Stories from Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Podie Wayne (Bruce) Beeson, 42, of Cassville, passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. He was born Nov. 17, 1975, in Aurora, to David and Pamela (Ulmer) Beeson. Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents, George (Huck) and Ruby Ulmer; a sister, Tammy Kaylyn Beeson; a wife, Julie Beeson...

Rebecca “Becky” Lynn Hermann, 63, of Cassville, passed away Monday, March 19, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. She was born Dec. 29, 1954, in Paoli, Ind., the daughter of Damon and Kathleen Wininger. On Feb. 29, 2012, in Joplin, she was united in marriage to David Hermann, who survives...

Dorothy M. Porter, 82, passed away Thursday, March 22, 2018, at home. She was born June 7, 1935, in Seymour, the daughter of Luther and Mary (Cantrell) Hargus. On May 31, 1952, she was united in marriage to Ray Porter, who preceded her in death on July 26, 2013. Also preceding her in death were her parents; four brothers, Lawrence, Elston, Bill and Clarence and four sisters, Lorene, Marie, Juanita and Jolene...

Lola Burnett Robertson, 90, Newtonia, Missouri, entered into rest on March 23, 2018 at Bentonview Nursing Home in Monett. Lola was born Sept. 29, 1927 in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of Marcus L. and Jessie (Sherman) Rogers. She grew up in Nimmons, Ark., where she met her future husband Frank Buel Clark Robertson, whom she married on Oct. ...

Claudia Chlorene “Chlo” Treat, 90, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Cassville Health Care and Rehabilitation. She was born Sept. 29, 1927, in Flippin, Ark., the daughter of Claud and Opal (Bussell) Foster. On Jan. 28, 1944, she was united in marriage to Cecil Treat, who survives...

In their first taste of varsity action this season, the Wildcats track team competed at McDonald County on Thursday. “We are a very young team, and we have a lot of growing left to do,” said Clay Weldy, Cassville track coach. “I was pleased with some of our older guys who got personal record in events [Austin Wilson in Long Jump and Skyler Wolf in shot put]. Overall, our kids competed well, but we saw a lot of things that we can improve on.”...

With nine returning letter winners, the Cassville girls track team has a small, but talented nucleus. Returning for Cassville are: Audra Brooks, Catie Edmondson, Nefertiti Gautney, Opal Gouvion, Brianna Hemphill, Parker Marple, Alondra Miller, Kennedy Parnell and Josi Rose...

Some of the best small-school basketball in southwest Missouri can be found here in Barry and Lawrence counties. A bulk of the schools are part of the Ozark 7 Conference, which night in and night out has some great basketball. This year, the league sent a team to the final four and now, the time has come to award and name its best players...

Though spring has officially arrived, the American Red Cross blood supply is still recovering from severe winter storms in March. Donors of all blood types are urged to roll up a sleeve and help save lives. Winter weather in parts of the country forced more than 270 blood drives to cancel, resulting in over 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of March. No matter the weather, the need for blood to help cancer patients, those undergoing surgeries, trauma patients and others remains.. ...

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

In recognition of April being Public Health Month, the Barry County Health Department will be offering testing on private well water for $10, using a department provided water test kit to individuals, Monday through Wednesday. For the month of April, nursing stuff will conduct heart disease and stroke risk calculations with blood pressure checks and STD testing...

The Cassville Show Choirs Centerstage and NBA (No Boys Allowed) took the following wins from their competition season: • First Place, Class 3 Battlefest (Centerstage) • Best Opener of the Day, Battlefest (Centerstage) • Third Place, Class 3 Joplin in the Spotlight (Centerstage)...

The Cassville speech and debate team had the opportunity to compete in the National Speech and Debate Association District Competition on March 16 and 17 in Republic. Students who placed in the top two of this event will compete in Nationals during June in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla...

Tori Kruse, Miss Missouri USA 2018, is launching her new program, 1st ManUp, to provide awareness and help prevent sexual assault and harassment by speaking to young men and asking the question, “Who will be the first man to stand up for the women in their lives?” The 1st ManUp program educates and encourages young men to be leaders by respecting women and holding other men accountable as well. ...

Cassville High School members of the speech and debate team recently earned the title of Big 8 Conference Champions. Individual student results and categories were as follows: Humor Interpretation: Ellie Good, third; Garrett York, second; Duet: Conference champions Alexander Mackey and Marisa Padilla, first; Sophie Scott and Austin Rivera, fourth...

The Southwest school district recently raised $10,024.31 to earn a $5,000 match from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for its district endowment to support the educational needs of the students and educators in the district serving southwest Barry County...

On Library Advocacy Day, which took place March 13 in Jefferson City, at the state’s capitol, Barry-Lawrence County Library System Director Gina Milburn and Youth Services Coordinator Janea Coker met with lawmakers to update them on the library system and ask for their continued support of libraries across the state...

Gary Youngblood, Barry County clerk, said Missouri’s new Photo Voter ID law outlines identification options for registered Missouri voters to use on Election Day at their polling location. Most Missourian’s have a Missouri Driver’s license or Non-driver License, which is an acceptable photo ID for voting. ...

Families enjoyed making bunny art at an Easter-themed event at the Cassville Library Saturday morning, which featured several fun activities to celebrate the holiday.

No matter what the groundhog might do, yellow daffodils on the landscape, or Easter lilies, are a sure sign that spring has arrived.

For anyone who has ever thought birdwatching was for the birds, think again. Classified as a sport by National Geographic, birdwatching is serious business to thousands of wing-crazy enthusiasts. Whether an experienced frequent flyer that can name birds by the dozen, or a novice hoping to see something other than the everyday sparrow, Roaring River State Park provided both groups ample opportunity this weekend with its first-ever Birding Bootcamp, held Saturday and Sunday...

Now in its 53rd year, the Barry County Youth Camp will take place Tuesday, May 29 through Friday, June 1, at Camp Smokey at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The theme of this year's celebration is "Sail Away to Barry County Youth Camp," and Barry County children ages 7-10, recommended by their school counselors, will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of crafts, field trips, educational programs, swimming, games and more. ...

A Purdy woman is facing three felonies and a misdemeanor after allegedly breaking into a home and stabbing the victim, who tried to stop the theft. Jessica Garner, 22, of Purdy, is charged with second-degree assault, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and misdemeanor stealing...

The phrase, “complacency kills,” is often used in trainings for career fields where safety is paramount such as police work, aviation or firefighting, to remind workers not to get too comfortable in their positions, lest tragedy hit. Local dentist Dr. ...

Sales tax receipts to Barry County and its cities rallied for the second straight month, with most local governments receiving revenues failing to top totals from last March. The seven Barry County cities with sales taxes received $621,863.43. Factoring out the new Monett aquatic center tax, that meant the taxes collected a year ago brought in 7 percent more in March...

Cassville School Resource Officer Troy Wenzel is busy every day with his duties patrolling school campuses, talking to children about bullying, safety and making good choices as a DARE officer, handling traffic and providing general security. But lately, he has had his hands full with alleged safety threats and rumors of threats that have escalated in recent weeks following school shooting incidences nationwide...

Cassville Superintendent Richard Asbill, left, shows U.S. Rep. Billy Long pictures of damages done by flood waters in December 2015 at the Cassville Intermediate School’s fifth-grade wing.

Changes are coming to cities, school boards and road districts in the April 3 election. Many political subdivisions, however, will not have votes due to a lack of contests. Purdy One contested race developed in Purdy, where one-term incumbent Brian Bowers faces a rematch against Raymond Stapleton, who lost in 2016. Bobby Baker, appointed to the East Ward seat, is unopposed in his bid for a full term...

The Cassville school district is again combating rumors on social media concerning school safety, including rumors of a bomb threat and lockdown at the high school on Thursday. Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent, said he has copies of Facebook posts allegedly starting the rumors...

Looking back over the years, I can recall a number of activities in and around Cassville that might seem insignificant to those living here today, but in those days they were either important to the community or part of our everyday life. There are people still around that could possibly, if they strained, remember some of these things, but they are getting fewer and farther between...