Cassville Democrat
Encyclopedia
The Cassville Democrat is a weekly newspaper
located in Cassville, Missouri
, the county seat
of Barry County, Missouri
. It has a weekly circulation of around 5,000 and has been published continuously since its founding in 1871.
The newspaper's motto is "Continuing to Cover Barry County Like the Morning Dew" and its current general manager is Mike Schlichtman and his wife, Lisa Schlichtman, serves as its executive editor. The Schlichtmans were previous owners of the newspaper and are also currently involved in the management of the Monett Times
. The Cassville Democrat focuses on local issues and news and has little national or international coverage.
and the Barry County Advertiser
, only the Barry County Advertiser continues to this day, with the 106 year old Republican closing in 1984. As their names signify, during their prime, the Cassville Democrat espoused and promoted the views of the Democratic Party
while the Cassville Republican did the same for the Republican Party
, creating a fierce political climate in the small town. Since that time, the Cassville Democrat has shed its former political affiliation and instead focuses on being the local primary news source.
, who moved to Barry County in 1850. Dr. Ray had been a surgeon
in the Union army
during the Civil War. He would publish the Cassville Democrat until his death in 1889. Following Dr. Ray's death, his son Charles Ray took over as editor and publisher of the paper and continued in that role until his own death in 1926. During his time as publisher, Charles Ray also served two terms as county treasurer, and was postmaster
of Cassville under the Cleveland
administration. Charles Ray's wife, Jennie Pharis Ray, and sons John and Means Ray took over the responsibilities of the newspaper following his death. Eventually, ownership of the paper moved on to Bob Mitchell, Charles Ray's grandson through his youngest daughter, Katherine. Bob Mitchell retained ownership of the Cassville Democrat up to the mid-1990s when, after more than 120 years of single-family ownership, he sold the publication to Mike and Lisa Schlichtman. In 2004, the Schlichtmans sold the then 132 year old publication to the Rust Communications
newspaper chain, which continues to own it.
Weekly newspaper
A weekly newspaper is a general-news publication that is published on newsprint once or twice a week.Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a...
located in Cassville, Missouri
Cassville, Missouri
Cassville is a city in Flat Creek Township, Barry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,266 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Barry County. Crowder College offers 2 year degree programs in Cassville...
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Barry County, Missouri
Barry County, Missouri
Barry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 35,597. Its county seat is Cassville. The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry from Kentucky, a United States Postmaster General....
. It has a weekly circulation of around 5,000 and has been published continuously since its founding in 1871.
The newspaper's motto is "Continuing to Cover Barry County Like the Morning Dew" and its current general manager is Mike Schlichtman and his wife, Lisa Schlichtman, serves as its executive editor. The Schlichtmans were previous owners of the newspaper and are also currently involved in the management of the Monett Times
Monett Times
The Monett Times is a daily newspaper in Monett, Missouri, a small city of around 7,400 people that falls into both northern Barry County and southern Lawrence County. The main focus of the publication in on local news, but it does include some state, national and international stories...
. The Cassville Democrat focuses on local issues and news and has little national or international coverage.
Coverage Area and Competitors
While the Cassville Democrat is located in the town of Cassville, its coverage extends across Barry County to most of the smaller towns and hamlets that do not have any independent traditional news services. In addition, it has not been alone in its local news coverage, as for a nearly 20 year period between 1967 and 1984, there were no less than three weekly newspapers operating out of Cassville, a town with a population of less than 3,000, and providing coverage to people across the county. Of those two competing papers, the Cassville RepublicanCassville Republican
The Cassville Republican was a weekly newspaper in the town of Cassville, Missouri, the county seat of Barry County, Missouri. The newspaper was founded in 1872 and ceased operation in 1984, after 112 years of operation. The newspaper was established to provide the Republican Party viewpoint to...
and the Barry County Advertiser
Barry County Advertiser
The Barry County Advertiser is a free weekly newspaper located in Cassville, Missouri, the county seat of Barry County, Missouri. The Advertiser is funded purely by advertising and is distributed through the U.S. Postal Service...
, only the Barry County Advertiser continues to this day, with the 106 year old Republican closing in 1984. As their names signify, during their prime, the Cassville Democrat espoused and promoted the views of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
while the Cassville Republican did the same for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, creating a fierce political climate in the small town. Since that time, the Cassville Democrat has shed its former political affiliation and instead focuses on being the local primary news source.
Ownership History
The Cassville Democrat was established in 1871 by Dr. John Ray, a native of Barren County, KentuckyBarren County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of...
, who moved to Barry County in 1850. Dr. Ray had been a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
in the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the Civil War. He would publish the Cassville Democrat until his death in 1889. Following Dr. Ray's death, his son Charles Ray took over as editor and publisher of the paper and continued in that role until his own death in 1926. During his time as publisher, Charles Ray also served two terms as county treasurer, and was postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Cassville under the Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
administration. Charles Ray's wife, Jennie Pharis Ray, and sons John and Means Ray took over the responsibilities of the newspaper following his death. Eventually, ownership of the paper moved on to Bob Mitchell, Charles Ray's grandson through his youngest daughter, Katherine. Bob Mitchell retained ownership of the Cassville Democrat up to the mid-1990s when, after more than 120 years of single-family ownership, he sold the publication to Mike and Lisa Schlichtman. In 2004, the Schlichtmans sold the then 132 year old publication to the Rust Communications
Rust Communications
Rust Communications is a privately owned media company based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. The Southeast Missourian is its flagship publication....
newspaper chain, which continues to own it.