Opinion

Michelle Hilburn: Reading for cheesy enjoyment
When I was a kid, I loved the Pizza Hut Book It program. It encompassed two of my childhood favorites — books and pizza.

Kyle Troutman: A tisket, a tasket, a city council packet
As recently as 2016, once a month, the city would drop off its council meeting packet at my office — about 60-100 pages of agenda, minutes, the check register, project bids and department reports. I referred to the file as my monthly light reading, but I’ll let you in on a little journalism secret: some of the best news is buried.

Lynn Hilburn: Worry for our future history
As president of the Barry County Genealogical and Historical Society, I realize my editorials should probably be mostly about the history and genealogy of present and past residents of Barry County. This editorial is about what I would consider the “future history” of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Barry County residents and of the whole United States. I will endeavor to keep this as apolitical as possible.
Merlyn Johnson: Breaking down the Cassville school district calendar
As we turn the page on the 2023 calendar, it is time for us at Cassville R-IV School District to begin preparing for our academic calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. Five years ago, our state legislators voted to require the school start date to be no earlier than 14 days prior to the first Monday in September.
Responding to God’s gifts, a look at Matthew 7:11
I would like to share an article from a guest writer for my turn at the devotional page this time. My wife, Jamie Fugitt, wrote this for a daily devotional publication.

Trout Tales, Jan 3
I made my annual jaunt down to Southwest High School a couple times last week for the Annual Holiday Tournament, where I ran into none other than Announcr-DJ-Showman Jared Lankford. Southwest has enjoyed his services for the last many years, playing music, crowd games and announcing all three days of the annual event.

Kyle Troutman: Giving ‘Back 2 You’
Christmas and the New Year have come and gone, and in between those days, we at the Cassville Democrat were in the giving spirit. In April 2023, we announced a new campaign for the Democrat called “Back 2 You,” wherein we planned to portion off 2 percent of all special project sales throughout the year and donate that amount to correlating organizations in our community.
Kimberly Healey: New year, new you!
Every year, everyone has one big resolution that they are going to achieve. How many of you have gone through with your goal? I have never been able to finish anything I have wanted to do.

Lisa Roark: Meditation as medicine
In medical school they taught us very little about self-care. We were taught how to care for other people, but not ourselves.

Al Slavik: No perfect world without God
Do you just have belief in a God? Or do you believe what God says? It is a matter of will and faith. Can you completely commit yourself to God and not yourself? In your life today, how much is what you want and believe, and how much comes from what God wants? Once you and God settle the issue, He is forever on your side.



