Cassville

RECOVERVILLE SERIES: Locals recovering after trees damage homes, property
Locals recovering after trees damage homes, property Cassville resident Morgan Williams says she was never afraid of storms before, but that changed after the May 26 windstorm that snuck up on Cassville residents in the wee hours of the morning. Williams, her husband Trevor, and the couple’s two teenage sons — who live in the Sherwood Forest addition on the north side of Cassville — were asleep when the storm rolled into town around 3 a.m.
RECOVERVILLE SERIES: Shining a light on linemen
Would you prioritize work if multiple trees had fallen on your home, or you were about to leave on a mission trip, or you had a newborn in the NICU? On the week of May 26, three linemen did just that.
RECOVERVILLE SERIES: Downburst delivered wind damage
The National Weather Service and Barry County Office of Emergency Management have determined a downburst over Cassville to be the cause of an estimated $5 million in infrastructure damage and the county to pursuing federal disaster declaration funds for individuals. According to a National Weather Service (NWS) survey, while no tornadic rotation was observed on radar, a wide swath of damaging wind gusts at least 70-80 miles per hour swept through Wheaton to the Cassville, Shell Knob and Eagle Rock areas.
RECOVERVILLE SERIES: Resources for storm recovery available locally
Cassville Food Pantry Director Janet Mills said she panicked when the power went off during the overnight May 26 storm in Cassville. “I had five freezers full of perishable food – a total of about 1,500 pounds,” she said.
RECOVERVILLE SERIES: Red Cross’ impact felt in Cassville
From Oklahoma to Texas and Arkansas through south central Missouri, the American Red Cross has has a busy last two weeks. Kim Mailes, public affairs manager for Disaster Relief Operation-811, said immediately after the storms that spawned tornadoes in Arkansas and a heavy windstorm in Cassville, the Red Cross got to work.

First State Bank celebrates 85 years
Randy Henderson, with First State Bank director, cuts the ribbon on the renovated Purdy location in celebration of the bank’s 85th anniversary.

RECOVERVILLE SERIES: Kyle Troutman: Recap of the aftermath
Driving around Cassville the morning of May 26, about five hours after a severe storm and in traffic nearly as thick as Saturday’s Memories Cruise, I thought I was witnessing the worst storm damage Cassville had seen in a long time.

Jeremiah Buntin: Photographic memory
While walking the Cassville Greenway Trail near the ball fields one evening a few weeks ago, I noticed local photographer and Barry County Museum board member Chuck Nickle out taking photos of the kids in their baseball uniforms.

Drake Thomas: Rules in summer aren’t a bummer; the beauty of keeping a schedule during off seasons
Reading that title may give you pause. Summer is a time for respite, rejuvenation — and most importantly, no alarms — right? Why in the world would anyone want to keep their rigid normal schedule when the days are longer, and cookouts, ball games and pool parties seem to jump out from every direction? It is difficult to convince little minds that it is bedtime when the sun sits low and fat on the horizon boasting perfect playing light, before disappearing completely and giving the stage to twinkling fireflies that hover at the perfect height to be cupped and observed by tiny hands.

Through the Years, June 12
40 YEARS AGO: CATFISHING GETTING GOOD — Proof that trotline catches of catfish are possible came to Cassville this week in the person of Burl Mitchell and Emmett Allen. Joined by Ron Bailey, the anglers took these 36- and 30-pound beauties off a line Monday morning.