LATEST NEWS

Program aims to improve student outcomes in schools. A collaborative effort between five Barry County school districts is attempting to improve student outcomes, and the project is asking for the community’s help. Traci Mitchell, Cassville assistant superintendent, said the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) work, which ties to district...

Halfway through 2024, sales tax reports for Barry County show the local economy is generally holding even with one year ago. While three smaller cities showed double-digit drops from the immediate post-pandemic sales totals, overall sales tax income rose from last June. The six Barry County cities receiving sales tax...

Purdy Community Picnic and Fireworks Show coming up. The Purdy Community Picnic and Fireworks Show will be held July 3 at The Gathering Place in Purdy, located at 100 Old Bus. 37 and Hwy. C, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a picnic meal, live musical entertainment, and a fireworks show at dark. People may bring lawn chairs and join the community for a great time. For questions, people may call Julie Terry at 417-236-4139.

• Are you registered to vote in Barry County? • If you are not registered to vote in Barry County, Wednesday, July 10, 2024 is…

1. What specifically, will you do to reduce the drug problem in Barry County?. I plan on getting a Barry County Drug Task Force. Two deputies who want to work undercover 40 hours or more a week to significantly decrease the drug problem in Barry County. Only the undersheriff and I will know who they are. I will have a supervisor who will report to the undersheriff and myself, attend any Prosecutor meetings, make necessary trips to the office, and produce news releases. I also have one person who is POST certified and has a certified K-9 in drug detection and tracking, who is willing to come and work if I am elected. This person is also working with a second K-9. Once the second K-9 is active there will be two certified K-9s on the road 24 hours a day or on a on-call basis. The projected price of the K-9 program is approximately $250 total a year for veterinarian bills.

1. What specifically, will you do to reduce the drug problem in Barry County?. There are several things that the Barry County Sheriff’s office can improve on to reduce the drug problem in the county. Some things I would start with when elected would be to increase patrol and...

1. What specifically, will you do to reduce the drug problem in Barry County?. The best way to address the drug problem in Barry County will be to create a narcotics unit. Many of Barry County’s crimes are committed because of the drug epidemic. Right now, meth and fentanyl are running rampant through many of our communities and have gone unchecked for far too long. If elected I would immediately begin working to create a selfsufficient narcotics unit. I will look at adding canine teams to our department to help deter drug trafficking into and around Barry County. I would like to have quarterly meeting with surrounding law enforcement agencies to discuss criminal investigations, new trends in criminal behaviors and to build strong working relationships with all Barry County law enforcement to not only stop the drug problem but to stop the thefts in our county too.

1. What specifically, will you do to reduce the drug problem in Barry County?. Drugs are a continuous problem, it is a daily fight for law enforcement in every county, not just Barry County. My deputies encounter drugs every day, we continually look for drugs, take drug tips from concerned citizens on our tips hotline which is monitored every day as well as work closely with our local drug task force and other agencies to combat the problem.

An Exeter woman is facing a felony theft charge after allegedly stealing more than $9,000 from a community board on which she served. Chelsea Ball, of Exeter, is charged with felony stealing of $750 or more. Her case has been bound over to circuit court, where she is set to be arraigned on July 2.

The Barry County Assessor has mailed out change of assessment notices and taxpayers may have questions concerning these changes in assessment figures. If a taxpayer wants to challenge their change in assessed valuation, they should inquire about the issue before July 8, 2024. They may call the Assessor’s office to inquire about the change or they may call the County Clerk’s office to schedule an appointment to meet with the Board of Equalization (BOE).

The Purdy Alumni Association will meet on June 29 at 6 p.m. at the Purdy school cafeteria. For more information, people may call Mickey Henderson at 417-442-7312. The city of Washburn is conducting a smoke test of its sewer system on June 27-28. The smoke is non-toxic, non-staining, has no odor and creates no fire hazards. The smoke should not enter a home unless it has defective plumbing or dried up drain traps. If anyone at a home or business suffers from respiratory issues and is immobile, they should notify city hall by calling 417-846-3203 or 417-826-5242. More information about the tests may be found in person at city hall.

Josh Ferdico (front left) and Shelby Baker of Lincoln enjoy a date night on a recent Saturday at Bierhaus Maisschäler's rooftop bar. Known as The Rooftop, Bierhaus' new fourth-floor bar joins the likes of Barry's Bar and Grill and Barred Owl to offer scenic rooftop spots.

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. Seeing Chuck and being near Flat Creek across from 7th Street, I...

Granting of federal flood disaster funds for repair of roads in Barry County will depend on Governor Christopher Bond declaring this area eligible for this assistance, according to Leon Jackson, consulting highway engineer for the county court. Jackson said this week this process must be followed to secure assistance. Up-dated estimates have approximately $329,880 in damage to county roads. Another $40,000 damage was incurred to Cassville city streets and approximately $10,000 in city park damage during recent high waters. Jackson said Carl Carson of the Missouri disaster office, made a preliminary inspection of road damage last week. This was followed by an inspection by the Missouri Highway Department. These reports will be submitted to Governor Bond for a decision to request federal assistance. Local officials say the estimated figures are still not firm. Looking further into existing problems could possibly produce more damage figures. An approval from the state of the situation in this area would be followed by inspections and estimates from federal disaster officials. There has been no time schedule placed on the processes to acquire the aid. Jackson estimates about 792 miles of the county’s 1,000 miles of roads were damaged some. Least of this damage was evidenced on blacktopped roads. Of the roads inspected, one-third did not have sufficient damage that could not be repaired in regular routine maintenance by the road districts involved. Another third had damage that could cost $246 per mile to repair. The heaviest damage was reported in another third that would require $792 per mile to return to normal condition. One bridge in McDonald Road district, estimated to cost $12,000 to replace, was demolished by the heavy waters. Application for state designation of the county as a flood disaster area is being submitted by the Barry County Court.

MONETT – The public is invited to participate in public meetings, either in-person or virtual (online), starting Monday, June 17, to learn more about plans to make intersection improvements along U.S. Route 60 in Newton and Barry counties. The virtual (online) meeting will be available for two weeks from...

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...

June 3-9 The Barry County Sheriff’s Office responded to 215 calls for service for the week of June 3-9. The CAD events created by central dispatch are the Calls for Service Barry County Officers respond to every day, included in those calls are alarms, assaults, burglaries, domestic disturbances, DWI’s, stealing, harassment, medical issues, paper service, prisoner transports, suspicious persons, traffic stops and warrant service. Reports are not generated on all the calls for service. The following reports were generated from the above 215 calls:

Voter registration ends July 10 for August Primary. The last day to register to vote is July 10 for those who are not current registered voters of Barry County and who wish to vote in the Aug. 6 Primary Election. People may register to vote at the County Clerk’s Office, the Monett Chamber of Commerce or the Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce. Those who have moved and not updated their address, or had a name change, should notify the Clerk’s Office. Absentee voting starts June 25 at the Barry County Clerk’s Office in Cassville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two-week in-person, no-excuse absentee voting begins July 23. If unable to vote in person, a voter may send a written request to the office of: Joyce Ennis, 700 Main St. Suite 2, Cassville, MO 65625 or fax to: 417-847-5311. The Office will need: name, physical address, mailing address, date of birth, last four digits of Social Security number, phone number, reason for voting absentee, party preference and signature. Those who live in the Shell Knob or Monett can visit the Shell Knob Chamber or Monett Chamber Office and fill out the absentee application. Staff there will fax it to the Barry County Clerk’s office. Absentee applications are also available at sos.mo.gov. For more information, people may call the barry county clerk’s office at 417-847-2561 opt. 3, or email jennis@barrycountyclerk. com or ajohnson@barrycountyclerk.com.

NEWTON & BARRY COUNTIES, Mo. — MoDOT invites the public to engage in discussions regarding upcoming intersection improvements along U.S. Route 60 in Newton and Barry counties. The project aims to enhance traffic flow and safety in these areas. Virtual and In-Person Meetings. Virtual Meeting:. Those interested in joining...