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MISSOURI’S BEST SMALL-TOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER 75¢ Five-time Gold Cup winner, Missouri Press Association, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 SMALL BUSINESSES COPE WITH CORONAVIRUS — PAGE 5 <<< CASSVILLE EARNS ALL-DISTRICT HONORS Roller and McCrackin find way onto prestigious team. — PAGE 3 CASSVILLE emocrat DAPRIL 1, 2020 | CASSVILLE-DEMOCRAT.COM WELLNESS BREAK Who: All schools in Barry and Lawrence counties COVID-19 case confirmed What: Now out of class through April 24 Why: Due to continuous COVID-19 concerns More: Meals to still be available, online resources offered for students in Barry County acquired, meaning the per- Emergency Management direc- 2 emergency COVID-19 son has not traveled to any tor, said the person was tested What: Case confirmed in Barry COVID-19 hotspots domestic Thursday at an out-of-county Schools declarations made; County or internationally. To protect testing site, and the result was social distancing, When: Test done Thursday out of the privacy of the individual received Friday afternoon. county, result given Friday and their family we will not Barry County Health More: limiting groups key No plans to issue a stay at release individually identifi- Department, as part of the dis- extend home order, nor a shelter in place BY KYLE TROUTMAN order able details. The individual is ease investigation, has noti- [email protected] quarantined at home and being fied any close contacts with The Barry County Health monitored closely by the Barry the individual. A total of eight wellness Department has reported the (coronavirus) in Barry County. County Health Department. people have been identified as first confirmed case of COVID-19 The case was community David Compton, Barry County CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 break FOOD PANTRIES STILL CURB HUNGER Classes to remain out of session through April 24 BY KYLE TROUTMAN [email protected] Due to the effects of COVID-19 (coronavirus), schools in the Barry and Lawrence county area have decided to extend their well- ness breaks through April 24. “The ongoing impact of COVID-19 in our region requires school districts to be flexible and make decisions that are in the best interest of public health,” said Richard Asbill, Cassville superintendent. “In consultation with the Barry County Health Department, Barry, Lawrence, The Cassville United Methodist Church has three different food pantry options available to the community one, which is offered on Newton, and McDonald County the fourth Friday of each month is the USDA senior box. On March 20, 117 senior boxes were given out. The next available senior school superintendents have box date is April 24. Contributed photo made a joint decision to extend the “Wellness Break” and closure of all our respective Districts will Barry, Lawrence County groups deal with crisis be extended through April 24. “Cassville R-IV understands BY JORDAN PRIVETT feels more comfortable to them.” that this is an uncertain time [email protected] FOOD SERVICES Cockrum said people have said that if for our students, families, and uring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) What: Food pantries, hot meals and food it wasn’t available that way, they would communities, but we remain pandemic, schools have closed distribution not ask for help, which means they Where: Barry and Lawerence Counties focused on protecting the safety Dtheir doors, and many businesses would not be getting the help that they Why: To help curb food insecurities during and well-being of students, staff, have cut employee hours or shifts alto- and their families need. COVID-19 outbreak “With that however, issues have and families.” gether in order to help fight the spread of the virus. come up,” he said. “As much as people Asbill said the extended As a consequence of families spending its unique delivery method. are panic buying at the stores, it has closure impacts all extra and more time at home, another pandemic is Jason Cockrum, church member, said spilled over to the pantry as well. co-curricular activities, events, on the rise — food insecurity. the give-and-take pantry is open to the “We aren’t judging people. We know practices and before or after Area schools have all put into place public and is located in a exterior cup- they are scared, but that does put the school programs. All buildings a way to feed the students during the board outside the church. next person who needs supplies at a remain closed to the public and extended wellness break, but with “This is important to us, and we heightened risk because then they have nonessential personnel. uncertain paychecks, the issue is con- don’t plan on changing that because to get out again in a more public place, Cassville will continue to pro- tinuing to rise. the biggest positive feedback we get is or they will go without.” vide meal options for children In Barry County, there are a number that people do not feel judged when The church asks that people take what- under the age of 18. of food pantries and other services for using it,” he said. “Here, no one is ever they need, but try to be considerate “We are also committed the public to utilize, like the Cassville Mill watching them and they don’t have of the rest of the community, as well. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 Street Church of Christ food pantry and to actually ask for the assistance, so it CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 DENTISTS, OPTOMETRISTS What: Suspend routine procedures Hospital prepares for coronavirus Why: COVID-19 restrictions in place Exceptions: Emergency situations only screening mammograms, Cox Monett HOSPITAL which we believe are nec- ready to handle essary to promote social PREPAREDNESS distancing, to protect our outbreak locally Where: Cox Monett Hospital patients and staff, and to Patient flow disrupted What: Is prepared to serve control the spread of the BY KYLE TROUTMAN patients in Monett amid COVID-19 pandemic virus.” at dental, eye clinics [email protected] How: Has tests on hand As far as testing, the Cox Monett Hospital for those sick enough to hospital is asking people tems and will return calls to Many dentists has been working to be require it; those who test to utilize its virtual visits emergent patients as soon prepared in the event positive to be transported evaluation system. only seeing as possible. COVID-19 (coronavirus) to Springfield “Cox Monett does have Dr. Dale Assing, a becomes more prevalent tests for coronavirus on patients for Cassville optometrist, is locally. in one place, if someone hand, but the only test- emergencies still taking patients on a As of Tuesday morn- in the Monett area test- ing done at the hospital is regular basis. ing, there were more than ed positive and needed for patients who are sick “We’re not seeing any 1,000 cases of coronavirus enough to require hospi- BY MELONIE ROBERTS hospitalization, he or she big problems,” said Lee statewide, including one in would be transported to talization,” Patton said. Cassville Democrat Assing, office manager. Barry County. “Instead, CoxHealth asks Local dentists and Cox South in Springfield “We are taking appoint- Janell Patton, commu- for care,” she said. “Even that patients in southwest optometrists are using ments as usual, and people nity relations manager, though patients would be Missouri utilize its Virtual best practices for dealing only come in one or two marketing and planning transported away from Visits (available at cox- with patients during the at a time. We are also tak- with Cox Monett, said Monett for this high lev- health.com/services/vir- COVID-19 (coronavirus) ing frequent sanitation and CoxHealth is prepared el of treatment, locally, tualvisits/) as a first line pandemic. sterilization measures for to help serve patients in patients may have noticed of defense, and they can In Cassville, Dr. Jared patient safety.” Monett, and southwest that there have been other be evaluated for free with Spears has closed to all but In Monett, Four States Missouri as a whole, changes tied to COVID-19. code COVID. If a provid- emergency cases, as has the Dental Care is no longer as concerns around “One example are er feels someone needs a Young Family and Cosmetic seeing patients unless COVID-19 grow. test based on symptoms, 7 39292 00068 8 increases in visitor restric- Vol. 149, No. 11 Dentistry clinic. Both are it is an emergency case, “To centralize patients tions and postponement history and risk, they can ©2020 Cassville Democrat monitoring answering sys- CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 diagnosed with COVID-19 of elective surgeries and CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 COVERING BARRY COUNTY, MO., LIKE THE MORNING DEW SINCE 1871. Page 2 • Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Cassville Democrat NEWS BRIEFS Seligman dances canceled The Seligman Chamber of Commerce dances at the Seligman Chamber Event Center are canceled until further notice. People may call 417-662-3612 for more information. Kindergarten, Kinder Academy screenings postponed The Cassville school district has announced screening dates for Kinder Academy and kindergarten have been postponed Alumni Banquet postponed The Cassville High School Alumni Association Alumni Banquet set for May 23 has been postponed. For more information people may contact Kay Baker at 417-847-4219. Quilt show coming to Cassville The Ozark Country Quilters 16th biennial quilt show, “O C the Quilts” has been canceled due to COVIDC-19 and the large group gathering guidelines. MEALS MUST GO ON What: Local restaurants offering curbside or delivery How long: Until threat of COVID-19 spread is reduced New protective equipment installed in the last two weeks at Cox Monett Hospital is this plexiglass window, placed in front of the admissions desk inside the north entrance.