Stories from Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Ronel Bice, 80, of Cassville, passed away Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at his home. He was born July 27, 1938, in McAlester, Okla., the son of Emery and Etta (Gray) Bice. He was a retired groundskeeper for the golf course in Noel. Survivors include: three sons, Mark Bice of Noel, Scott Bice of Southwest City, and Andy Bice of Texas; two brothers, Arvil Bice of McAlester, Okla., and Larry Bice of Carthage; and special friend, Betty Sellers of Cassville...

Verlon “Bub” Leroy Haworth, 81, of Purdy, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, at Cox Monett Hospital. He was born Sept. 29, 1937, in Barry County, the son of Loren and Frances (Holloway) Haworth. On Aug. 20, 1960, he was united in marriage to Joann Sparkman, who survives...

Theresa (Tess) Mahaffey, of Cassville, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. Private graveside services were held at Russell Cemetery under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville with Jerry Nickle officiating. Survivors include: two daughters, Patsy Garner of Cassville, and Dr. Betty Jo Summers and husband LTC Thomas Michael “Mike” Summers (retired) of Austin, Texas; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren...

Nolan Gene McNeill, age 84, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born on March 17, 1934, in Bethlehem, Missouri, the son of John B. and Rilda Virginia (King) McNeill. On May 10, 1953, in Rocky Comfort, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Barbara Lee Milligan, who survives...

Jimmie Allen Patterson was born in Urbana, Missouri, in 1936 to William Dal and Nola Patterson. He grew up with his sister Evelyn in that small town playing around the gas station his parents owned, shooting hoops and cruising the town with his friends. After high school, he enlisted in the Army and married Linda Ann Patterson. Jim and Linda had one daughter Sandy Patterson Frye...

Ruby Pearl Pozniak, 87, of Purdy, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, at her home. She was born on Aug. 12, 1931, in Exeter, daughter of the late Roy Eugene and Inez Cecil (Lakey) Brattin. She graduated from Wheaton High School with the class of 1948 and was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church...

James W. Sherwood, 66, of Shell Knob, passed away Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at his home. He was born in California on March 29, 1952. On May 21, 1976 at Viola Baptist Church he was united in marriage to Mary “LaVeta” McCullough, who preceded him in death on June 21, 2017. Also preceding him in death were his parents...

Cheryl Ann Swadley, 59, of Seligman, passed away Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, at her home. She was born Oct. 6, 1959, in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Dale E and Betty (Wallross) Clark. On Dec. 23, 1974, she was united in marriage to Albert Clinton Swadley Jr., who preceded her in death on Dec. 22, 2018. Also preceding her in death were her parents and one sister, Sheila Anderson...

We’re just two days away from the second month of the year, February, a period in the calendar that was once the target of elimination. Anyone who had read this column for any period of time will realize the tongue-in-cheek rhetoric that the late Joe Ellis and I had annually about the end of January. We had a theory that the 28 or 29 days of February could well be distributed among the other 11 months and no one would be the wiser or no one would be injured...

Purdy High School cross-country runner Brian Lyons soared to the state cross-country meet all four years of his high school career, placing third in his senior season.

The majority of the time, when athletic players receive awards, it is based upon accomplishments on the field or court. However, fans and coaches must also keep in mind that the players that represent the area high schools are students first, and they must take care of classroom duties if they want to see the field of play athletically...

Excitement filled the air at Exeter High School as senior Julia Grant signed a national letter of intent binding her to Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan., this fall. The senior, in front of friends, family and coaches, said this was a dream come true...

Attending school is one of the most important things students can do to help achieve academic success.

The Knights of Columbus Council 8865 with the St. Edwards Catholic Church, located in Cassville, has donated $750 to the Cassville school district Special Education Department. 

Phil and Kim Melugan, owners of Phoenix Home Health Care, will be presenting two Crowder College students scholarships, in the amount of $500 each today (Wednesday) at 1 p.m. in room 207 at the Cassville Instruction Center.   Students, faculty and staff from the Nursing program, along with representatives from Phoenix Home Health Care, will be on hand for the presentation. Crowder College in Cassville is located at 4020 N. Main Street...

Missouri Valley College, located in Marshall, conferred 38 degrees for 2018 December graduates. Mariah Kochell, of Wheaton, earned a Bachelor of the arts in Psychology, graduating cum laude. For more information on Missouri Valley College, people may contact 660-831-4114 or email admissions@moval.edu...

In an effort to serve Cassville school district students that have qualified for speech and language therapy, DotCom Therapy services are now available for preschool through eighth grade students at the district. “It is a very exciting time to be an educator,” said Traci Mitchell, Cassville schools director of learning. “Through the advancement in technology, we are now able to offer more opportunities for our students than ever before.”...

When Carolyn Lunsford, lead teacher/director of Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) Cassville Head Start, accepted the invitation to talk about the importance of early childhood education with college students at Crowder College and Drury University in December, she had no idea how impactful her remarks would be on the college students...

The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce has added four new board members.

The New England States are expecting 30 inches of snow, and here in Cassville, Missouri we are experiencing the lowest temperatures so far this winter. With that much snow on the ground up North, Punxsutawney Phil will have a hard time getting out of his burrow. It is doubtful that he will see his shadow on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Penn...

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

The Cassville Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) held its annual meeting of stockholders on Jan. 17. Randy Stockton was re-elected to serve a three-year term as board member and Chad Johnson was elected to fill the spot vacated by Mike McCracken who did not seek re-election...

Central Crossing Senior Center was presented the coveted Silver Spoon Award by the Barry County Health Department for zero health violations in the kitchen and dining facilities for all of 2018.

The City of Cassville will apply again this year to the Missouri Recreational Trail Program for grant funding to construct new or improved multi use trails. Last year’s application was not selected, however the City was invited to reapply and to devise a project that put more emphasis on trails as opposed to amenities. ...

Reagan Bluel, University of Missouri Extension of Barry County program director and dairy specialist, welcomed about 100 locals interested in agriculture to the 90th Annual Barry County Soils and Crops Conference, held Thursday at First Christian Church in Cassville...

During the adult painting class at the Cassville Branch Library on Jan. 22, instructor Donna Lawson helped Catharina Kungl with her painting technique.

A Wheaton woman was injured Wednesday in a wreck at 5:55 p.m. on Route W, just west of Butterfield. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Jared Hogan, 32, of Verona, was driving a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis southbound when his vehicle pulled into the path of a westbound 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, being driven by Melissa Cooper, 45, of Wheaton...

Three people, including two toddlers, were injured Sunday in a wreck at 12:45 p.m. on Farm Road 2220, four miles north of Monett. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Ty J Thompson, 25, of Cassville, was driving a 1999 Honda Accord eastbound when his vehicle left the side of the roadway and struck a fence...

Purdy High School will celebrate homecoming on Friday as part of festivities that include the Hall of Fame induction. As part of the recognition to the 1981 girls basketball team's induction into the school's Hall of Fame, homecoming will have a "We Love the 1980s" theme, organized by the Student Council...

Southwest High School has elected its 2019 Homecoming Court. The Trojans and Lady Trojans will play host to Sparta on Feb. 8.

The 35-day government shutdown that ended on Friday have the local agencies and the farming community getting themselves back on track. Russ Neill, farm loan manager at Farm Service Agency, said the building located at 76 Main Street houses the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, which are both federal, and the Barry County Soil and Water Conservation District, which is state...

The city of Seligman is staying on top of maintenance for well No. 4 and putting in a better cleaning system for its splash pad. Brian Nichols, Seligman city clerk, said well No. 4 had a complete replacement of pipes, pump, motor and wire. “From records, that well has been operating with those parts since 2007,” he said. “They have about a 10-year life span, and it was just time to upgrade the parts.”...

Ask those who knew Nolan McNeill, and they will tell you he was always eager to offer a helping hand and had a dedication to public service. McNeill, a life-long Democrat, died on Jan. 22 at the age of 84 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was born on March 17, 1934, in Bethlehem, Mo., the son of John B. ...

An Exeter man was arrested on Jan. 23 after allegedly kicking in the door of a Cassville home. Jimmy Taylor Jr., 40, of Exeter, is charged with first-degree burglary and resisting arrest. According to a probable cause report filed by Kyle Kuhn, deputy with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor and an accomplice allegedly kicked in the door of a home on Highway 37. ...

Seligman Police Department took 1,260 calls for service in 2018 and is in the process of hiring and training more part-time officers to offer more coverage throughout the week and weekends. Matt Phillips, Seligman chief of police, said of the 1,260 calls for service, 273 of them were traffic stops...

On Jan. 24, the 26th annual Share a Heart Campaign began, aiming to provide families of ill and injured children lodging, hope and comfort during some of their hardest times. For 36 days, 61 McDonald’s restaurants and various other businesses in the Ozarks will place red, pink and gold “adopted” paper hearts on their walls and windows in support of the two Springfield Ronald McDonald Houses...

After a drops in sales tax incomes to Barry County and its cities in December 2018, incomes leaped in January, especially for the county and city of Cassville. Barry County’s two half percent sales taxes supporting the general fund and roads each produced $170,918 in January, up $31,492 from a year ago, though nearly $23,000 under the start of 2017...

A man serving time in state prison is suing the Barry County jail for $1.2 million, claiming refusal for medical treatment following an assault in the jail has left him partially paralyzed. James Albert Smith, 34, who is serving a 5-year sentence at the Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City, filed the suit against seven defendants in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on Dec. 17, 2018...

Seven area school districts have now officially joined the Monett Regional Special Services consortium, offering special education services to qualifying students from those districts. Pierce City was the final district to approve paperwork last week. ...

The Barry County Commission adopted a $4.4 million budget for 2019 that reflected few changes from the previous year, when spending totaled nearly $3.9 million. The new budget carried over $786,798 from funds unspent last year. The increase reflected a 5 percent spending increase that didn’t necessarily reflect new financial commitments. ...

Tod Bowser read the obituary for Mason Lowe and offered a message to the about 700 people gathered in Exeter for a memorial service in honor of the PBR rider who died on Jan. 15.