News

An eye for an eye
Seventeen years ago, Skip White, owner and director of White’s Funeral Home and Crematory in Cassville, promised lifeless 9-year-old Rowan Ford that he would watch her killer’s execution. On Dec.

Tense debate over poultry farm
Sharp exchanges and misinformation fueled a meeting at the Barry County Courthouse on Dec. 9 as neighbors and Barry County officials grappled with a proposal to build another poultry farm south of Aurora.

Jail features lauded at ribbon cutting
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd cuts the ribbon for the new Barry County Jail on Dec. 4. Boyd said he aims to have the jail operational by the last week of December.
Eagle Rock man dies in vehicle-pedestrian incident
An Eagle Rock man died in a vehicle- pedestrian collision at 11:45 p.m. on Friday on Highway 171 in Carterville in Jasper County.

Purdy parades for Christmas
Purdy held its annual Christmas Parade Saturday morning. .

Area employers dole out info at Career Fair
From left, Anthony Mast, Kendra May and Devin Johns get their papers signed after visiting Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Lauren Willis at a booth at the Cassville Career Fair on Dec. 3. JAG students prepared and planned for the event for months by emailing and calling colleges, businesses and trade schools, creating a game to promote student involvement, designing flyers and registration forms, and navigating logistics. They learned many transferable skills such as collaboration, delegation, time management, professional communication, and networking. The day of the fair, JAG students hosted 25 vendors and encouraged active participation of 600-plus students. Students who attended the career fair were exposed to a variety of career paths. They were able to network with businesses colleges, and trade schools, learn about the necessary skills to be successful in various industries and ask questions and seek guidance about their chosen field. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Christmas cheer spread at annual event
Jace Johnson, 4, of Cassville, receives a kiss on the head from Santa Claus while being held by Josi Rose, of Cassville. Santa was available for photos and to hear Christmas wishes at the Cassville Community Christmas Celebration on Friday. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Santa escorted through Exeter
The Exeter Christmas Parade was held on Saturday along Front Street in Exeter.
News Briefs, Dec. 11
The Cassville United Methodist Church, located at 601 Gravel St., will host a Christmas Card to Cassville event on Sunday at 6 p.m., beginning with an evening of Christmas music and a cookie reception. A Christmas Eve Candle-Light Service will also be held at 6:30 p.m.

‘O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how lovely are you in Purdy’
Some 100 or more Purdy area residents enjoyed the lighting of Purdy’s Christmas tree, Friday night, in Purdy’s City Park. The event was sponsored by First State Bank, First Baptist Church of Purdy and Mareth Enterprises.