Southwest

Mission accepted

Multi-sport athlete Brendyn Paulsen, a senior at Southwest High School, narrowed his future focus on Friday, signing to play baseball at the next level with Mission University in Springfield. Paulsen, who is in the midst of district tournament basketball this week and has his senior season of baseball just around the corner, said putting his name down was a dream come true.
Read MoreMission accepted

Royal sweethearts crowned

CENTER: Senior couple Brendyn Paulsen, right, and Brooklynn Slye were named Homecoming King and Queen on Jan. 30, and Paulsen took the moment to plant a kiss on his girlfriend, just like his father did to his mother when they were crowned King and Queen in 2002.
Read MoreRoyal sweethearts crowned

Cole crosses 1,000-point mark

An Aurora girls basketball player with a Barry County connection has crossed the 1,000-point mark in her prep career. Junior Kylee Cole was 14 points shy of 1,000 going into a Jan. 29 Warrior Classic contest against East Newton. Cole put up 28 points in the 55-24 victory, achieving the milestone in the process. Cole averages 22 points per game. She is the granddaughter of the late John Cole and Linda Cole, of Exeter, and Howard and Jackie Burns, also of Exeter. Her great-grandmother, Gwen Hilburn, lives in Seligman, and she has numerous aunts and uncles from both Barry County towns.
Read MoreCole crosses 1,000-point mark

Trout Tales, Jan. 31

I tagged along with Publisher Kyle Troutman on Friday to the annual Career Day at the Southwest school district. He manned one of 26 tables filled with a myriad of local professionals who love their jobs enough to spend 90 minutes sharing the ins and outs of their industries.
Read MoreTrout Tales, Jan. 31