News

County breaks ground on jail, sheriff’s office
On Thursday morning, about 15 county and city officials were on hand to break ground on the $17 million jail and sheriff’s office on Old Exeter Road. Another 20 individuals came to witness the event, some of whom will hopefully be working in the new facility by the end of 2024.

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.
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.

Former flea market no longer standing
The former Ole Home Place Flea Market building at the corner of Main and Highway 76 met a sooner than-planned demise on Thursday. Joe Goade, owner of STS Outdoors Guns and Archery on the north side of the building, said crews had used chains to remove two supports from inside the building, then parked their equipment and went to lunch.
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.

McCrackin, Leach crowned at Cassville
Caleb Leach, left, and Marianne McCrackin were crowned King and Queen, respectively, at the 2023 Tip-Off ceremony held on Feb. 8. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Juniors crowned royalty at Southwest
Juniors Lyric Bernard, left, and Jordan Long, smile as they walk up to be crowned Queen and King at Southwest’s homecoming festivities on Friday.

‘Let’s Get Growing’
Barry County Master Gardeners are helping locals to “get growing” by hosting a garden workshop on March 4. The event will begin at 9 a.m.

A community rallies
A crowd of some 200 landowners from Newton, McDonald and Barry Counties were present at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Neosho Friday night to voice their concerns and questions about the land-application of wastewater residuals by Arkansasbased Denali Water Solutions (Denali). State and county legislators and representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), as well as members of the Denali Environmental team, were present to listen to the concerns of residents.