News

Barry County native collecting bits of history
Rural Purdy native David Keeling is sitting on a trove of local history, the result of a hobby he began a decade ago. “I’m a little embarrassed about the amount of stuff I’ve collected in just ten years,” said Keeling, whose hobby has led to a veritable museum of his own making.

Fire at Main Street apartment displaces 3 families
Three families have been displaced due to a fire at an apartment building on Main Street on Dec. 20, 2024.
News briefs, Jan. 1
The Roaring River Nature Center on Jan. 11 and Feb.

Skits supplement sounds of the season at Winter Concert
With the guidance of Shane Paul, Santa Claus emerged victorious in the battle with his barbarian son during a skit as part of the Winter Concert on Dec. 7. Santa celebrated his victory with the middle school band members.

Cutting up for Christmas
Chase Ruark, front, Wyatt Hollingsworth, right, and Eli Roper, on the floor work together to transport a table across the gym floor during a game at Cassville High School’s Christmas assembly on Thursday.

It’s a beaut, Batsche, it’s a beaut
On the north side of Cassville on Farm Road 1107, the glow of more than 13,000 Christmas lights shines bright on the Batsche property. First-place winners in the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Decorating Contest, Tom and Cristie Batsche spend more than a month prepping the Jewell and Billy Thomas farm for the happiest of holidays, earning a “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” nickname in the process.

Nurse practitioner joins CoxHealth Cassville Clinic
CoxHealth Cassville Clinic is welcoming Shelbi Cockrum, a family nurse practitioner, to its health care team. Cockrum’s journey began at age 4 when she received a toy stethoscope as a gift.
News Briefs, Dec. 25
The Roaring River Nature Center on Jan. 11 and Feb.

Parade lights delight in Wheaton parade
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus threw candy and wished a Merry Christmas to those gathered on Saturday at the Wheaton Christmas parade.

The reason for the season
Through all the commercialism and gift-giving to Santa and elves on shelves, one Cassville woman is hoping to help locals remember the reason for the Christmas season — the birth of Jesus Christ. Wife of Cassville United Methodist Church Pastor Jeff Fugitt, Jamie Fugitt has been collecting Nativity scenes for more than 40 years, and more than 120 unique scenes are on display at the church through Jan.

