey relief, the second of such shipments from the area. People’s Community Bank, the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, the Exeter school district and the Southwest school district collected donations through Thursday...

Rusty Newman was one of multiple drivers who rammed into cars on his way to a victory in the modified division at the Cassville Rotary Demolition Derby on Saturday night.

Authorities are investigating a dock fire in the Needles Eye area Saturday that damaged multiple boats and is said to have come from a suspicious cause. At 6:11 p.m. Saturday, Central Crossing Fire crews were dispatched to reports of multiple boats and a boat dock on fire. Crews said although it was known what cove the fire was in, it was initially unclear what side of the cove the fire would have to be accessed from...

When their child comes down with an ear infection, fever or sore throat, working parents must take time off work to get their child in to see a doctor, and further, students miss school until they can see a doctor, obtain medicine, and show that their symptoms have resolved...

A Washburn woman died on Sunday from injuries sustained in a wreck at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 94 northwest of Pea Ridge, Ark. According to an Arkansas State Police report, Amber Epling, 30, of Washburn, was driving a 2014 Mazda when a northbound 2006 Dodge, being driven by Kenneth Cross, 27, of Pineville, was near the intersection of Highway 94 and Don McAllister Road, went into the opposing lane and struck Epling's vehicle head-on...

All coaches hate losing. Sometimes, the sting of a loss can be mitigated if a coach knows the players did all they could but still fell short. Friday, in a 21-14 setback to McDonald County, was not one of those feel-good losses. Wildcat Coach Lance Parnell did not mince his words when he reflected upon the game...

A Barry County Sheriff's Office detective had to be quick on his feet Wednesday, as he narrowly avoided being bitten by a charging pit bull while on a follow-up interview in Arkansas. According to Det. Rob Evenson, with the Barry County Sheriff's Office, his partner, Det. Doug Henry, left in the morning for Rogers, Ark., to do a follow-up interview with the victim of an alleged assault at a Cassville home in August...