Barry County
Scoreboard, Jan. 31
The Cassville boys basketball team (8-11) took fifth place in its second consecutive tournament recently, and the Wildcats are heading into Big 8 Conference play. Cassville opened the 39th Annual Spokane Invitational Jan.

Kyle Troutman: Moving the APR ball
In recent years, state evaluation of public education has been a challenge for schools. With the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) standards continually evolving, it seems as soon as districts get close to adapting to a formula, the ball is punched out of their hands like the Chiefs’ L’Jarius Sneed stealing a touchdown from the Ravens’ Zay Flowers in Sunday’s AFC Championship.

Through the Years, Jan. 31
Feb. 6, 1974 — AMBULANCE DISTRICT TO CONSIDER 12 TOWNSHIPS Possibly the first official step toward formation of an ambulance district to serve the southern half of Barry County will be taken Friday when local emergency services officials meet with a federal program coordinator to investigate possibilities.

Through the years, Jan. 24
40 YEARS AGO: MIND SIGNS, THEY MEAN BUSINESS — Signs such as this is up on highways of the state, a result of severe break up of pavement in recent thawing weather. Jay Buxton, area maintenance supervisor, says a minimum of 75 miles of roads are in bad condition following weekend traffic. Especially hard hit are routes like Highway 37 which carries large counts of both passenger and commercial vehicles daily. Buxton said highway crews would be placing these signs at locations wherever “potholes” appear. He said the public should use caution traveling in any area road, signed or not, since break-up can occur at any time.

Hang, Dutra crowned Homecoming royalty in Wheaton
Zander Dutra, right, Wheaton Homecoming King, crowns Melanie Hang as Homecoming Queen Friday during the coronation at Wheaton High School prior to the contest against Hurley.

Wheaton boys hoops enjoying 3-game win streak
The Wheaton boys basketball team is heading into its Ozark 7 Conference slate this week at 1-0, hoping to make a run for a conference title and shot at the Class 2, District 11 championship. Seth Lash, Wheaton boys basketball coach, said the Bulldogs (11-6) started off much stronger than last season, going 7-3 in its first 10 games compared to 3-7.
Law changes proposed for industrial waste haulers
Proposed Missouri House Bills 1956 and 2134 were the subject of a nearly three-hour hearing before the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 8.

Barry County pens $6.7 million budget for 2024
The Barry County Commission has passed a budget for 2024, fully funding the Barry County Sheriff’s Office to the tune of $4.2 million, a 54 percent increase, and raising county spending by $1.1 million, a 20 percent increase. The Sheriff’s Office in 2023 had an approved budget of $2,739,170, which was paid through general revenue.

Kyle Troutman: Winter, winter, go away
Without fail and about the same time each year, a case of the winter blues creeps in. I used to think I avoided this phenomenon, but I think instead I just buried my head in the proverbial snow.
Barry County Sheriff’s Office calls for service and reports taken, Jan. 24
The Barry County Sheriff's Office responded to 163 calls for service for the week of Jan. 8-14.