Barry County

County budgets $6.67M for 2025
The Barry County Commission has approved the 2025 budget, which allows for up to $6.67 million in spending across all county offices and includes a pay raise for all county employees. Joyce Ennis, Barry County clerk, said the total proposed budget is $6,670,661, which includes estimated 2025 sales tax revenue of $6,012,401, plus $6,749,308.49 carried over from 2024.
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.

Purdy Homecoming candidates named
Purdy High School will crown its 2025 Homecoming Queen and Mr. Tip-Off at a special coronation between the junior varsity and varsity boys basketball games on Jan. 31. The jjunior varsity contest versus Lockwood begins at 5:30 p.m. This year’s Homecoming theme is “Growing with the Eagles.”
Scoreboard, Jan. 22
The Cassville girls basketball team (12-3) has now won 10 of its last 11 contests following a 3-win week Jan. 13-16.

23 play in Christmas Recital
A total of 23 local pianists, students of Ruth Burnside, of Purdy, performed a Christmas Recital on Dec. 8 at Countryside Christian Church in Monett.

Kyle Troutman: Precipitating memories
“This is the most snow I’ve ever seen in my life!” That’s what my 9-year-old exclaimed Friday morning as we woke up to 5-and-ahalf inches of pristine, wet, heavy, perfect-forsnowmen- and-sledding snowfall. School had already been canceled the night before, and we took advantage of the call to sleep in a bit before bundling up and heading to the hill.

Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week
Boz is an adorable and cuddly young pup who loves to play. His estimated date of birth is Nov. 20, 2024. He gets along well with other dogs and cats.

Fluffy snowfall facilitates fun Friday
Beaux Doucet, 6, of Cassville, slid into a pile of snow while playing in the precipitation last week. On Thursday and Friday, cities in Barry County received between 5-8 inches of snow, with Cassville getting 5.5 inches.