50 years ago

July 31, 1974

— BARRY COUNTY BANK JOINING BANCSHARES

For the second time in 60 days, a Cassville bank has announced plans of affiliation with a multibank holding company. Barry County Bank, chartered in January of 1887, announced signing an affiliation agreement with Commerce Bancshares, Inc. of Kansas City. Announcement of the contract was made jointly by James M. Kemper, Jr., president of Commerce Banc-shares, Inc., and Charles D. Thomas, president of the Barry County Bank. First National Bank of Cassville announced 60 days ago an agreement to associate with First Charter Corporation, also a Kansas City based firm. Truman Baker, First National president, said this merger is in the approval stage. Under terms of the contract with Bancshares, it has been agreed the firm will acquire a majority interest in the Cassville bank, which is the second largest in Barry County• The contract further subject to approval by the Federal Reserve Board and other regulatory agencies. Barry County Bank, with mid-year assets reported of $17.5 million, will become affiliated with the 26-member group, which includes Commerce Banks in Springfield and Joplin.

— GARRETT AND FOX PURCHASE PURDY BANK

Ownership of the First State Bank of Purdy changed this week with the announcement of sale by Efton Henson, president and board chairman to Glen Garrett, president of Garrett Manufacturing Co. of Cassville and Jack Fox, president of Gillioz Bank and Trust Company of Monett. Fox and Garrett obtained controlling interest in the banking institution which started in the 1920’s. In announcing the sale, Henson, who purchased control from the Miller families in 1973, said he would devote full time to business interests in Texas. He and Mrs. Henson, who is a native of Cassville will return there to make their home. Garrett and Fox announced Tuesday their operation officer for the bank would be Jerry Daniels, formerly with First National Bank of Monett. Daniels has been named vice-president and managing officer. Named president of the bank was C. P. Lilleoien, a long-time bank employee and officer. Additional organization of the bank includes the new board of directors named Monday night. Included are Art Schad, Damon Worming-ton, Walt Reynaud, Lilleoien, Fox and Garrett, who was named chairman. Garrett, who six months ago purchased Cassville Tool and Machine and immediately doubled manufacturing at the firm, is a resident of Purdy. Fox will continue in his capacity with the Monett banking establishment. Both however, will be active in the Purdy bank’s operations. Midyear assets reported by the bank were near the $3 million mark according to their financial statement. The new owners said all state and federal agencies involved in regulation of the bank had been notified. They also said staffers would be retained and all services continued. Addition of new services would be announced at a later date according to initial information.

40 years ago

Aug. 1, 1984

— CASSVILLE PLANTS KEEP JOBS SPREAD

Cassville manufacturing plants are supplying nearly one-third of the assembly line employment in Barry County. The total of 1,201 jobs in local industries is included in the 3,865 total of manufacturing employees listed by Hubert Sanders of the Missouri Division of Employment Security in Monett. Sanders said this week the total manufacturing payroll for the county does not always include clerical, professional or managerial person- nel. He said the total work force in the county stands at 11,523 according to state records. The county stands in good shape so far as unemployment statistics are concerned. Missouri reports for June have Barry County with a 5.4 percent unemployment. Adjoining counties include Newton 6.7, Lawrence 6.7, McDonald 7.9 and Stone 7.1. Only 12 others in Missouri’s 114 total have a less or equal unemployment percentage than Barry County. Bob Allen, president of the Cassville Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has spearheaded industrial development drives here, said breakouts of employment throughout the county are indicators of what jobs are being made available here. Of the total 1,201 jobs here, the following are mailing addresses provided by the industries: Cassville 492 Exeter 205 Washburn 109 Purdy 90 Shell Knob 25 Wheaton 37 Rocky Comfort 21 Seligman 33 Butterfield 23 Eagle Rock 9 Golden 12 Jenkins 29 Monett 14 Aurora 3 Other 93 Industrial reports said not all included managerial or salaried personnel whose record printouts were not available at the local plant. Six of Cassville’s 10 manufacturers provided information for the residency breakouts. Providing their employee location breakouts were Alvey Inc., FASCO Industries, Justin Boot Co., Garrett Manufacturing, Forest Products and Wells Aluminum. Two others contacted did not respond to inquiries. Figures for two others were estimated and placed in an average. Of the 93 jobs here listed in the category of other, most were in adjoining areas of Arkansas, Stone County, Lawrence, McDonald and Newton counties. Barry County’s condition of stable employment apparently follows a state trend which officials call encouraging “that the unemployment rate remained low in a month when higher unemployment usually is noted.” Statewide, unemployment for the month was 7.1. A year ago the rate was 10 percent.

—TRAIN SPARK SETS FIRES ALONG TRACKS

Pasture land between Exeter and Purdy was burned Sunday and Monday in fires that resulted from sparks created by a Burlington Northern train unit passing through the area. Although about seven volunteer fire groups from throughout the area fought blazes, an estimated 100 acres were burned. Officials said no structures were damaged as a result of the blaze. Several were threatened but saved by the owners or departments. Area residents said fires were burning along a 20-mile strip in Barry County. The train was stopped by officials at Exeter and the cause of the sparks eliminated. Paul Johnson, ranger of Mark Twain National Forest, said one blaze was extinguished last week, it resulting from a camp fire near Table Rock Lake. Johnson said that while forest fire indexes were not critical at this time, pastures were tender dry. June rainfall in the area, just over one-half inch, was the driest in 30 years. July measurements of 2.7 inches here have not been sufficient to overcome heat and winds. Officials throughout the area said fire should not be used outside under any conditions so long as it remains dry.

30 years ago

July 20, 1994

— TABLE ROCK FAMILY PRACTICE’S NEW CLINIC

Additional staffing has been announced by St. John’s Regional health Center for their new Table Rock Family Practice Clinic at Shell Knob. According to Jim Cantrell, Family Medicine of the Ozarks spokesperson, the new clinic should open early next year. Ground has been broken for the facility on Highway 39, main artery into the Central Crossing Area of the lake. Joining the staff August 22 will be Dr. Joe Hime, a Tulsa, Ok. native that has been in Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis. At the hospital he was medical director of the sports medicine program. He will join Dr. Richard Taylor in the clinic as a partner, according to announcements of the Springfield hospital. The new facility will be located south of the Central Crossing Bridge, in an area of the Shell Knob-Viola Community Building and Central Fire Department. Currently under design, square footage was not available, but will be adequate for two physicians, labs and support services. An opening early next year is projected.

— POSSIBLE CLASS SWITCH IN ZONING FOR ABLE 2

Cassville zoning and planning commission reviewed a request from Able 2 Products concerning change of classification on a new plant site in Cassville in a regular meeting Thursday. Chairman Jack Nickols presided as commission members heard a presentation concerning switch of the old Green Hills Drive-in property from C-2 to I-2 classification. Speaking to the commission on the question were Doug Edwards, owner of an auto repair facility immediately adjacent to the east of the Jerry Watley property and Vernon Stonecipher, owner of a mobile home park next to the auto business. Each questioned how the change would affect their property. Bob Mitchell also asked if the location of an industrial classification between two commercial areas would constitute spot zoning. Zoning administrator Jo Ledgerwood asked the commission if a special use permit allowing Watley’s electrical assembly firm in the C-2 classification would be adequate to meet the need. Watley’s plans are to construct, within the next two years, a building of 40-45,000 square feet as a new location for his business presently on East 13th Street. Commission members, mayor Rolland Meador, Joe Ellis, Lisa Schlichtman, Dr. Dan Bailey and Randy Stockton, later voted to forward Watley’s request to the city council for approval. After the session, Watley said he was investigating the special use possibility for the property class which would leave it as presently rated. He said his decision should be completed prior to the August 8 council session that will consider the zoning and planning recommendation. Other action before the board, was approval of a Corky Stehlik requested annexation of four lots in Jumping-Jacks subdivision. The zoning class would be R-1. Commission deferred further consideration on requests from California for establishing a manufactured housing district. Ledgerwood said information that is supposedly forthcoming has not been received. A bed and breakfast decision would allow such operations in R-2 or C-2 districts providing they are owner occupied, contain 3,000 square feet of livable space and maintain off-street parking. The bed and breakfast application.