Kelli Stephens News Today

Picture it: Vranesti, Moldova, the 1990s. Sisters Uliana Komodi and Christina Sava were busy living an idyllic childhood in this small Eastern European country between Ukraine and Romania. Komodi and Sava were taught to work hard in school and helped their mom with any assigned task, but Sunday was always the day of rest. They’d sit with family and friends on the porch and share a watermelon, drink tea with bread and Feta cheese or run around the yard with spoonfuls of honey. The sisters w...

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Wheaton Fire narrowly approves property tax levy Tuesday’s election resolved numerous Barry County races, some by the slightest of margins, in a year with many unopposed races. Barry County tallied one of the lowest voter turnouts for April’s vote in recent years, mustering only 6.7 percent turnout or 1,483 votes. A lack of contests at the municipal level contributed to apathy among voters. Barry County cities Purdy The real change occurring from Tuesday’s electio...

Saturday, April 10, 2021 Verona use tax fails, Aurora school bond issue passes Tuesday’s election resolved numerous bi-county races, some by the slightest of margins, in a year with many unopposed races. County clerks tallied one of the lowest voter turnouts for April’s vote in recent years. The Lawrence County count ran 9.13 percent with a little over 2,116 votes. Barry County did even more poorly, mustering only 6.7 percent turnout or 1,483 votes. A lack of contests at the municipal level ...

Saturday, April 3, 2021 Purdy School Board candidates vie for two seats Three candidates are vying for two seats on the Purdy School Board. On Tuesday, voters will be choosing between incumbents Ruben Henderson and Ken Terry and newcomer Kelli Stephens. Henderson is completing his first term on the school board and hoping for another opportunity to represent the residents of Purdy in the school district. Henderson is following in his father’s footsteps and his brother’s footsteps, who serv...

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Purdy, Wheaton school districts only multi-candidate races Contested races in the April 6 municipal elections are sparse this year, as challengers have only filed in the Purdy and Wheaton school districts, and no cities in central and south Barry County will see races. In the city of Cassville, Mayor Bill Shiveley, in his position since 2012; North Ward Alderman Jon Horner, in his position since 2015; and South Ward Alderwoman Taylor Weaver, in her position since 20...