Stories from Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Harold E. Smith, 79, of Purdy, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2020, at his home. He was born March 19, 1941, in Stella, the son of Cliss and Mavis (Townsend) Smith. On Sept. 16, 1978, he was united in marriage to Frances Dishon, who survives. Additional survivors include: one son, Shane Eugene Smith of Pierce City; one daughter, Amanda Morgan and her husband Mike of Marionville; one sister, Peggie Kimbrough of Longview; and five grandchildren...

On April 19, 2020, Sy Rogers passed into eternity after struggling with cancer for nine months. Born Sinclair Ulrey Rogers II, to the late Sinclair Rogers and Barbara (Walker) Rogers on December 15, 1956, in Cassville, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughter, Grace Lobato, and son-in-law, Steve; two grandchildren, Avi, 9 and Lucia, 4; and his mom, Jane Rogers...

Patricia A. Gentry, 72, of Columbia, passed away Saturday, July 11, 2020. She was born July 19, 1947, in Barry County, the daughter of Everett and Viola Edie. She was united in marriage to Wilford Gentry, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were two sisters, Louise Hargus and RosaLee Richmond, and a brother, Webb Edie...

Within a few days of arriving in the month of August, past generations once called this the Dog Days of summer, which signaled there would be many fewer trips to Flat Creek, which was usually at a lower level than usual and prepare for hot days and nights...

The Missouri State High School Activities Association issued a reminder to all member schools and athletes this week to stay hydrated as the summer temperatures begin to reach near 100 degrees. For some individuals, working outside or participating in summer sports camps is unavoidable. In these cases, extreme caution and care should be taken to ensure that an individual doesn’t succumb to the extreme elements...

The million dollar high school sports question on everyone’s mind has been, will the schools play sports this fall due to COVID-19 (coronavirus)? The answer, as of today, is a tentative “yes.” The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) issued an eight-page guidance this week for high schools to follow in an attempt to play sports in a socially responsible manner to combat the spread of coronavirus...

I will tell you another thing COVID-19 has messed up — Fellowship Dinners. Nothing beats a church supper. At least two miracles happen every time the church gets together for a “carry-in” or “covered dish” meal. One: there is always more than enough to eat, even if a tourist bus breaks down in front of the church precisely at lunch time. This is a “loaves and fishes” miracle...

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

Summer usually means busy times for the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District; and this year is no exception. District employees continue their work in landscape restoration, providing recreation opportunities for the public, wildland firefighting and prevention, and much more...

The Veterans Taskforce of America, Inc. will meet at the Angus Branch Steakhouse in Monett on Aug. 2 at 4 p.m. All honorably discharged men, women, wartime or peacetime are welcomed. Although the Central Crossing Senior Center is not open due to COVID-19, the lunch program is going strong. ...

Some rides were a bit slower pace at the Purdy Festival, like the barrel train that weaved its way through the festivities.

A Joplin woman was injured Saturday in a wreck at 3:50 p.m. on Highway 86, three miles north of Wheaton. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Kimberly Harrell, 55, of Joplin, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer eastbound when her vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, struck a telephone pole and overturned...

The Exeter school district recently purchased two new servers, aiming to improve its network for the coming school year. Ernest Raney, Exeter superintendent, said all equipment should be going in before school restarts to assure there is no down-time on the network while students need it...

Social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions don’t have to ruin summertime, as Barry County’s main activities and attractions are already accommodating. While families have dealt with the stress of quarantine, a wellness break from school and a hit to local businesses, they are now looking for options to stay safe and get out of the house...

Age: 60 Current Occupation: Barry County Southern Commissioner and Convenience Store Owner Past Experience: Southern Commissioner for almost 12 years, Solid Waste Management Executive Board, Cassville Golf Board, Cassville School Board and Business Owner for 30 years...

Age: 50 Current Occupation: Own and Operates Dry Gulch Manufacturing in Exeter Past Experience: Past President Cassville Chamber or Commerce, current Cassville School Board member. Ozarks Regional YMCA Board Member, 25 year small business owner...

Age: 55 Current Occupation: Auctioneer, School Bus Driver, Backhoe Operator Past Experience: I’ve owned and operated my business for over thirty years, so I’m used to working with a budget. In my early twenties I worked for Flat Creek Road District, I know what it takes to keep the county roads maintained. ...

A Fayetteville, Ark., teenager is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly shooting a man in the foot during an attempted strong-armed robbery in Seligman on July 3. Emmanuel Smith, 18, of Fayetteville, Ark., is charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon...

A Monett man was arrested last week for a June incident where he allegedly pulled a gun on two people in their home, demanded money, then fled the home with cash and prescription pills. Trenton Carrington, 19, of Monett, is charged with first-degree robbery, a class A felony, and armed criminal action...

Students across the nation have seen a school year unlike anything they have ever experienced. They missed months of class and had to adapt on the fly to a changing curriculum that no one planned for. This especially hit hard for the 2020 senior classes. A typical senior year is full of college prep, seeing friends and teachers for the last year of high school, prom and finally after the 13 years getting to the end of the line, they experience a graduation with friends, family and community...

In the full swing of summer, cities generally begin to see an uptick in project completion, but with COVID-19 (coronavirus) complications, some of those projects are being re-evaluated. According to David Brock, Cassville public works director, one of the items on the 2020 project budget was asphalt resurfacing of a couple of locations, which has been completed...

As COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Barry and Lawrence counties near 300 total, some of the hardest hit areas have been nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. As of Tuesday, Barry County had 180 cases, and Lawrence County had 117 for a total of 297. Between both counties, at least 86 of those cases (29 percent) have been in nursing homes or other long term care facilities...

The Barry County Health Department has issued a new set of COVID-19 (coronavirus) Phase II Mitigation rules, effective through Aug. 31. Among the rules are requirements for masking among employees of certain businesses, and the health department is encouraging other businesses to implement masking policies...

The number of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Barry County is at 180, up 29 from the previous week, but with 40 people recovering. According the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 177 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, one presumptive and two antibody positives. As of Tuesday, a total of 53 people were considered active cases in isolation, two of whom are hospitalized, and 247 close contacts are quarantined in their homes...

A Cassville woman was injured Wednesday in a wreck at 4:10 a.m. on Highway 112, five miles south of Cassville. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Billy Jagger, 41, of Cassville, was driving a 2002 Toyota Sequoia southbound when his vehicle was negotiating a curve and swerved to miss a deer in the roadway, causing the vehicle to run off the roadway, overturn and strike a tree...