history

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — Liberty or death
He rose, a Baptist clergyman recalled, “with an unearthly fire burning in his eye.” It was Thursday, March 23, 1775, and the fate of American liberty was on the patriot’s mind. To Thomas Jefferson, he was “the greatest orator that ever lived.” To Roger Atkinson, a spectator, he was “a son of thunder.” To his enemies, he was an insolent traitor to king and empire, a man as infamous for his utterances as the Apostle Paul when he stood on Mars Hill and preached to the people of Athens.

Through the Years, Jan. 7
40 YEARS AGO: PROGRESS IN WEATHER BREAK — With springlike temperatures, MECO Construction of Springfield is progressing rapidly on the Walmart store site near Cassville. South wall construction and concrete pouring are underway, and the store is scheduled to open in mid-1986.


Dakota Pettigrew: American Insights — The Greatness of Jimmy Carter
The train carrying the president-elect sped into Union Station at 3:45 p.m. To Woodrow Wilson’s surprise, few people had gathered to welcome him to the nation’s capital. The Washington Post reported, “It was a strange greeting for the man who is to rule the destinies of the nation for the next four years.”

Through the Years, Dec. 31
The Eagle Rock Booster’s Association and Golden Circle Shores Association voted to merge into the Eagle Rock-Golden Association to coordinate promotion and tourism efforts around Table Rock Lake.

Top 10 sports stories of 2025
The top 10 sports stories of 2025.

Through the Years, Dec. 24
50 YEARS AGO: INTO THE REAL THING — A junior high art department snowman created for a Christmas parade later became an authentic snow figure on the courthouse lawn.

Lynn Hilburn: School house memories
This time of year brings memories of the time I spent getting part of my education in elementary country schools back in the 1950s.

Through the Years, Dec. 17
30 YEARS AGO — IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS: Area residents woke to snow Tuesday morning, with accumulation ranging from a light dusting in some portions of the county to three inches in others. Area schools were closed because of slick roads, basketball games were canceled and FASCO’s service awards banquet was postponed due to the weather. In the photo above, nature creates a Christmas wreath out of barbed wire, with Ed Ray’s barn serving as a backdrop. Cassville Democrat file photo

Through the Years, Dec. 10
50 YEARS AGO: IN DEEP THOUGHT — With a little hair twisting, Tracey Marbut, 3, of Seligman, gets her thoughts together in a conversation with Santa Claus.


