Stories from Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Jeston Lynn Fulton, 77, of Cassville, died on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born April 15, 1940, to Jeston Creed Fulton and Jessie Lee Porter/Fulton. He had one brother, Howard L. Fulton. He went to Cassville High He married Marie Bothwell on Feb. 12, 1966. He worked and owned Fulton Sanitation in northwest Arkansas for almost 30 years. He sold his company in 1995 and started Fulton Properties...

Ronald Lee Holden, age 69, of Exeter, passed away Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. He was born Jan. 1, 1948, in Cassville, the son of John A. and Thelma (Hutchens) Holden, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were six brothers, his twin brother, Donald Holden, Jack Holden, William Holden, Bob Breeden, George Breeden and Alfred Holden and two sisters, Lydia Thurman and Barbara Holden...

Barbara Ann (Bobbi) Lacey, 79, of Exeter, was born Dec. 29, 1937, at Stella, to Harlin Sanford Smith and Eva (Hawkins) Smith. She passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Roaring River Rehab in Cassville. She graduated from Rocky Comfort High School in with the class of 1954. On Jan. 29, 1955, she was united in marriage to Melvin Lacey. In 1962, they moved to Exeter to make their home. She was a member of the Cassville United Methodist Church; and served a term as president of the local UMW...

George David Swofford was born May 20, 1937, in Lampe, Missouri, in Stone County, and entered his heavenly home on December 22, 2017, at his home in Mountain Grove, Missouri. George was born to Melvin Amos and Hattie Lou (Bonham) Swofford. He graduated from Cassville High School in 1956 where he had been a part of the football team. His love for high school football and youth sports would stay with him for the rest of his adult life...

Right now, actually five days from this date, we’re going to head into another year. Yes, it will be 2018 virtually before you can bat an eye. It makes you wonder even more, where in the heck did the past year go? When thinking of the past 12 months, each of us can remember good points, and then there are some really bad ones that came our way. ...

After leading Southwest Missouri State University to a basketball conference title, Charlie Spoonhour, Bears coach, was asked by the media if the win and conference title was the biggest accomplishment in his life. To the media, the question seemed logical, one which they figured was a lead in to the next and would fill the time they needed — only Spoonhour didn’t give the response they anticipated. ...

The last time a league of schools wore the name Southwest Conference was in 2008, when it consisted of Carthage, McDonald County, Neosho, Nevada and Webb City. With those schools disbanding, the name sat idol until Wednesday, when the moniker was rebranded with eight new schools...

Ozark 7 Conference members were notified this last that they lost one member and will soon lose a second for the 2018-2019 school year. Last Monday, the Purdy school board voted unanimously to leave the Ozark 7 Conference and accepted a long-standing invitation to the Southwest Central League (SWCL)...

Cassville primary announced its December Students of the Month, who were chosen for best representing the character trait of integrity.

125 Cassville Middle School sixth-grade students graduated from the 10-week DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program with instructor and Cassville Student Resource Officer, Troy Wenzel.

Wheaton graduate Mariah Kochell, was placed on the Fall 2017 Dean’s List at Missouri Valley College in Marshall. The requirements for the list are a 3.3 or higher grade point average; at least 12 graded hours for the semester and no ‘D,’ ‘F,’ or ‘Incomplete’ grades for the semester...

The Central Crossing Senior Center held their annual Christmas party in Shell Knob on Friday, Dec. 15. Along with the fabulous ham and turkey dinner served with all the fixings, and pie 'a la mode, seniors enjoyed entertainment from the Table Rocketts Line Dancers...

The holidays can be a time of joy, fun, and excitement. They can also be tiring, disappointing and tension-packed, according to Renette Wardlow, human development specialist, University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. "People sometimes feel let down after the holidays. ...

The Rev. John Burton, priest in charge at St. Thomas a’ Becket Episcopal Church, and his wife Gloria, dressed for the season at a church Christmas party.

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

A collaborative project addressing access to mental health services in Cassville, Aurora and Mountain View was one of three proposals selected for the Rural Ozarks Health Initiative (ROHI), a three-year grant program to address priority health issues in communities or regions served by the CFO’s rural affiliate foundations...

No one left hungry, for food, or companionship, at the Cassville Senior Center on Tuesday, Dec. 19, when the Center served their traditional Christmas dinner with all the fixings.

Christmas light decorations help make the holiday season merry and bright, and are enjoyable to view. To recognize local residents and businesses who decorate their homes and buildings, the Cassville Chamber of Commerce hosts a Lighting Contest in December...

Between the efforts of city workers and Barry Electric, Christmas lights make the city festive for the holiday season, such as these striking displays that can be seen on the town square, and numerous, large snowflakes decorating light poles down Main Street, Highways 76 and 248 in Cassville...

The Mr. and Miss Merry Christmas program concluded on Thursday with a coronation ceremony assembly, hosted by the Cassville Student Council. The 2017 candidates collectively raised $19,000, which will be donated to the Share Your Christmas organization. ...

The Cassville High School Gymnasium will soon have brand new seating with convenient, modern features to accommodate guests for games, ceremonies and events. According to Dusty Reid, facilities and operations director for the school district, the current bleachers, which were installed in 1995, were due to be replaced...

The 89th annual Barry County Soils and Crops Conference has been scheduled for Jan. 9 in Cassville, and will focus on herbicides, taxes and beef in school lunch programs. Presented by the University of Missouri Extension, the program will be held at the First Christian Church, Old Exeter Road and Highway 37. ...

The Barry County Assessor’s Office now has a website for online access. Assessor Sherry Smith said online viewing can be accessed at barrygis.countyportal.net. “There are two options available for using the portal,” Smith said. “Active now, as a guest, you’re able to view the mapping and limited information such as the owner’s names, mailing address and parcel numbers at no cost. ...

Officials at the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library have announced a change in hours for four locations in the 10-branch system beginning Jan. 2, 2018. In Monett, the library will be open extended hours on Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. New Saturday hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m...

Construction on the new storm shelter, preschool and performing arts center at the Purdy school district started at a slower pace than expected. By mid-December, general contractor R.E. Smith had fenced off the former playground west of the high school and removed most of the trees. ...

  When Doug Stroemel reflects on his many years at Mercy, it’s not his career or long list of achievements that make him happiest. Instead, it’s the stories about his colleagues and patients he cherishes the most. “Mercy has been such a huge part of my life,” said Stroemel, who is retiring after 16 years with Mercy. ...

In recent months, 17 people have pleaded guilty to felony charges in Barry County courts. Of the 17, five were sentenced to time in prison and 12 received probation. Michael Beatty, 52, of Golden, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly shooting Golden man Ed Smith in June 2015 and attempting to burn down the mobile home where the incident occurred at 26511 Farm Road 1255...

Members of the Cassville sixth grade band play “Jingle Bells” during the 2017 Christmas Concert.

A word of warning about sales tax disbursements from the Missouri Department of Revenue was issued during an audit report at the city of Purdy. Dawnata Hopkins, longtime auditor with the CPA Group in Monett, reported sales tax revenue received by the city from the Department of Revenue for its general fund had fallen $24,892 for the fiscal year, down about 20 percent, while revenue from the half-percent sales tax for transportation showed growth of $7,000...

The local business community is always expanding and changing, and in 2018, a new bank is planning to join that landscape. Jason Tennant, president and chief lending officer of Cornerstone Bank, confirmed that a tract of land on Highway 37 and Main Street has been purchased, and the bank plans to build a branch there...