50 years ago

Sept. 4, 1973

— Joe Stewart Company, Construction Galena, was the apparent low $293, 095, bidder, at Friday on a State Highway Commission road project in Barry County. The work would be on Route R-A, from Route Mat Golden to the Kings River access of Table Rock Lake, 3.4 a mile distance, and would include grading, culvert construction and surfacing with an aggregate base and seal coat. The project leading to Kings River Public use area, was one of 20 on which the commission opened bids. This was the second bid on the project as previous proposals were over estimates sufficiently to not result in a contract being awarded. No date was set on the start of the project which was boosted by local financial sup- port in obtaining part of the right-of-way. Projects of this type are financed by gasoline taxes charged on recreation vehicles and motorboat fuels in the state.

— A drastic reduction in soil testing can cause a waste in fertilizer money. Last year all counties in Southwest Missouri had tested three times as many soil tests as this year, says Richard Prewitt, area agronomy agent. Many farmers view soil testing as a gimmick to get them to buy fertilizer. Unfortunately, this isn’t true, soil testing is a reputable, reliable method of evaluating and monitoring soil fertilizer that has been used effectively for 30 years or more. In 100king over a recent group of soil tests there was a $4.20 per acre per year phosphate difference in the soil treatments recommended. A soil test costs you $2.50 for a 4 year recommendation, if a field consisted on only 10 acres soil this would make your test cost about 6 cents per acre. Buying and applying fertilizer without the benefit of a soil test is like the ladies going grocery out shopping with- looking in the pantry or refrigerator to see what is needed. You may end up with what you need; you may end up with far too much; or you may end up with not enough food. Soil test for accurate soil treatments.

— Navy Seaman Recruit Dennis W Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard I T. Lee of Route 1, Exeter, graduated from recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. Lee is a 1973 graduate of the Exeter schools.

— Army Private Lonnie W. Honeycutt, Da son Of ones and MRo.bar, Honeycutt, Route 2, Cassville, participated in the 57th International Four-Day Marches, July 17-20, at Nijmegen, Netherlands. The 13,000 marchers, including Military and civil- ian participants, approximately 25 completed miles a day with a 22-pound pack through the countryside and villages of the Netherlands. The Army’s V Corps provided mess, bath, laundry, medical, press and transportation facilities for the American teams. The marches, sponsored by the Royal Netherlands League for Physical Culture, were to develop endurance and encourage friendship and goodwill among the 22 participating nations. Pvt. Honeycutt is regular – ly stationed in Giessen, Germany as a clerk in the 19th maintenance battalion’s 14th maintenance company. He entered the army in September 1972, completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, and arrived in Germany last February. The private graduated in 1972 from Boy’s Town (Neb) High School.

40 years ago

Aug. 31, 1983

— Don Wooden of Purdy, has purchased Russ’s Market in that Barry County location from Russ Hemphill. Property involved in the shopping center was also involved. The Wooden family resides west of Purdy. A number of improvements and additions to the business area are reported to be in the future.

— Barry County shows a decreasing unemployment rate compared to the State of Missouri and most counties in this area, according to statistics of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The state average for July stood at 9.4 percent, for Barry County the percentage was 7.8 percent. Other counties in the area included the following: Lawrence 8.8, Newton 9.3, McDonald 10.2 and Stone 7.6.

— Medicalodges Inc. of Coffeyville, Kansas, had begun a search for site location for construction of a residential care facility in the Shell Knob area. Cherry Warren, chairman of the Barry County Industrial Development Authority, said this week company official had advised a fall start of construction. Planned is a 36-bed facility, expandable to 72 beds. An eight-acre site will be chosen by the company at a later date. The county IDA has approved a $1,200,000 industrial revenue bond issue for the proposed facility. Residential care operations are for care of elderly persons not needing regular nursing care. Warren said he has been advised of a fall start of construction with occupancy scheduled next spring. Possibility of Cassville getting a 90-bed nursing care facility moved another step closer Monday night when the Zoning and Planning Commission gave their approval for a change in classification for the Bill Hailey, site. commission chairman, said the 14-acre site under contract for purchase by Cassville Manor, Inc. was changed from Residential-2 to Residential-3. Francis BeVier, Springfield developer who is president of Cassville Manor, had requested the change, necessary for location of the facility on the site previously owned by South Barry County Hospital District. City Clerk Jo Ledgerwood, said the commission’s recommendation for approval moved the proposition to the September 13 city council agenda for final determination. Commission members, Hailey, Bill Ash, John Anglum, Mayor Bill LeCompte and Joe Ellis, put their stamp of approval on the proposed change in site reclassification. Also attending the meeting were attorney Jim LeCompte, representing BeVier and southern judge Lige Frost of the Barry County Court. BeVier has previously received resolutions of inducement from the Barry County Industrial Development Authority for industrial revenue bonds to finance the project. Cost of the 26,050 structure, equipment and land is estimated to cost just over $2 million. Authority and court approval of the bonds has been accomplished in previous sessions and public hearings, according to Cherry Warren, chairman. Site of the construction plan is at the southwest edge of the city limits. BeVier has a contract to purchase approximately 14 acres from the hospital district for a price of $85,000. Judge Frost said the proposed facility, “Is being designed in a manner to allow addition of 30 more beds at a later time with a minimum of expense. He said Cassville Manor proposes to serve the Barry County area which in 1980 had a population of 24,408 persons, including 4,636 residents in the 65-plus age status.” Cassville Manor made a decision about 30 days ago to acquire the entire 14 acres owned by the hospital district. During initial phases of development, five acres were sought under directives issued by the State of Missouri. BeVier and associates hold a certificate of need for building the facility in Cassville from the state. The skilled care facility and equipment will employ 40 persons during the first year of operation. That figure is projected to increase at least 10 persons during the second year of operation.

30 years ago

Aug. 25, 1993

— Cassville R-4 schools will make the first move toward actual construction of a high school complex in receiving site preparation proposals until 2 p.m., Thursday, September 9. Dr. Dan Bailey, superintendent, said the bids would be opened at that time. Plans and specifications are available at the Office of Springfield architect Sam A. Winn. The project, funded by a $4.3 million dollar bond issue last April will be located on 40-acres off Route Y north of the present campus.

— Six of Barry County’s school districts have opened their doors and have pupils in classrooms for the 1993-94 school year. These six have posted an enrollment of 3862 as of Wednesday according to their respective superintendents. Three of these have reported fewer students on campus compared to starting numbers last year, three are registering increases. Cassville led the list on increases with 1736 pupils on campus at the starting bell Wednesday morning. Dr. Dan Bailey superintendent said the R-4 growth figures represented a 101 increase over opening day enrollments last year. The figure in 1992 was 1635. Reaching above the 1700 pupil level for the first time, Bailey said breakouts of enrollment in K-4 included 647, in middle school’s grades five through eight 516 and high school stands at 573. Bailey said major pupil number increases were first in the elementary level, then in middle school, with high school staying about stable from last year. Noting a good first day Wednesday, Bailey said a traffic backup covering four blocks on Main Street seemed to be the most major of problems. Wheaton opened classes Tuesday of last week and had 455 pupils in K-12 this week according to superintendent Bob Murray. Included in the pupil numbers were 258 in K-6 and 207 enrolled in 712. Last year the district opened on an increase to 470 the first day. Southwest of Washburn registered a slight increase, 754 on campus with the opening of classes last Wednesday. Superintendent Jim Roe said there were 434 in classes for K-6 and 320 in divisions seven through 12. Opening figures for the district reported on the first day last year were 748, producing a net gain of six for the early processes of starting. Jenkins opened today, Wednesday, with a decrease in pupil numbers. Enrolled in the K-8 rural elementary district were 50 pupils. Last year the district opened with 69, according to principal Sam Weeks. Exeter went up 11 pupils without an expanded enrollment of migrant pupils when apple harvest swings into full speed. Superintendent Marvin Spragg said the district had an even 100 in high school, 175 in elementary and 55 in junior high for a total of 330 for this year’s start. Superintendent Roger Blakley reported a slight drop in Purdy’s opening pupil count, standing at 537 this year, compared to 556 last year. This year’s numbers include 210 pupils in grades seven through 12 and 327 in classes K-6. Monett, which opens Monday, is expected to show an increase in their last year number of 1749. Dr. Charles Cudney, formerly of Southwest is beginning his first year as superintendent of the county’$ largest district. Shell Knob, delayed with a building and remodeling project, will open September 1, according to principal Bill Hadlow. Last year opening enrollment figures stood at 5727 for the entire county educational system but went to 5744 within a two-week period when all districts had started classes.

— Anyone that might pass by Cassville city baseball parks these last few days could have done a double take as the first youth soccer activity here was involved in a weeklong camp. Program directors have been Mike Bailey and Rick Linebarger. The camp instruction and play further into the week is designed to determine the amount of interest in Cassville toward becoming involved in a Southwest Missouri Youth Soccer League this fall. Tuesday night there were about 115 youngsters on the outfield area of the park facility going through the process of playing what might have been their first soccer competition. Some spectators couldn’t understand the game that was being played without pads, with the rules prohibiting the use of hands or catching the ball. Camp activities will include through Saturday. Workouts are in the evenings at 6:30 p.m. On the field as coaches during the Tuesday night activity were Jack Barber, Rob Gripka, Donald Cupps, David Cupps, Mike Ball, Stan Kelley and Mike Schlichtman.

— Playing the Inner-City All Stars from Kansas City here Sunday afternoon, a Cassville youth baseball team won the first contest 2-1 in seven innings but were behind in the second 4-3 when the game was called in the fifth inning. Cassville coach Doug Grant said the Cassville team had earlier defeated the Kansas City squad in tournament and a scheduled game. Michael Bateman was on the mound for Cassville in the first game with Cecil Robbins catching. Toby Skelton and Doug Taylor pitched for Cassville in the night-cap. Composed of a real 13–18-year-olds, the youths established a 16-4 record for the season. Cassville treated the youngsters to a barbecue dinner in advance of the game with local parents providing the trimmings for the lunch. Cassville’s team, finished for the season, won tournament championships at Lamar, Cassville and Fayetteville, Ark. during the past season.