News

Eldora (Stanley) Pratt
Age: 80 Current Occupation: Retired Past Experience: Union shop representative for Campbell Soup for 29 years Education: Southwest High School graduate, some college and first responder courses 1. Why do you want to be on the city council, and what qualifications support your candidacy? I have never been a candidate for anything.

Brandon Tanis
Age: 41 Current Occupation: Engineering Detailer at Arning Companies/ Staff Sergeant in US Army Reserve Past Experience: 10 years CNC machining for the tool & die industry. 7 years retail sales (part time).
City of
Publisher’s note: The following Q&As represent the candidates’ views verbatim, as submitted via email in response to our questions, and have not been edited. The election will be held April 2, with voters allowed to select one of the two candidates.

County GOP nominate Trump
A total of 193 voters attended the Barry County Republican Caucus on Saturday at Cassville High School, the first event of its kind since 2012. Glen Cope, chair of the Barry County Central Committee, presided over the meeting, where voters chose Donald Trump as their presidential candidate.
Pair in stolen car arrested
Two Barry County residents have been charged with felonies after allegedly being found in a stolen vehicle containing stolen property. April Ortiz, 39, of Cassville, and Randy Zonghetti, 38, of Washburn, are each charged with felony stealing.
Hwy. 86, Route F to be resurfaced
Drivers can expect lane closures and occasional traffic delays on Missouri Route 86 in in Taney, Stone and Barry counties and Route F in Barry County for a resurfacing project beginning Monday. The Missouri Department of Transportation said Route 86 will receive a new asphalt driving surface, edge line rumble strips, shoulder repairs, guardrail and road markings in various locations.
House bill takes aim at ‘cesspool’ of meatpacking sludge
Between Vallerie Steele, her seven siblings and their children, there’s always a birthday or anniversary to celebrate on the family’s southwest Missouri farm. The summer months are typically a parade of pool parties and barbecues.

Klewer moves to assistant principal
The Cassville Board of Education has selected Wildcat alum and current district teacher and coach, Dylan Klewer, to serve as the assistant principal and behavior interventionist for Eunice Thomas Elementary and Cassville Intermediate beginning July 1. This news comes after the current assistant principal, Caleb Wheeler, was promoted to Cassville Intermediate Principal for the 2024-2025 school year.
2 injured in Purdy wreck
Two Purdy women were injured in a wreck at 5:12 p.m. on Feb. 29 on Farm Road 2070 at Farm Road 1070, half a mile west of Purdy.
S.L.U.D.G.E. files contempt motion against Denali, landowners
Group aiming to get lab samples from lagoons via subpoenas Environmental Attorney Stephen Jeffery filed a motion in Cole County Circuit Court on Feb. 23 to hold Denali Water Solutions and landowners Keith Gideon and Jerry Evans in contempt of court for refusing to cooperate with the terms of subpoenas they were served with in January.


