Stories from Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Leoda Mae Brightwell went to heaven to be greeted by our Lord and Savior on November 4, 2020, on a beautiful fall morning, with her three loving daughters and her special caregivers by her side. Leoda was born Aug. 31, 1928, in Egypt, Arkansas. She was one of twelve siblings; all have preceded her in death. ...

Eleanor “Jennifer” Dacheff, 72, of Cassville, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville. She was born Nov. 17, 1947, in San Bernardino, Calif., the daughter of Howard James and Elnora (Katzenstein) Taylor, who preceded her in death...

Margaret L. Eggers, 82, of Cassville, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville. She was born March 23, 1938, in Mindenmines, the daughter of Leonard and Ethel (Jumett) Coleman. On Jan. 31, 1959, she was united in marriage to Anthony Eggers, who survives...

Wilma Epps, 67, of Washburn, passed away on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield after a short illness. She born Dec. 31, 1953, to Harvey and Geraldine (Wade) Pendergraft at Camp Crowder Hospital in Neosho. Preceding her in death were her father, Harvey Pendergraft and a son, Scotty...

Michael Zane LeCompte, age 56, of Cassville, passed away at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Ark., on November 4, 2020, after a short bout with Covid-19. Michael was born on November 3, 1964, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Monett, Missouri. He received his education at Cassville High School, Class of 1983, and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. ...

Mary Ellen LeFaivre, 95, of Cassville, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at Roaring River Health and Rehabilitation in Cassville. She was born Jan. 12, 1925, in DeWitt, the daughter of Harry E. and Josephine (Jenkins) Miller, who preceded her in death...

Shirley Rae Luongo, 87, of Cassville, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at Roaring River Health and Rehab, Cassville. She was born July 4, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas, She lived most of her life in Pasadena, Texas. Above all her personality radiated her love of Jesus, reading and teaching Bible studies since 1965...

Donna Coleen Phillips, 91, of Cassville, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Cassville. She was born Nov. 7, 1928, in Cassville, the daughter of Earl and Cleo (McFarland) Eubanks. On July 10, 1947, in the state of Washington she was united in marriage to Henry “Hank” Phillips, who preceded her in death on April 18, 1984. Also preceding her in death were her parents, three brothers and one sister...

Daniel Ralls, 54, of Exeter, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Ark. He was born April 10, 1966, in McAlester, Okla., the son of Willis G. and Mildred (Overacer) Ralls. He was united in marriage to Nancy Brown and together they shared four children. Nancy preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents and one brother...

Frank David Schmitt, Jr., 75, of Marionville, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. He was born April 12, 1945, in Kansas City, the son of Frank David and Helen (Swehla) Schmitt, Sr. He was a 1963 graduate of Southeast High School in Kansas City and attended Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City. He worked for Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo for 40 years...

Lonnie Lee Woolard, 72, of Rocky Comfort, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at his home. He was born Sept. 16, 1948, in Stella, the son of Carl and Chloe (Spiva) Woolard, who preceded him in death. He lived in McDonald County, all of his life, graduating from Rocky Comfort High School. He farmed, did carpentry and woodworking...

It’s a typical example of how things can change. The leaves that have been on trees of the Ozarks since last spring have gone through their cycle of providing shade for the whole summer for us people and all the creatures. Then they reached the stage just last month of giving their best in providing the Flaming Fall Review across the nation, from coast to coast the colors and depending on the various species, has subsequently provided revenue for many businesses that annually relies on this colorful attraction for tourists.. ...

Jolie Evans, Jordyn Stafford and Annie Moore, cross-country runners at Cassville, received a send-off from their classmates as they headed to the state meet.

The Missouri State Trap Shooting Championship was set to take place in May 2020, but COVID-19 forced the event to be postponed until October. In the meantime, Southwest students were not able to practice or compete during the summer months. Parents and shooters did the best they could to keep students from losing the skills they had gained. ...

Action was fast and furious last week in Columbia as the best cross-country runners in the state descended on the town to decide who was best. In Class 3, Cassville sent its boys team. Pace Evans, finished 37th in 17:34.9; Caleb Leach was 125th in 19:26.8; Ethan Bohmke took 139th in 19:58.1; Jacob Martinez was 140th in 19:59.2; Charles Elliot finished 157th in 21:20.4; and Donald Pettyjohn was 161st in 24:15.4...

It has now been two full weeks since the Cassville football team has taken a competitive snap. While the week-one layoff was earned due to the success of the regular season, getting the Wildcats a bye in the playoffs, the dreaded virus of many names caused Reeds Spring to forfeit the district semifinal with the Wildcats roughly 24 hours before kickoff...

The October Cassville Middle School Students of the Month, sponsored by Willis Insurance, are pictured.

By Kailyn Speer If I did drugs, I wouldn't be me, and all those places I wouldn't get to see. Drugs make you high, drugs make you lie. Drugs are not good for your heart, that's why I will never start. If I did drugs, I would be dying inside, crying inside, wondering why I am not fine...

This school year, students across the district at Cassville are encouraged to bring a water bottle from home.

• Gerald Clayborn Ritchie, Monett, financial responsibility violation, misd. D, $80.50 and court costs; seat belt violation, $10. • Wayne Dudley Rogers, Exeter, speeding, misd. B, $200 and court costs. • Shayler Dane-Joseph Route, Rocky Comfort, DWI, misd. B; no valid driver’s license, misd. D, $380.50 and court costs...

  First Baptist Church in Cassville and New Site Baptist Church and in Monett are not waiting until Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude. Instead, they are giving back by lovingly packing gifts of joy for children around the world living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease and natural disaster. Operation Christmas Child — a project of Samaritan’s Purse — is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind...

SKITS board members Don Herbert and actor Cliff Przbyl, along with Table Rock Community Foundation members Judy Reynolds and Nita Jane Ayres, attended the recent Table Rock Community Foundation grant recipient luncheon at Silver Dollar City. The annual event celebrates the work and endeavors of philanthropic organizations, such as The Table Rock Community Lake Foundation, which has made a huge impact by virtue of their continued support to non-profit organizations in Stone County and southeast Barry County,. ...

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

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Towers will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Nov. 18. Ralph Wayne Towers and Florene Nadine Conway were united in marriage on Nov. 18, 1950, in Detroit, Mich. The couple have six children, Deanna (Joe) O’Hara, Keith (Carla) Towers, David Towers, Lynette (Dean) Crady, Dennis (Diana) Towers, and Danny Towers; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. ...

Cassville High School students will remain on the blended learning schedule through the remainder of the first semester, which ends on Dec. 22. In addition, the following schedule changes for high school students will occur: Nov. 23 will be a Black in-person attendance day (not a virtual day), and Nov. 24 will be a Gold in-person attendance day (like normal)...

Barry County is making an application available to request CARES Act funds for a third round of funding. For the third round of funding, non-profit corporations negatively impacted by COVID may seek economic support for the time period of March 1 through Oct. 31...

Halloween costumes went back in the closet and Christmas festivities are kicking off with the annual Open House events. On Saturday, local businesses will open their doors for traditional holiday shopping. Carey’s Cassville Florist did cancel its Open House scheduled for Saturday, but it will be releasing information shortly for a virtual sale in a couple of weeks...

A Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy has been charged with misdemeanor assault following an alleged incident on Sept. 10 at a dinner party. Caleb Kelley, 27, of Washburn, is charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and is set to appear in court on Dec. 17...

Mike’s Auto Care, a new business in Cassville, recently achieved national attention by winning an advertising spot on the No. 9 NASCAR vehicle driven by Chase Elliott. Michael Clifton, owner of Mike’s Auto Care, said through the NAPA Cares Program, he won the sponsor spot on the car...

Barry County voters made their voices heard at the polls on Tuesday, turning a red wave more into a red tsunami when it came to GOP support. In total, 15,744 out of 22,210 registered voters cast their ballots, a turnout of 70.89 percent. The figure actually did not follow the national trend of higher turnout, as in 2016, 14,830 out of the 10,445 registered voters cast ballot, equalling a 72.54 percent turnout...

On Oct. 9, 1999, when the mangled body of 14-year-old Justin Hocutt was found along the train tracks in Seligman, it was clear this case would be a murder investigation. While the murderers may have thought the end of the story was disposing of Justin’s body on the train tracks to cover up their crime — it was only the beginning...

Joining the Arkansas National Guard at 17 years old shaped the life of a local man, as well as setting into motion a lifelong understanding and gratitude of military life. Terry Burgess, co-owner of 37 Pawn and Gun in Seligman, said he joined the Arkansas National Guard at 17 years old in 2000, because he knew he just wanted to serve...

After falling below 200 last week, the number of active COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Barry County has climbed back above the figure, and sharply. According the Barry County Health Department and Barry County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 1,454 (+226) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19...