Opinion

The school year is ending, and now the busiest time of the year starts for public libraries. It is Summer Reading time! The Collaborative Summer Library Program, (CSLP), which began in 1987, includes representation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, and the Mariana Islands.

This week (May 1-5) is Teacher Appreciation Week. On behalf of the Board of Education and administration at Cassville R-IV School District, I would like to express my deep gratitude to our educators for the work they do each day to ensure the success of all our students.

I couldn’t help falling in love at Barn at Bear Ridge on Saturday. The Purdy Prom Committee brough Elvis to shake, rattle and roll the scene. Attendees wearing their blue suede shoes had a little less conversation when the King took the stage. Elvis preached a don’t be cruel message, so no one was left crying in the chapel, and that’s all right. It was a unique Prom experience, one that will remain always on my mind as I go to other proms. Kudos to the Purdy kids for creating unique memories!

I have finally made it to my final quarter before graduation with my Bachelor’s Degree. I have also been revisiting a series of stories I wrote back in 2021 about Celebrate Recovery and where those people are now in their journey.

I’m surrendering a chunk of space this week in my column to someone with a message that is more significant than anything I had on my mind today. Susej Burks Thompson, my youth group leader when I was a teenager, posted some of her thoughts Monday night on faith, prayer and our relationships with God or any other higher power.

“Stop hurting each other” was all I could get out as I looked at the congregation.

I left the river on Thursday to attend part of the Missouri State School Board meeting at Emory Melton Inn. They don’t put fish on the agenda, but I have an item for the board on behalf of students. Bring back sodas and energy drinks! I’ve had many students promise they’ll behave better if you give back “my precious Red Bull.” There’s also a potential for behavior improvement — at least the kids won’t be tired or asleep!  

It’s not every day we have the state’s leaders in our backyard. That was the case on Thursday as the entire State Board of Education, the commissioner of education and multiple staffers, 21 in total, met with Cassville’s superintendent and assistant superintendent, as well as multiple school board members.

Frequently, here at the Barry County Museum we are asked the question “When did the Courthouse burn?” The simple answer to this question is that the Barry County Courthouse never burned down, but rather the old courthouse was torn down to make way for the new courthouse at the same location in 1913, and this same building remains to this day. However, no matter how many times we repeat this information, many people still enter the Barry County Museum each year under the assumption that at some point in history the Barry County Courthouse must have burnt.