50 years ago

Feb. 7, 1973

• Four Cassville High School students have been selected as Outstanding Teenagers of America for 1973, according to Robert B. LeMon, principal. Selection for the Outstanding Teenagers awards program automatically qualifies these students for further state, regional and national honors and scholarships totaling $7,000. Local nominees are: Jakie Bill Blythe, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Blythe, Cassville; Patrick Leeper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Leeper, Cassville; William Thomas Norton, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Norton, Viola and Cheri Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Williams, Shell Knob.

• Two good basketball teams came to town for action in the past few days and the CHS Wild – cats sent them both back home licking their wounds of defeat. The first was an 81-68 Big 10 conference win over Carthage Friday and the second was a 73-66 conquest of an extra good Reeds Spring squad Tuesday. While the varsity Wildcats were winning this pair, Coach Danny Lynch’s junior varsity players scored respective 57-48 and 54-52 wins in preliminary games. Coach J. C. Duncan’s Wildcats were playing some of their best basketball in the last two outings, displaying some previously unknown scoring leadership.

• Holy Cross Lutheran Church Gets Grant A $8,000 grant was presented to the congregation of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church here Sunday by Mrs. Rex Peterson of Monett, District president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. The grant, a gift of the League, to the church, may be used in any way chosen by the Church Council. J. B. Nations, chairman of the Council, in expressing the church’s appreciation for the grant said, “We have been most richly blessed, and indeed feel fortunate.” The decision as to how the money will be spent will be made in the near future. The Lutheran Church has shown phenomenal growth since it began as a mission congregation in 1969, meeting in the Cassville City Hall with an original 13 members. The church purchased the Christian Church building when that congregation moved to their new building, December 20, 1960. At the time the application for the grant was made, Mr. Nations said, the Lutheran church here owed $8,000. on the church facility but that indebtedness has since been paid off.

40 years ago

Feb. 3, 1983

• GOP Women Install Officers South Barry County federated Republican women’s club meeting and installation was held at the Rainbow Dinner House January 20 with 30 members and guests enjoying a buffet dinner. President Charlotte Hopkins introduced county officers present as well as club officers who have served two years with her. Ruth Walters second vice-president was installing officers and in turn was installed by the new vice-president Charlotte Hopkins. The speaker of the evening was former representative of the 131st District, Eddie Williams. The 1983-84 officers are: president Vickie Easley, vice-president Charlotte Hopkins, second vice-president Ruth Walters, secretary- treasurer Dorothy Yocum, parliamentarian Patty Smallwood, chaplain Mindy Lewright and reporter Mary Byrd.

• Big 8 Conference speech tournament action found these entries from CHS taking first and second place honors that rated their team fourth. The entries were coached by Glenda Ward. Doug Hill, a sophomore, took a pair of first place honors for storytelling and prose reading. He was also a member of the Readers Theatre, ranked second.

• Up-to-date counts of voter registration numbers in Barry County as of January 28, puts at 14,777 the number of persons eligible to cast ballots in upcoming elections. The report was filed by County Clerk Rex Stumpff as one of his initial duties in the office. Stumpff said the count at general election time in the county was just slightly higher at 14,797. The county’s chief election authority in making the report used figures from his electionís deputy, Patricia Evans. Further breakdowns in the report listed road district voters at 14,788 currently, up about 1,000 from 13,778 in July 14, 1981. School districts have a current figure of 14,911 compared to 13,894 about a year and one-half ago.

30 years ago

Jan. 27, 1993

• Dr. Dan Bailey, superintendent of the Cassville R-4 school system has responded to the recent court decision by saying that he thought it was a “landmark” decision for education in the state of Missouri. “A revision of the Missouri foundation formula will be extremely important for all schools in the state particularly rural schools,” says Bailey. “We’re not as poor as some districts but we do fall into the less fortunate category when comparing districts. We’re just not getting as many dollars. behind our kids as other districts.” For the 199192 school year, Cassville’s per eligible pupil expenditure was $2,620.40, the lowest per pupil expenditure in Barry County. The wealthiest district in the state spent $8,725.68 per eligible pupil compared to the poorest district, which spent a low of $2,277.58.

• We’ve heard that icing conditions resulted in cancellation of classes on the Cassville R-4 campus Monday, which served to eliminate some problems for both students and staffers. The way we understand it, a segment of the student body had planned a walkout of classes protesting school being in session on the holiday observing the late Martin Luther King’s birthday. Evidently, the students thought it “ridiculous to observe a holiday March 1 for the opening of Roaring River State Park and not close for this national holiday.

• Cassville city council would be the deciding factor in an issue between dogs running free in the town and residents who have been expressing their opinions in public hearings. Two weeks ago a hearing was strongly in favor of the dogs and in opposition of leash or confinement possibilities. The issue was tied at 1-1 Monday night during the second hearing when those attending were in favor of more stringent controls on dogs in Cassville. At present, the issue is tied, but the control people seem to hold a slight opinion edge. During the first hearing there were 14 people present, according to police sergeant Lonnie McCullough, who with council member Dennis Fischer is conducting the hearings.

• Speech teams from Cassville R-4 won two sweepstakes trophies in the combined Aurora varsity and Mt. Vernon novice tournaments, over the weekend. In the 19-school varsity tournament, Cassville won first place with 175 points; Nevada, second, 134 points; Seneca, third, 121 points. The novice team competing with 19 schools, won third place with 125 points, following a tie between Carthage and Nevada with 136 points each for first.