Stories from Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Shirley Lois Gaffga, 78, of Shell Knob, passed away Sunday, April 1, 2018, at her home. She was born March 27, 1940, in Paris, Mo., the daughter of Harold and Norine (Smith) Timmons. She married Jim Hensley, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents and one son, Ronnie Lee Burks...

Timothy Patrick Frisinger, 60, of Exeter, passed away Sunday, April 8, 2018, at his home. He was born June 1, 1957, in Joplin, the son of Neal and Peggy (Gaurd) Frisinger. On May 16, 1990, in Miami, Okla., he was united in marriage to Patti Baptist, who survives. Additional survivors include: one daughter, Julie Nelson of Ozark; one brother, Danny Frisinger and his wife Pam of Joplin; and five grandchildren...

Some folks will remember, others will not, when Cassville’s motel facilities began expanding in the late 1940s with the coming of electricity to the rural areas of south Barry County. Responsible for this was the coming of Barry Electric Cooperative and a gentle push from area roads being covered from gravel to asphalt surfaces...

Cassville senior Dylan Garner finished 14th individually in the 30-team Missouri State University Relay Golf Tourney last week in Springfield. Garner, who competed against 150 other individuals, had the third-best round of any Class 3 golfer. Issac Dodson recorded his best score of the season, and Payton Varner made his varsity debut, according to coach Jay Rogers...

The Cassville junior varsity soccer team defeated Parkview, 8-0, on Thursday. Scoring for the Lady Wildcats was as follows: Brianna Hemphill, 2; Jamie Watts, 2; Jaz Aguirre, 2; Kamryn Jaques, 1; and Bayla Osborne, 1.

The Cassville middle school track program had a standout day at the McDonald County track meet last Tuesday. In the seventh grade division, the 4x200 relay team of Jacob Martinez, Andrew Taylor, Jadon Ewing and Peter Littlefield took first. Cassville earned second in the 4x100 relay Martinez, Taylor, Ewing and Littlefield; and Littlfield in the high jump. Dallas Johnson earned third in the pole vault and Jadon Ewing was third in the high jump...

After being delayed almost a week, the Ice Box Relays finally went on Thursday in Aurora. Cassville’s girls finished third, and the boys took fourth. Results for both teams are as follows: First place • Shot put: Audra Brooks, 35-6 • Javelin: Josi Rose, 104-2...

There is an emerging baseball force in Barry County that has to be accounted for. Long dormant, but now coming back to relevance, the Exeter boys baseball team has started to roar again, and other teams are taking note. The Tigers are off to a 6-3 start to the season and have shown an offensive potency unparalleled by others, scoring 32, 20, 16 and 12 runs in four of their wins...

The Purdy baseball team is starting to get hot. After a slow start to the season, the Eagles have ripped of four-straight victories, including a 7-2 statement win over Cassville on Thursday. “We’re not anywhere near where we are capable of playing,” said Joshua Hughes, Purdy coach. ...

They are often one of the most visible, but less discussed, aspects of almost any sporting event — the cheerleaders. Nevertheless, no game is complete without their ability to make fans stand up and cheer their team on to victory. For four years, Purdy senior Emma Mareth has poured her efforts and talent into leading the cheer squad at Purdy High School. ...

The Cassville Senior Center will be hosting an event April 11 (today) at 11:30 a.m., featuring guest, the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary, and two more events in the following week. The Haven will share a presentation about what they do along with information about how volunteers can help with their time and/or donations...

On Saturday, April 21, Roaring River State Park will host an Earth Day Celebration. Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. at the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center with a birding hike along the River Trail. Hikers are encouraged to bring their binoculars. The event is free and open to the public, and will also include free tree giveaways for visitors, a live bird show, interpretative programs and activities...

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

Most cow-calf producers feel they are producing a high quality feeder that does not demand the respect they should in the marketing arena. According to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, there are steps that can help a cow-calf producer earn greater respect...

The Cassville Police Department is participating in the D.E.A. Prescription Take Back Day scheduled for Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People may drop off medications at the back entrance (Municipal Court) of City Hall. The event is held to help people properly dispose of unused medications...

SKITS spring play, The Groom Has Cold Feet, has all the twists and turns of a murder mystery set in an 1890's western town. Play dates are Friday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m., at the CC United Methodist Church, located at Highway 39 & Highway YY, Shell Knob...

The Southwest FFA will hold its annual labor auction, meal and item auction Friday at 6 p.m. in the commons at Southwest High School. There are many donated items and capable hands up for auction. The FFA expects to serve pulled pork. The Shell Knob Chamber of commerce will host its annual Home and Business Show on Friday from 5-7:30 p.m. ...

As per tradition, downtown Cassville held its Spring Sidewalk Sale April 6 and 7.

Protesters were out in colder weather at the Barry County Courthouse Saturday demanding justice in the case of three dogs shot to death in Eagle Rock in March

On Saturday, Trevor Nelson and Jozee Sorensen were crowned Prom King and Queen at the Exeter High School Prom.

One year after his death in a patrol car crash while on duty, the Barry County Sheriff’s Office took time Friday to honor its fallen brother, Master Sgt. Carl Cosper.

Russell Robinson returned to Cassville High School Monday to lead the schools’ choirs in a concert and present the Russell Robinson Scholarship.

Josh Bowling, left, and Kayla Vang were crowned Prom King and Queen Saturday at Wheaton’s prom.

The Purdy school board has adjusted staffing for the coming year and received an update on construction of its new storm shelter and performing arts center. Resignations approved included high school science teacher Lisa Reid, and two from extra duty assignments: science teacher Clint Dillow from the recycling program, and Tabitha Farris as the Student Council advisor...

Fifty-one firearms were among weapons and drugs seized when a search warrant was served at a home on Gravel Street Thursday. According to a release from the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET), the Team and Barry County Sheriff’s Office served a Search Warrant at 80 Gravel St. in Cassville, which was the result of an Investigation with ODET, United States Postal Service and Cassville Police Department...

In a 17-day period in March, the Barry County Sheriff’s Office and the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team (ODET) were busy in the local area serving warrants, making arrests and seizing drugs. From March 5-22, the Sheriff's Office and ODET made 16 arrests for narcotics and weapons violations, cleared 12 fugitive arrest warrants that were active from Hawaii, Alaska, Arkansas and Missouri, and served eight search warrants in Barry County. ...

Art is alive and well in Barry County schools, and students are showcasing their impressive creativity and talent in works of art in the Ozark 7 Art Show pieces on display at the Barry County Museum through April 24. Hosted at the museum for the third year, the large show features art from seven schools including Exeter, Southwest, Wheaton, Purdy, Verona, and two Joplin schools...

Home is where the heart is, and for Shawna Kraft and her family, those words ring especially true now that they have moved into their new home, bringing their dream of home ownership full circle. Last year, Kraft had applied to be considered for a Habitat for Humanity home, was accepted, and put in about 300 hours of personal sweat equity, to earn and help build the home...

With voter turn-out of 14.4 percent, the April 3 election held a few surprises but generally favored incumbents. The most suspense came in the City of Washburn, where two city council positions were open to write-in selection. Connie Deans received 14 votes and Cheryl Floyd received 7, making them the winners in a longer list of single-vote candidates,...

Friday at Cassville High School was billed a Day of Kindness, where students were challenged to be kind to one another through notes, artwork, a positivity project and a moment of silence for the 17 killed in school shootings across the nation.

The excitement of a first-inning two-run home run by Sol Rainey was short lived for the Cassville baseball team in a 7-2 loss at Purdy Thursday. The Wildcats, 2-5 on the season, while young, had a team meeting after the game where the players challenged each other to be better...