50 years ago

Sept. 11, 1974

— SEWING SHOP OPENS DOORS

A new business exists in Cassville this week when Mr. and Mrs. Bill Lyles open Lyles’ Sewing Machine Sales and Service. Featuring a variety of machines, parts and accessories of all brands, the business is located next door to Stumpff’s Barber Shop in the building owned by Rex and Roger Stumpff. Mr. and Mrs. Lyles formerly owned and operated a resort at Indian Point on Table Rock Lake.

— AMBULANCE BOARD REACTS TO SERVICE SITUATION

Resumption of ambulance services by a Cassville funeral home has “jeopardized emergency health care in Barry County,” according to a statement released this week by the directors of the South Barry County Ambulance District. The statement contends the area will not support more than one ambulance service. “The people on May 14, 1974, voted by 84% to create the South Barry County Ambulance district to provide area ambulance service. Operating revenue for the ambulance district will come from tax money, and from charges for ambulance serv-ice. Without all the revenue from area ambulance service, the ambulance district will be severely handicapped financially.” After voting for the creation of an ambulance 78 district on May 14, residents of 12 townships in Barry County elected six directors to operate the ambulance service. The directors are Jimmy Ellis, Bud Barker, John Gardiner, Paul Yarnall, Lester Purdom, and Johnnie Ball. Ellis is the chairman. The directors serve without pay. Both Cassville funeral homes agreed in writing last October that they were unable to provide ambulance service and agreed to support the creation of an ambulance district as the best method of supplying quality ambulance service. One of the funeral homes resumed ambulance services recently. The great majority of private ambulance services in Missouri have closed their operations on grounds they cannot afford to comply with the new state safety regulations for ambulances. The regulations require upgraded equipment and trained personnel for ambulance operation. The statement by the board of directors said they were concerned with the quality of emergency medical treatment in South Barry County. Board members said their organization of the ambulance district has been delayed by their deliberations over resumption of ambulance service by a local private operator. “We are the trustees for the public’s tax money,” the statement concluded. “We frankly do not know at this point how to proceed.” Ambulance districts have been created in many parts of Missouri in recent months, in an effort to comply with the stringent new safety standards for ambulances. The law became effective July 1. From October last year until formation of the ambulance district, services were maintained by an Emergency Rescue Service Corporation of local volunteers, again with the cooperation of funeral homes formerly offering the services. The newly created ambulance service, which intends to acquire new equipment through the city of Cassville, serves these townships in Barry County, Butterfield, Exeter, Ash, Washburn, Sugar Creek, Flat Creek, Roaring River, Mineral, Jen-kins, Mountain, Shell Knob, White River One and Two. Similar approaches, formation of an ambulance district for the north part of the county is underway. It also excludes Wheaton and Liberty townships which are served by private interests. Both districts in the county have excluded McDonald township, leaving a void in this area for membership in ambulance service area.

40 years ago

Sept. 12, 1984

— CITY CHANGES ORDINANCE TO CONFORM TO DNR REQUESTS

A pair of Cassville government ordinances were changed Tuesday night one to conform with suggestions entered recently by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Complying with DNR requests here August 30, council action changed the waste water treatment ordinance. Sections changed did not involve rates charged by the city. Amended to follow suggestions by the IMP representatives were sections setting out charges for operational, maintenance and repair cost methods. Capital costs, which could eventually replace or expand the waste water treatment plant were also included in the ordinance. Passage came on yes votes of all four aldermen, Bill Ward, John Miller, Allen Stubblefield and Bob Mizer. Actual revenue to the system will not be changed. But, the capital feature will provide about $49,000 annually, which invested at 8 percent interest, could in 16 years provide $1.5 million for system expansion or replacement. Mayor Bill LeCompte said drafts of the ordinance were sent to DR in Jefferson City by speed mail last week. A check with the offices initially said the drafts had not been received. They were later found. Officials of NR said they would not have time to review the ordinances this week, but would be back in touch with local officials later. This phase of the waste water ordinance was grounded in criticisms in August that resulted in meetings two weeks ago by DNR officials, Terry Timmons and Clint Bishop. An appendix to the ordinance outlines charge ratios along lines directed by the DR methodology to comply with Environmental Protection Agency grant requirements. Second ordinance passed by the council involves water department charges, again with no increase in-volved. Covered was clarification of classes of service. A new section does require individual meters for all users. Specifically, the ordinance says, “The city of Cassville, Missouri shall not provide water or sewage service to any resident, group of residences, commercial business or industry unless such residence or commercial business has an individual meter.” “A residence shall be defined as a dwelling or portion of a dwelling occupied by one or more families that is separate and distinct from other portions of the dwelling, factors that may be used in determining whether a dwelling or portion of dwelling is an individual residence requiring an individual meter are: whether there are separate rental charges, whether there are separate charges for telephone, gas, electric and other utilities and the layout of the dwelling or portion of dwellings.” “Determination of whether a residence is an individual residence requiring a separate water meter shall be determined by the board of aldermen.” Passage of this ordinance came through three yes votes by Miller, Stubblefield and Ward. Mizer abstained from voting on each of four readings. Other business before the council included: Tabeling of purchase of two police cars. Out of 11 dealerships notified and public advertisement, bids were received from Republic Ford and Friendly Ford of Springfield. Total cost for trading two units, $17,244.44, plus $455 each for extended warranty. Mayor LeCompte suggested rebidding the items, since cost was about 30 percent over budget. Approved was $1,200 proposal from MPH of Chanute, Kansas for trading police radar units. Two other firms bid on the proposal. Tabled was radio equipment by Miller and Springfield firms. Low bid of $4,416.15 will be investigated. Bills payable, water and sewer fund $19,350.61, including $9,000 for well repair; general revenue $9,226.42 and Federal Revenue Sharing $4,786.95. Bills paid on three affirmative votes, Mizer abstaining. Tim Miller, water superintendent, said recent repairs at Well Four at FASCO industries, resulted in raising the pump, reducing gallons per minute by 30. Present output is 670 gym. Miller also said water tables at the well had apparently dropped 43 feet. Beverly McClure made third appearance before council, this time with attorney Jim LeCompte, to seek relief from high water bills. Mayor LeCompte excused himself from chambers, turning meeting over to mayor protem Miller. Mrs. McClure wants reduction of charges of $2,300 which normally run $150. City will investigate situation to determine if frozen lines last winter or faulty meter could be possible cause. Similar complaints were received from Mr. and Mrs. Gene Thomas and Virginia Lowe. In the Thomas case meter checks will be made. In the Lowe case, no action was taken. Council voted to accept six month contract with Bill Booth for $350 initial clean-up of Community Center and $75 weekly fee for cleaning three times weekly. Collector of Revenue, Opal San-tee, was awarded extra months pay of $870 for compensation of extra hours in her office over a two month period while computer system was being installed and programmed.

30 years ago

August 31, 1994

— GEORGE’S GETS STATE LOAN; WILL ADD 120 NEW JOBS

State Representative Nolan McNeill announced Monday that George’s Processing Inc. will receive a $1,275,000 float loan through Missouri’s Community Development Block Grant pro-gram. The money will be used to purchase machinery and equipment needed to install a new production line system at the local plant. According to plant manager Craig Coberley, the net result of the system change will be a productivity increase of 30 percent and the addition of 120 new jobs in the next two years. The City of Cassville applied for the state loan on behalf of George’s in June. The city requested $5 million in loan money in its application to the Department of Economic Development. McNeill said the state loans money through economic development to create new jobs. “I certainly feel like this is a step in the right direction,” McNeill said. “We’re looking for expansion in industry, and it’s great to see this take place.” Coberley said that initial plans for a production system switch have not changed since they were announced in March. The plant will go from a streamline inspection system to a new evisceration line speed system, known as NELS. The NELS concept will allow production to be increased from 70 birds per minute to 91 birds per minute on each of the plant’s three lines. An additional inspector will be added on each line, bringing the number of inspectors to three per line. Overall production would rise from one million birds per week to 1.3 million. This increase in productivity will necessitate the hiring of 60 more employees per shift, according to Coberley. Currently George’s runs two shifts with a total employment of 500. The new project would bring personnel numbers up to 620. As plant production increases, so will the need for growers. George’s currently has about 100 growers in the area, who annually produce between 20,000 and 24,000 birds each. The company estimates that there will be a need for 100 more houses in the service area. That increase could require the addition of 30 new growers or could be absorbed by existing producers. George’s Inc., based in Springdale, Arkansas, opened the local processing plant in 1987 on a 380-acre tract site in Butterfield. Last year the company purchased 252 acres south of its current location with plans to build a hatchery and mill on the site. According to company officials, these plans have been put on hold until production system changes are implemented.

— CASSVILLE BECOMES COUNTY’S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT

Enrollment numbers for the 1994-95 school year indicate that Barry County’s student population continues to grow. An updated report from all seven Barry County school districts, which are now in session, places enrollment figures at 6,069 students, surpassing last year’s record enrollment of 5,806. Cassville R-IV school district has overtaken Monett to become the county district with the largest enrollment. According to Dan Bailey, Cassville superintendent, the school’s enrollment has now reached 1,911. Almost 60 more children have enrolled at Cassville since the start of school last Wednesday. Part of Cassville’s growth can be attributed to the merging of Jenkins students into the district. Bailey said Jenkins accounts for 60 students of the 159-student increase since last year. Monett’s first day enrollment figure totaled 1,795 students. The district began classes last Thursday. Superintendent Charles Cudney reported that there were 86 students in elementary (K-6), 289 in middle school (7-8) and 520 in high school. Overall, enrollment stayed the same with the district posting a nine-student increase over last year’s total. Wheaton’s first day of school was Monday. Superintendent Bob Murray said student numbers came in at 447, with 250 students enrolled in elementary (K-6) and 197 students at the high school level. That total puts Wheaton eight students behind last year’s enrollment of 455. Other county school district totals remain virtually unchanged from opening day numbers. As of Tuesday, Exeter reports an enrollment of 354, Purdy’s enrollment stands at 540, Shell Knob’s enrollment is 216 and Southwest’s total is 806 students. All four districts posted a slight increase over last year’s enrollment figures. Last year’s enrollment in the four districts was as follows: Exeter, 330; Purdy, 537; Shell Knob, 192; and Southwest, 754. In the Cassville school district, enrollment numbers have climbed since the 1981-82 school year. Bailey said growth in the district has been phenomenal, outdistancing the school’s enrollment projections. He added that he expects district enrollment to hit 2,000 students in 1996-97.