Barry County

Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week
Meet Busta Rhymes! His date of birth is Dec. 14, 2021 and he’s a 60-pound tan German Shepherd/ Labrador mix. Busta Rhymes has a lot of energy and would thrive in a home that can help him burn it off with walks on a leash or playing ball (which he loves). Busta received training previously and knows the commands: sit, down, wait, place and come. He is a wonderful dog, but his new family would need to be able to keep a close eye on him if another dog is around or if meeting a dog for the first time. He does great with kids of all ages and is house and crate trained. Adopters can complete an application at www.havenoftheozarks. org/adopt. No appointment is needed. The Haven is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. All Haven of the Ozarks pets are fixed, up to date on their vaccinations, and microchipped. For more information, people may email havenozarksanctuary@ gmail.com, or call at 417-835-3647. Contributed photo

Roaring River State Park campground 3 reopens
Improvements to Campground 3 at Roaring River State Park are complete, and the campground will reopen for guests on Feb. 25.

Coaches reflect on tourney performances
A total of 15 teams participated in the Southwest hoops tournaments from Dec. 27-30, 2024, with one local team winning a title and another taking third.

Two grand
Southwest senior Kasen Holder reached a milestone with this off-balance layup, tallying his 1,000th and 1,001st career points with the 2-point play in the opening minutes against Gentry at the Southwest Holiday Tournament on Dec. 30, 2024.

Local law enforcement takes oath
At the Barry County Judicial Center on Dec. 31, 2024, Barry County Sheriff’s Office deputies, officers with the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team and police officers from Monett, Cassville, Purdy and Wheaton recited their oaths for the coming year, led by Barry County Circuit Clerk Craig Williams. Contributed photo

Jeremiah Buntin: What’s in store for the new year
The changing over to a new year always reminds me of the book title “Seeds of Time” by H. Harold Shamel that we have in the Barry County Museum bookstore.

Through the Years, Jan. 8
40 YEARS AGO: CHECKING WATER METERS — Two members of Cassville city council and a pair of private citizens aren’t looking for creatures in the hole in front of them, they’re observing water meter conditions on Fair Street in Saturday’s cold.
Sales tax revenues up in ‘24
Despite December sales tax distributions falling 3% below a year ago, reports from Barry County cities and county government entities showed widespread gains over 2023, though some reflected very small revenue increases. Totals for 2024, compared to income before the COVID-19 pandemic surge in local shopping, show how sales and use tax now completely power local government operations.
News Briefs, Jan. 8
The Barry County Democratic Central Committee will meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant in Cassville.

Top 10 news stories of 2024
The Top 10 news stories of 2024 include the May 26 windstorm and Sheriff Boyd's reelection.