School
Securing scholarships: A guide for Cassville seniors
Counselor details where students can access resources, opportunities By Gwendylan Harmon Cassville Democrat Intern Navigating the scholarship process can feel overwhelming, especially with deadlines quickly approaching. To ease any anxiety,…
Rollin’ down Main
Cassville student Madi Yockey drives a tractor through the Cassville square on Feb. 24 during "Drive Your Tractor to School Day," part of the school's FFA Week celebrations.
Hughes, McCullah awarded scholarships
The Cassville Board of Education has selected Misty Hughes and Cindy McCullah for the 2026 Board of Education Scholarships. The $2,500 scholarships are awarded annually to two teachers in the Cassville School District who exhibit exemplary performance and a commitment to continued professional growth. Hughes joined the Cassville teaching staff this school year as a special education teacher. She plans to pursue her master’s degree in special education. McCullah is the middle school art teacher and has served the district in that role for the past eight years. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Education Technology and Instructional Design (K-12) through Western Governors University and plans to complete her studies this Spring. In addition to teaching art, McCullah also serves as a member of the district’s transportation team. Board of Education Scholarships must be used to further educational pursuits and should be in the area of certification or teaching field. From left: Hughes, Board Member Jill LeCompte and McCullah. Contributed photo
Smooth sounds serenade on Jazz Night
Brody Howell plays a solo in "Aftershock" during the annual Jazz Night on Feb. 17 at the Performing Arts Center in Cassville.
Purdy school chooses calendar for 2026-27
The Purdy school board wrestled with scheduling for the coming school year and reviewed issues with the Annual Performance Review (APR), as assessed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, during its Feb. 12 meeting.
Community Voices — Merlyn Johnson: It’s a not-so-wonderful life without Missouri public schools
In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey is shown a world in which he never existed.
Purdy extends superintendent’s contract
The Purdy school board has extended the contract of Superintendent Travis Graham and approved waiving tuition for new students who lived beyond the district’s borders.
Cassville Speech and Debate owns Big 8
The Cassville High School Speech and Debate team placed first in the Big 8 Conference Tournament the weekend of Jan. 30 at Nevada.
Jenkins wins Spelling Bee with ‘hammerhead’
On Feb. 4, fourth- and fifth-grade classroom spelling bee winners competed in the Cassville Intermediate Spelling Bee. Fifth-grade student Mark Jenkins is pictured sighing in relief after taking first place by correctly spelling "hammerhead." He will compete in the Joplin Globe Spelling Bee on March 13. Fourth-grade student Isabella Martinez finished in second place and will serve as Cassville's alternate at the Joplin Spelling Bee. Jenkins is the son of Tara Pointer and Mark Jenkins. Martinez is the daughter of Yolanda Barrientos.
Students supporting students
Cassville High School Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) recently demonstrated the power of compassion and community by raising $1,700 to support fellow CHS student Cooper Hendrix, who is preparing for an upcoming kidney transplant. SADD members organized and hosted a Color Fun Run in October, with all proceeds from participant registration and donations going directly to Hendrix and his family to help offset medical expenses related to the transplant.
