Cassville Youth Advisory Board to host carnival, launches clubhouse program
September 7, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
The Cassville Youth Advisory Board, reinstated in 2017, is earning success and momentum as the program matures. After an initial start at the beginning of the millennium by former Cassville Police Chief Lonnie McCullough, the board was left dormant until Elaine Boles, Cassville High School’s on-site nurse, and current Cassville Chief of Police Dana Kammerlohr brought it back to life.
“Lonnie started it back in 2002, but whenever he started getting sick, he had to release some things,” explained Boles. “We started it back up in 2017. Dana Kammerlohr and myself worked to get it back together.”
Boles explained that the Youth Advisory Board is comprised of Cassville High Students who are interested in representing the student body to voice their safety concerns and needs to the community.
“We take 25 students from Cassville. They have to be in high school and fill out an application to be chosen. We have a committee that looks at those applications and accept them,” said Boles. “The Youth Advisory Board is the voice of the youth. They bridge the gap between the community, the police department and the school. Our meetings are at city hall in the police department with Chief Kammerlohr. We meet once a month if nothing is going on.”
She went on to explain the objective of the organization, detailing its objective and collective desire to make the community a better place for young people.
“We want to make Cassville a better place to live,” Boles explained. “We want to make it safe for families to come and live, for kids to have something to do and for the community to realize that we have some good kids in the community. Not just the ones on the board, but the ones that we help and come into contact with.”
Working toward this goal, the Youth Advisory Board will host a carnival on September 14 at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Entrance to the event is free and tickets for games cost 25 cents each. The festivities will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“It’s a way to give the little kids in Cassville something fun and safe to do,” said Boles.
Games and activities at the carnival will include: a cake walk; a bounce house; Digging for Dinos; a duck pond; face painting; and a dunk dank that Boles explained she is currently in the process of convincing members of Cassville Police Department to be a part of.
According to Boles, at the center of the carnival there will be a large maze constructed out of cardboard boxes. This maze will be free of charge. Boles explained this feature of the carnival has been a big hit with kids in past years.
Food will also be available for sale at the event. Boles said that the menu is expected to include hot dogs, cotton candy, chips and giant cookies.
Food prices aren’t yet set in stone, but Boles assured that it would all be reasonably priced.
The event will also feature a silent auction with items donated by the community.
“We have gas cards and several other things,” explained Boles. “All the community is coming in and donating. Last year, we had a lot of big items, but I’m not really sure what we’re going to have this year.”
Boles went on to explain that all clubs and organizations within Cassville High are encouraged to participate and contribute their own activities. She further detailed that the Cassville FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter already volunteered to contribute and is expected to bring either a petting zoo or rides on their cattle train, a series of cow-painted train cars hooked to a four-wheeler.
Boles also commented that she received a good response from several of the other clubs at the school.
After the carnival, the Youth Advisory Board will undertake a new project on a regular basis that is geared toward making Cassville a safer place for teenagers.
“We’re partnered with the Family Life Center, and we’re going to use their loft to make a space for our teenagers to go and hang out with their friends,” explained Boles. “Personally, I’ve been wanting to do something like this for 20 years, but we just haven’t had the opportunity.”
Boles continued, detailing some of the features of the clubhouse and how its introduction will impact the youth community.
“It’s going to be on Saturday nights, and it’s going to start on October 5. Teens will be able to go in and hang with their friends. There’s all kinds of couches and comfy seats. There’s going to be a game room and so many different opportunities for them to hang out safely with their friends.”
The space will be open to kids and teenagers from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays except for holidays. Supervision will be provided by a partnership of several of the youth ministers in Barry County who have agreed to rotate duties on a weekly basis.
“We’re not going to make them sit there and talk to them,” Boles continued. “It’s just a safe place to get our kids off the street.”
Boles also commented that the board intends to involve all of the county schools in this endeavor.
“We’re going to involve Exeter, Southwest, Purdy and Wheaton,” said Boles. “They’re going to be invited to come.”
The Youth Advisory Board will host their carnival on Saturday, September 14, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Entrance will be free, with tickets for games costing 25 cents each.
The Youth Advisory’s Clubhouse Program will begin on Saturday, October 5, at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Admission is free, and the space will be open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, excluding holidays.
For more information on the Youth Advisory Board carnival or the clubhouse at the Family Life Center, contact Elaine Boles at Cassville High School at (417) 847-5112.
Vinnie Roberts
The Cassville Youth Advisory Board, reinstated in 2017, is earning success and momentum as the program matures. After an initial start at the beginning of the millennium by former Cassville Police Chief Lonnie McCullough, the board was left dormant until Elaine Boles, Cassville High School’s on-site nurse, and current Cassville Chief of Police Dana Kammerlohr brought it back to life.
“Lonnie started it back in 2002, but whenever he started getting sick, he had to release some things,” explained Boles. “We started it back up in 2017. Dana Kammerlohr and myself worked to get it back together.”
Boles explained that the Youth Advisory Board is comprised of Cassville High Students who are interested in representing the student body to voice their safety concerns and needs to the community.
“We take 25 students from Cassville. They have to be in high school and fill out an application to be chosen. We have a committee that looks at those applications and accept them,” said Boles. “The Youth Advisory Board is the voice of the youth. They bridge the gap between the community, the police department and the school. Our meetings are at city hall in the police department with Chief Kammerlohr. We meet once a month if nothing is going on.”
She went on to explain the objective of the organization, detailing its objective and collective desire to make the community a better place for young people.
“We want to make Cassville a better place to live,” Boles explained. “We want to make it safe for families to come and live, for kids to have something to do and for the community to realize that we have some good kids in the community. Not just the ones on the board, but the ones that we help and come into contact with.”
Working toward this goal, the Youth Advisory Board will host a carnival on September 14 at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Entrance to the event is free and tickets for games cost 25 cents each. The festivities will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“It’s a way to give the little kids in Cassville something fun and safe to do,” said Boles.
Games and activities at the carnival will include: a cake walk; a bounce house; Digging for Dinos; a duck pond; face painting; and a dunk dank that Boles explained she is currently in the process of convincing members of Cassville Police Department to be a part of.
According to Boles, at the center of the carnival there will be a large maze constructed out of cardboard boxes. This maze will be free of charge. Boles explained this feature of the carnival has been a big hit with kids in past years.
Food will also be available for sale at the event. Boles said that the menu is expected to include hot dogs, cotton candy, chips and giant cookies.
Food prices aren’t yet set in stone, but Boles assured that it would all be reasonably priced.
The event will also feature a silent auction with items donated by the community.
“We have gas cards and several other things,” explained Boles. “All the community is coming in and donating. Last year, we had a lot of big items, but I’m not really sure what we’re going to have this year.”
Boles went on to explain that all clubs and organizations within Cassville High are encouraged to participate and contribute their own activities. She further detailed that the Cassville FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter already volunteered to contribute and is expected to bring either a petting zoo or rides on their cattle train, a series of cow-painted train cars hooked to a four-wheeler.
Boles also commented that she received a good response from several of the other clubs at the school.
After the carnival, the Youth Advisory Board will undertake a new project on a regular basis that is geared toward making Cassville a safer place for teenagers.
“We’re partnered with the Family Life Center, and we’re going to use their loft to make a space for our teenagers to go and hang out with their friends,” explained Boles. “Personally, I’ve been wanting to do something like this for 20 years, but we just haven’t had the opportunity.”
Boles continued, detailing some of the features of the clubhouse and how its introduction will impact the youth community.
“It’s going to be on Saturday nights, and it’s going to start on October 5. Teens will be able to go in and hang with their friends. There’s all kinds of couches and comfy seats. There’s going to be a game room and so many different opportunities for them to hang out safely with their friends.”
The space will be open to kids and teenagers from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays except for holidays. Supervision will be provided by a partnership of several of the youth ministers in Barry County who have agreed to rotate duties on a weekly basis.
“We’re not going to make them sit there and talk to them,” Boles continued. “It’s just a safe place to get our kids off the street.”
Boles also commented that the board intends to involve all of the county schools in this endeavor.
“We’re going to involve Exeter, Southwest, Purdy and Wheaton,” said Boles. “They’re going to be invited to come.”
The Youth Advisory Board will host their carnival on Saturday, September 14, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Entrance will be free, with tickets for games costing 25 cents each.
The Youth Advisory’s Clubhouse Program will begin on Saturday, October 5, at the Family Life Center in Cassville. Admission is free, and the space will be open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, excluding holidays.
For more information on the Youth Advisory Board carnival or the clubhouse at the Family Life Center, contact Elaine Boles at Cassville High School at (417) 847-5112.