50 years ago

Jan. 24, 1974

— BOND PROPOSAL TO CASSVILLE VOTERS TUESDAY

Cassville school district voters go to the polls next Tuesday to decide a building bond issue for proposed elementary expansion programs submitted by the board of education. Balloting will be in Cassville and Butterfield for the approximately 1,750 registered voters in the district. Only those voters who were registered as of January 2 are eligible to ballot in the election. The proposed issue is for $125,000 and will require a two-thirds majority to gain approval. Another $50,000 for the program is available on passage from the State Department of Education for reorganization on the combination of this and the Eagle Rock school districts. The program would provide approximately 8,500 square feet of educational spaces to the present elementary building. The addition would be to the east end of the structure. Also provided in the bond issue are funds for relocation of the present transportation department and approximately $10,000 in funds for purchase of new band uniforms. The bond funds would free local funds for the band project. The bus garage would be moved to a new site, as yet unnamed by the board of education. The R-4 district will draw voters from its 205 square mile area to make the building enlargement decision. Facilities proposed in the expansion include those for kindergarten, special education, music and lower grade classrooms. The expansion would also free classrooms in the junior high department for relieving crowded conditions in this division of education processes in the system. The pending issue would leave the district with approximately $263,800 additional bonding capacity for other programs should they become necessary in the near future. The January 29 issue is proposed to be carried over a 15-year period at a five percent interest rate. Superintendent James Ford said election officials at the two polling places would include: Kathleen Reed, Judy Schlichtman, JoAnne Ellis, Charles Riddle and Deloris Hutchens of Cassville. Acting for Butterfield area will be: Mr. and Mrs. Leon Pennel, John Linebarger, Mrs. Bill Howerton and Henry Thompson. Polls will be open at each location from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

— WAREHOUSE DEMOLISHED

Willis Insurance of Cassville has virtually completed demolishing a metal warehouse building at the corner of Seventh and East Streets here. The company, Charles Willis, Max Cooper and Bill Ash, purchased the property sometime ago. The building removal is part of their improvement program. Future plans for the site have not been fully completed. Wayne McDaniel is in charge of the building teardown.

— FUNDS RECEIVED

Barry County has received an additional $18,326 in Federal Revenue Sharing Funds according to Treasurer Vedas Davis.

40 years ago

Jan. 25, 1984

— 1,466 CASES HANDLED IN COURT AREA

The 39th judicial circuit, Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties, handled 1,466 cases during 1983 according to the Missouri Judicial Report released by Judge William Pinnel this week. Judge Pinnell said the three-county circuit had 600 cases above the average of 870 reported in state-wide statistics. Only two circuits, both in southeast Missouri, were more active than this area. Breakdowns of caseloads in the area included the following: Barry: 321 civil, 59 criminal and 71 juvenile. Lawrence: 481 civil, 87 criminal and 78 juvenile. Stone: 253 civil, 80 criminal and 36 juvenile. Totals were 1,055 civil, 226 criminal and 185 juvenile. Judge Pinnell noted in the report, of the total civil cases, 504 were dissolution of marriage actions. Associate judges handling some of the dispositions included Judge John Baty of Barry, Jack P. Steinle of Lawrence and Richard Blersch of Stone. Also noted in the report was a total of 750,000 cases filed in various divisions, in Missouri, despite the increased cost of litigation.

— NEW LINE FOR JUSTIN PLANT

Justin Boot Co., headquartered in Ft. Worth, Texas, is announcing a new line, Pathfinder work boots, that will be manufactured in the Cassville plant. Pictured above with representation of the 29 styles, are James Latshaw, plant manager; Palmer Beebe, division manager of Pathfinder and Leo Souder, assistant plant manager. Beebe said the new Pathfinder line is in the hands of salesmen. It will include a utility line, featuring good looks, durability and economy. Included will be steel toe models, zippers, insulated and other new features. The project is incorporated in recent company announcements of constructing a 20,000-square-foot warehouse addition to the local plant, that will probably include a mini-manufacturing line in addition to the present 65,000 square foot plant. rt Latshaw and Souder said the new line would be made here with the present staff of employees. Production schedules begin this week.

— MARINE TRAINS

Marine Pfc. Richard S. Mstik, Jr., son of Patricia and Richard Mrstik, Sr., of Shell Knob, has completed the infantry combat training course at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. During the six-week course, he received classroom instruction and participated in field exercises involving infantry tactics, the construction and camouflage of fighting positions, and the use of mines, demolitions and intra-company communications equipment. His specialized training centered on the operation, employment and maintenance of 60mm and 81mm mortars.

30 years ago

Jan. 12, 1994

— BAKER TO APPEAR ON TV

Charlie Baker, custodian of the Barry County courthouse, has been chosen by Ozarks Public by Television for including in a Creative Aging program that will air January 27, 8:30 p.m. Baker, retired from two previous professions was interviewed recently for the program and his involvement with courthouse improvement projects. — AF BASIC

— NOEL GRADUATES

Air Force Airman Edward L. Noel has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. During the six weeks of training the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Noel of rural Wheaton.

— IDC ENHANCEMENT FOR NEW INDUSTRY UNDERWAY

Economic development efforts of the Cassville Industrial Development Corporation have reached the fund raising efforts in this and surrounding communities. Bob Mitchell, chairman of the IDC, announced last week that Don Cupps would be financial coordinator of the effort that provides funds for Thorco Co. purchasing the Alvey Inc. building here and opening manufacturing operations this spring. Cupps reported contacts were being made with each and every business and professional person principally in Cassville and including some surrounding area, to raise a $45,000 amount that will be used to pay property taxes for the new company over a period of three years. Assisting Cupps in the effort on behalf of the IDC are Bob Allen, Mark Smith, Kathy White, Phil Hutchens, Jon Horner, Tom Cardin and Gary Fields. Any of these individuals, members of the IDC board, Bill Easley, Stan Kelley, Bill LeCompte or Mitchell, can accept investment amounts. Funds for the project are going through PACE, Inc., making investments in the project both state and federal tax deductions. Checks should be made through PACE for anyone who has not yet been contacted in the effort. Cupps said he hopes to have the effort well toward completion by the last of this week. Ken Howard, president of Thorco, said from the Lamar head-quarters, the transaction between his firm and Alvey closing the purchase of the 108,000 square foot building was scheduled to happen this Friday. “We will own the building at that time and subsequently hit the ground running in making preparations for our new operation in Cassville,” he noted. Thorco personnel have been almost regular visitors in Cassville since their announcement just before Christmas of intentions to expand their Missouri operations beyond Lamar and Butler operations in coming here. Their latest involvements have been testing water supply and pressure supplies at the plant for installation of a fire protection sprinkler system in the structure. Representatives of the company told city public works people that static, flow and pressure tests at the plant on Sale Barn Road Ken Schieler, assistant supervisor, said all tests and results were good. Under agreements between Thorco and the IDC board of directors, the economic development enhancement was made prior to the company making complete decisions to come here. The tax incentive is a normal part of economic development agreements between manufacturer and new plant community. Mitchell explained this week past economic development projects have been handled either through the granting of land for a plant site or furnishing tax payments over a period of years for expanding firms in Cassville. “We’ve either supplied or offered incentives for about every industry in Cassville in years past. Those who came here of their own accord know we are as interested in them as we are new prospects. In most every instance they have been advised that we would be interested in working with the city of Cassville and all related entities in their behalf whenever possible,” he concluded Meeting Tuesday afternoon in an annual stockholders session, the IDC renamed Stan Kelley and Bob Mitchell to three year terms on the board of directors. The board, in choosing officers, renamed Mitchell the chairman, Easley the vice-chairman and Kelley will be treasurer. Bill LeCompte was not present, nor was Dick Moger who has moved out of the community, The board anticipates making an appointment to fill Moger’s remaining term in the near future. Directors also discussed the pending Thorco arrival in Cassville and other industrial contact business being handled by the corporation.