Barry County
Sidewalk improvements start next week
Drivers should watch for contractor crews making sidewalk improvements and working close to traffic in Purdy, Wheaton, Seligman and Cassville beginning the week of August 5, the Missouri Department of Transportation said. Improvements include improving drainage, making landings, crosswalks, pedestrian signs and relocating a pedestrian crossing and pavement markings conform to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Trout Tales, July 31
I dug out my safety gear again this year for Saturday’s Ozarks Got Talent show at Zone 4 Mini Golf & More. There’s a fiery trend at this event, and I always say, “Safety first.”
Sales tax receipts strong in July
Barry County cities and the county government sales taxes showed gains in July, making up for incremental drops in June. The seven Barry County cities collecting sales tax received $792,242.85 in July, up 3 percent from a year ago and a 2 percent drop in June.

Haven of the Ozarks Pet of the Week, July 31
Beverly and her sister, Fay, were abandoned on a country road. They are both Dachshund/Mixed Breed (Small). Fay is black and Beverly is brown. They are both very friendly girls. Haven staff think they would be best in a home together as a bonded pair. They were born around Jan. 6, 2023. Adopters can complete an adoption application at www.havenoftheozarks.org/adopt.

Through the Years, July 31
30 YEARS AGO: RIDERS DO THE PENNING — These three teams were among the E-Z Rider group providing pre-rodeo entertainment for the crowd Thursday through Saturday last week. The riding club also put together a Saturday parade for the event.

Sophomore Pilgrim Zee Brown tours state capitol
Exeter High School sophomore Zeanndrea (Zee) Brown was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Silver Leaf Benefit Club’s Sophomore Pilgrimage scholarship. Brown joined chosen high school sophomores from across the state in Jefferson City on the second Tuesday in April for a tour of government buildings and lunch with elected state officials.

Sixth Annual Depot Exeter Auto Show Set for Aug. 10
The Sixth Annual Depot Exeter Auto Show will be Aug. 10 from 10 a.m.
Southwest Volleyball Practice Begins Aug. 12
Southwest Volleyball Coach Steve Voyak has announced volleyball practice at Southwest starts Aug. 12.

Electric co-op youth program means education, fun
Mallory Kelly, of Wheaton High School, was among the 85 students from across Missouri who participated in the Missouri Electric Cooperative CYCLE (Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience) program. The conference was held July 16-19, 2024 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City.

Southwest grad gets rootEd scholarship
Jordan Long, of Washburn, a 2024 Southwest High School graduate, was recently named as a recipient of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship. The root-Ed Undergraduate Scholarship offers students attending a 4-year University up to $12,000 a year for five years.