Barry County

Through the Years, Jan. 29
30 YEARS AGO: METHODS OF REMOVING SNOW — The order of the day beginning Thursday morning was getting snow from some unwanted places. In the instances shown here, the places were parking lots, entrances to businesses and sidewalks at county offices. In the photo at left, Lonnie Yarnall uses one piece of snow removal equipment that was made available for some of the smaller parking lots that contracted for the service. In the middle, John Starchman makes the wet snow fly with a snow shovel, accomplishing the entrances of a couple of businesses. At the right, Johnny Gautney of the courthouse staff, puts a new snow blower, belonging to the county, to the task of clearing side-walks. For large locations and heavier tasks, there was equipment of about every description and horsepower up and down the roads, streets and parkways of the area. Many of the earlier removal chores were accomplished while it was still snowing. Sunshine and traffic both hitting major roads and streets later Thursday morning helped eliminate much of the cover. Rural roads were another problem after they drifted to depths of six feet in some locations. Democrat file photo
Sheriff: ‘We’re fully staffed’
Following an election year with a new jail under construction, Sheriff Danny Boyd said his Office is hitting the ground running in 2025. Staving off challengers in a four-candidate race — ultimately winning the August Primary Election by 48 votes among more than 6,000 after a hand and machine recount — Boyd said for the next four years in office, transparency and increasing service are his key goals.
Barry County sales tax dips in January
Sales tax revenues for Barry County cities and county government entities got off to a slow start for 2025, with lower receipts for almost all recipients. The seven Barry County cities and the county received $1,398,694.40, a drop of 8% from last January.
News Briefs, Jan. 29
Preschool screening for 3- and 4-year-old children in the Cassville school district is scheduled for April 7 and April 9. Parents of 3- and 4-year-old children may call the primary office at 417-8472445 to schedule an appointment.

Through the Years, Jan. 22
40 YEARS AGO: NO TELLING HOW MANY — Joana Smithson, Cassville school nurse, is pictured above taking the temperature of a pupil in her office in the middle school building. Mrs. Smithson, who had been in the post 19 years, was honored by faculty and staff members with a reception last week.

Waste not, want not
Started from scratch 20 years ago by a handful of school students and their instructor, the Purdy Recycling Center has evolved from a school project into a community-wide enterprise. Gerry Wass, former Purdy Schools Spanish teacher and Spanish Club shepherd, has trouble getting his head around the recycling program’s 20-year milestone.
Washburn man facing sex crime charges
A Washburn man is facing four felonies and a misdemeanor in a pair of criminal cases stemming from incidents in the 1980s and last year. Wesley Roller, age unknown, is charged in one case with sodomy (victim under 14 years old) and first-degree sexual abuse.
Woman seriously injured in crash
An Exeter woman was injured in a wreck at 10:30 p.m. on Friday on Highway 76, one mile west of Exeter.
Tigers finding new identity mid-season
Exeter boys basketball coach dislikes the phrase “rebuilding year,” but there are not many other ways to describe this year’s Tigers squad as they find their new identity. After losing a strong group of seniors to graduation last year, Williams said Exeter is still working to find its best lineup, a work in progress.

Kyle Troutman: Assessing needs
An interesting exercise occurred last Tuesday following the Cassville City Council meeting and Southwest Missouri Council of Government’s leading of three public hearings for proposed grant-funded projects.