Stories from Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Lisa Marie Hudgins, 50, of Seligman, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, at her home. She was born May 13, 1969, in West Covina, Calif., the daughter of Richard and Linda Lou (Benton) Marmol, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was one son, Zachary Eivins...

Mary Lou Lebow, 83, of Cassville, passed away on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. She had lived in Cassville most of her life. She was born Feb. 10, 1937, in Darlington, Mo., the daughter of Billy and Sylvia Johnson. On Feb. 24, 1957, she was united in marriage to George Lebow in Maysville; he preceded her in death in 2017. She was also preceded in death by one son, Randy, in 2017. She was employed by doctors Cridling and Barnes for many years, as well as Dr. Christy Montz before retiring...

Kenneth Packwood, 90, of Verona, passed away Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at his home. He was born Jan. 18, 1930, in Ridgley, the son of Wayne and Ina (England) Packwood, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were one son, Joe Packwood and one brother, Darrell Packwood...

Francisca Perez Salas, 59, of Purdy, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Purdy. She was born Sept. 17, 1960, in Mexico, the daughter of Maximino Salas and Josefa Gonzales. She was united in marriage to Pedro Perez, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Jose Manuel Perez of Rogers, Ark., and Jose Alvaro Perez of Purdy; two daughters, Maria Claudia Perez of Hennessey, Okla., and Maria Veronica Perez of Monett; two brothers, Alfonso Salas and Juaquin Salas, both of Mexico; one sister, Bernabe Salas of Mexico; and 10 grandchildren.. ...

Pamela Woodley, 58, of Shell Knob, passed away Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. She was born Aug. 6, 1961, in Fort Worth, Texas, the daughter of Carl and Peggy (Winchester) Andrews. On February 17, 1978, in Kennedale, Texas, she was united in marriage to Kevin Woodley, who survives...

The people and leaders in Purdy find themselves in difficult position. Three train crashes with motorists at the Washington Avenue railroad crossing in three years have made it very clear the current arrangement there is not working. This week, a tragic fatality in a car-train collision at that crossing could easily have turned into three if the children had not made it out alive...

To take a phrase from a long-time circus theme, “the Greatest Show in Barry County” will arrive this Sunday with the 2020 opening of Rainbow Trout Season at Roaring River State Park. For those keeping track of the openings this is number 92 since Dr. Sayman gave the property to Missouri and the facility became public property...

The Cassville High School Softball team has earned Academic All-State honors

Planting time will soon be here, and the fourth annual Barry County Master Gardeners “Let’s Get Growing” workshop can help residents in preparing for a successful year. The event will be at Crowder College in Cassville on March 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can expect great speakers, door prizes and some tasty snacks...

There is a new Cub Scout Pack No. 440.

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

The worst possible thing that could ever happen is what I call a “church split.” You have probably heard horrendous tales of that terrible event. We had a split in our church just a few Sundays ago.  A crazy looking wolf adorned some sport shirts. Sourdough Sam adorned others. We were a congregation divided. Some of our faithful members were wearing red and white, others were wearing red and gold...

State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, was honored on Jan. 31 by SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging and the Central Crossing Senior Center in Shell Knob for his work on behalf of senior citizens.

People’s Community Bank has chosen Molly Brattin as the January Student of the Month for Exeter. Brattin is a sophomore at Exeter. 

On Jan. 31, Cassville Middle School Technology Students Association (TSA) members traveled to Neosho to compete in the regional TSA competition. Results are as follows: • Tech Bowl First Place, Bentley Barber, Kayden Fuchs, Gracie Harmon • Tech Bowl Second Place, Avery Chappell, Cosmo Rhoads, CJ Rose...

More than 800 candidates received degrees during Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 14, 2019, at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The university awards bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of science and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees...

Three Cassville FCCLA members ran against members from other area chapters to obtain leadership positions on the Region 11 FCCLA Executive Council and Missouri FCCLA State Executive Council. 

Missouri University of Science and Technology announces the names of students who made the honor list for the Fall 2019 semester. To be included on the honor list, students must have carried a minimum of 12 hours and had grade point averages of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0...

Mandy Lyall’s second-grade class teamed up with their business partners at Able 2 Products and set a goal to collect 100 canned good items by the 100th day of school. 

Whitney Koenig was recently awarded a scholarship to Central Methodist University through the annual “Central’s Got Talent” competition. Vocalists and musicians from across the state vied for the grand prize scholarships, performing one piece of their choosing from the areas of vocal performance, instrumental, and praise band. All participants went home with scholarships of varying values...

Barry County Assessor Sherry L. Smith has announced that the second notice reminders for the 2020 Personal Property and Business Assessment Lists are scheduled to be mailed out. The second notice reminders will be mailed in the form of a postcard. Original Assessment Lists are due on March 1, however, people still have time to file a list online, or personally turn it in, without receiving a late assessment penalty, providing the list is received in the office by March 31. ...

A fire claimed the house at 1006 Harold St. Thursday night.

Xain Gray, left, and Austin Rivera, right, discuss how to handle the body of Olivia Firestone during a production of “No Body Like Jimmy” at the Cassville High School arts assembly on Feb. 12.

Staff of the entities that operate at Roaring River State Park are prepped and ready for Sunday’s Opening Day festivities.

A bald eagle takes off upstream toward the Roaring River Hatchery.

The Shell Knob Library looked into the past when a time capsule from 1999 was opened on Thursday. Library staff and several local residents were present to open the capsule. Created on Nov. 18, 1999, in anticipation of the new millennium, Shell Knob School children ages 5-12 were asked to submit items for the capsule. ...

The downtown Cassville City Park men’s restroom was damaged by a fire on Feb. 15. David Brock, Cassville public works director, said officials are not sure how the fire itself started. “We can’t tell if it was someone trying to stay warm or if they unintentionally caused the fire,” he said. “There were a couple of cigar butts thrown in the trash can.”...

The Cassville Police Department was recently awarded $10,657.63 in grants through the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and Homeland Security. The different departments of Cassville search to find grants that will help assist in the day-to-day responsibilities and to improve productivity in each department...

With only two meetings left before the April election, Purdy City Council members opted to let Mayor Pro Tem Brian Bowers lead sessions and proceed with plans to move city hall. In February, council members accepted the brief resignation letter from Mayor Bo Prock, who moved outside the city limits. ...

Members of the Barry-Lawrence Chapter of Crime Stoppers are warning area residents to be vigilant when it comes to their vehicles, as multiple thefts of property have been reported. Det. Dave Haskins, with the Monett Police Department, said several cars had been either stolen or broken into in the past several weeks, with items such as wallets, purses, electronics and guns stolen from them, as well...

Mark Twain National Forest’s wildland firefighters on the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District are continuing to prepare for spring-time prescribed burning. According to a news release, with a new firefighter hired at the District, and the fire management officer returned from fighting wildfire in Australia, the team is ready to go as soon as there is a break in the cold...

As local legends go, not many in Barry County can compare to the folklore surrounding Jeanne Wallace, also known as the “Mountain Maid.” On Feb. 26, 1940, Barry County lost arguably one of its most interesting residents in a tragic fire, but to this day, her life continues to inspire and entertain local residents...

A year after its original expected completion date, the Roaring River Hatchery spring project is wrapping up, aiming to be done by summer if rains hold off. Paul Spurgeon, manager of the hatchery, part of the Department of Natural Resources, said there is only one part of the project left, a box needing to be placed at the mouth of the spring cave...

Eight athletes on the Cassville High School Volleyball team have earned Academic All-State Volleyball Honors.

Cassville basketball fans will not need to travel far to cheer on their favorite teams for the district playoffs. The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats will make their way to Monett on Saturday as part of a quadruple-header in the opening round of the Class 4, District 12 tournament...

There are much easier ways to claim medals at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships, but Zach Coenen does not care much about tough paths. He is used to taking the tough road and is more focused on the results. Coenen took fifth in the tournament and put the state on notice that he will be moving higher on the medal podium next season...