February 2023
Jeremiah Buntin: Absent history
In February the Barry County Museum will on occasion receive an inquiry related to Black history in the area. Some of the curiosity may stem from a misconception due to the name of the Black School House on the museum campus, which was named after the Black family rather than the race.
Kyle Troutman: Keep a hard hat handy
Everywhere you turn in Barry County, ground is moving. Just last week, the Barry County Commission led a groundbreaking for the new jail and health department, a result of years of work and attempts at remedying the ongoing safety issues at the current jail.
A shot at state
Lady Wildcats have one goal in mind today, Thursday The Cassville girls wrestling team members wrote down their goals at the beginning of the season, and every Lady Wildcat wrote the same thing — win a state championship. Cassville has seen state-level success in the past, and the Lady Wildcats are more primed than ever to accomplish the trophy-lifting task with Annie Moore, Kailey Artherton, Hailey Roark, Faith James and Taylor Glidewell.
Super 6 set sight on state
Wildcats qualify most ever to Wrestling Championship The Cassville boys wrestling team made program history at the Class 2, District 3 Tournament in Seneca Friday and Saturday, qualifying six grapplers to the 2023 Wrestling Championship — doubling the previous qualification record. Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach, said the success is a direct effect of the youth program, the Wildcat Takedown Club, combined with experienced upperclassmen that have placed at state.
Scoreboard, Feb. 22
The Cassville boys basketball team (12-13) suffered a trio of Big 8 losses last week and has one more non-conference contest Thursday before district playoffs begin. The Wildcats fell to Aurora on the road on Feb.
23 to go overseas
The Cassville class of 2023 is embarking on a journey no class has organized before, a senior trip overseas for a 10-day adventure in Ireland, Wales, London, Paris and Versailles. Victoria Robertson, trip sponsor, said a total of 23 students, three parents and four advisors plan to travel to Europe, at a cost of about $4,000 each.
ARPA money funds new health department
Building a new building for the Barry County Health Department had never been on Administrator Roger Brock’s mind before a couple of years ago, but opportunity knocked and the door opened. Funded entirely through the American Rescue Plan Act, the department has now broken ground on a $5 million facility on Old Exeter Road, next to where the new Barry County jail and sheriff’s office are also being constructed.
News briefs, Feb. 22
Preschool screening will be held March 28 and March 30. Screenings are open to 3- and 4-yearold children living in the Cassville School District.
Fab 5 ride pin train to state
Eighteen times over Friday and Saturday in Clinton, Cassville Lady Wildcat wrestlers heard the noise they chase — a shrill, quick whistle and palm on the mat. At the Class 1 District 3 Tournament Friday and Saturday, five Lady Wildcats pinned their way to 2023 Wrestling Championship berths, with Annie Moore, Kailey Artherton and Faith James taking first, Hailey Roark second and Taylor Glidewell third.
