50 years ago

Oct. 2, 1974

— COUNTY JOINS WITHDRAWAL LIST OF PLANNING GROUP

Barry County became the sixth of 10 counties in the Lakes Country Regional Planning Commission to withdraw their membership over a proposed comprehensive pl-an. County membership in the regional organization was ended by the county court in session last Thursday. Since that time the county representation in the organization had crumbled over the widespread opposition to the regional plan proposed by the group. As a result, plans to hold a public hearing on the plan scheduled tonight (Wednesday) in the Barry County Court House were cancelled by the LCRPC officials. Considerable conflict developed in counties where hearings were conducted in the past few weeks. In some, police escorts were required to protect Glen Griffin, executive director and staff members away from the hearing locations. Despite withdrawal of all 10 counties involved in the regional operation, some 45-50 municipal governments are apparently remaining as members. Token payment toward LCRPC operation funds come from the county and municipal memberships. The memberships are based on five cents a year for every person within the member unit. Planning proposals developed by the regional group were made over an 18 month to two year period. Barry County has been a part of the Lakes Country group since its formation. In 1969 a comprehensive plan was developed for the county by a private engineering firm that provided guidelines for future water and sewer Programs. Planning was approved by a prior county wide vote. Several programs in the County, mostly municipal, have been processed and approved by the regional commission and have been Granted federal funds. Largest difficulty of the program stemmed around alleged land controls that the plan would eventually invoke in member areas. Although there are currently no zoning features included in the program, public opinion swayed toward possible inclusion of this aspect in future years. At present, the county’s two most populace areas, Cassville and Monett have comprehensive plans of their own. Cassville alone has adopted zoning regulations a year ago. During the eight years, several revisions have been effected due to citizen requests. Not all have been approved by authorities involved. Barry County’s withdrawal from the 10 county organization was followed quickly by the remaining four. Presiding Judge Roscoe Eden of the Barry County Court, was quoted in saying he was not happy with the LCRPC set-up from the start. He said that although as presiding judge he represented 55 per cent of Barry County’s Unincorporated population he still had only one vote in the commission. The five city members of the commission, however, each had a vote, even though their total representation was only 45 per cent of the county’s population, Eden said. Barry County had paid little or no attention to, the program until the controversy over proposed planning de-veloped. The LCRPC, headquartered in Republic, at one-time included Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Green, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster counties. At present the town and city governments of these counties have made no indication of continued membership and support in the group.

40 years ago

Oct. 3, 1984

— JUSTIN ACQUIRES LAND AT PLANT SITE

Justin Boot Co. of Fort Worth, Texas, has purchased two and onethird acres adjoining their Cassville plant location for further expansion possibilities. James Latshaw, plant manager, said the property north of the Justin plant site was purchased from Herschel Stehlik, J.A. Hull and the estate of J.C. Kenney. Latshaw said exact plans for the property and buildings had not been determined at this stage. Original buildings at the location were used for Mozark Poultry, a onetime Cassville industry. Smaller assembly, storage facilities and worm farm operations have been succeeding uses of the structures. Purchase of the land gives the boot manufacturer virtually the entire block bounded by Eleventh Street on the south, County Road on the west, Sapp Street on the East and 14th Street on the North. One piece of residential property remains in the block. Justin just recently completed a 20,000 square foot addition to the plant for warehouse and mini-manufacturer facilities. Present manufacturing space by the boot manufacturer in Cassville stands at 65,000 square feet. Latshaw also said the company had reached an all-time employment high in Cassville with 339 employees on today’s payroll lists. Cassville plant operations currently involve three-quarters time manufacturing Justin products, men’s and women’s boots with the remaining one-quarter devoted to the new Pathfinder lines. Latshaw said production at the Cassville plant was currently running at 1,800 pair of boots a day. He said this was virtually full production capacity of the present facilities.

—UNEMPLOYMENT IN BARRY COUNTY DIPS TO LOW

Barry County dropped to the lowest percentage of unemployment figures for August in southwest Missouri. According to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the county percentage for the month was 5.0. The decrease represents a .3 percent decline from the previous month, when the county was rated at 5.3. The Missouri rate stood at 6.4 percent. Adjoining county rates included: Newton 6.4, Lawrence 6.1, McDonald 7.3 and Stone 5.7.

30 years ago

Sept. 21, 1994

— GREENWAY MOVES FORWARD ON $51,800 MHTD FUNDING

First proposed in 1990 by a medical doctor practicing in Cassville, the Flat Creek Greenway moved forward toward reality this week with funding of enhancement funds from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department. Mayor Rolland Meador announced the city had received $51,800 from grant request funds. In a letter to city clerk Jo Ledgerwood, MHTD said the highway commission in a September 9 meeting “approved the funding of the program using fiscal year 1993 funds. The project was chosen by a multi-agency selection committee for recommendation to the commission for funding.” Type of project involved is a pedestrian and bike facility trail along Flat Creek. The project will receive a $22,200 match from the city of Cassville, according to Ledgerwood. A greenway project along Flat Creek was first proposed by Dr. John Ferris, who was associated with South Barry County Hospital at the time of his medical practice here. The mile-long facility will be 10 feet wide with an aggregate base, paved in areas requiring erosion control. Application for the funding was prepared by Ozarks Greenway, Inc. of Springfield. Cassville paid the concern $6,500 for the project of design running from the Cassville R-4 school campus area of Flat Creek, including Rocky Edmondson Memorial Park and concluding for the time being at a trailhead in the tennis court area of city park. Cassville got further planning for the facility last week when parks city council member Rick Linebarger met with Greenway and Conservation Commission personnel. Ron Coleman, representing the firm that made funding application and Larry Ghan of the MCD, reviewed the area. A feature of one future disabled fishing area would be enhancement of fishing potential on the creek, targeting young people. Stream structures that would improve development of fishing holes in the stream are a possibility. Rip-rap and tree planting bank stabilization is being carefully studied. All the mile-long area is either in the hands of city government, the Cassville schools or has been previously dedicated by private concerns or individuals. Completed designs of the project will provide additional information on the project. Ledgerwood said the project would be targeted for completion by early next summer. Requirements are that processes be under public bid programs. • Cassville made the fund request June 30. Total cost of the project is expected to run in the $74,000 range. Cassville’s contributions are in current budget figures. A future fishing area, accessible to handicapped persons, is upstream from the East 13th Street bridge, in an old quarry area of the creek. Once a popular swimming hole, the area has filled over the years to provide little flow of the stream in this area. Dredging and structures in this area would improve the situation. Dedication of properties in the area in past years has facilitated the project. Able 2 Products provided a stroll area on their proper- ty. Years ago Hutchens Construction Co. donated a land areas to the city which is immediately adjacent to city park areas. Cassville purchased Rush Canning Co. properties a number of years ago. This area has become ball parks for youth programs. At the site of the former construction company fill reclamation area, plans call for a future nature trail being developed. Mayor Meador had previously stated completion of the program would “provide an emphasis toward improvements through the Flat Creek flow area that could be very good for Cassville.” Extensive landscaping of the Flat Creek Greenway is expected to be among the major improvements. Cassville’s project was one of 36 approved by the commission. More than $6 million went to cities, counties and other groups for use in scenic beautification and other local projects.

— CARNEGIE HALL POST MAKING LOCALS PLEASED

Announcement that Carnegie Hall in New York City has chosen a director of education effective December 1 has brought joy to the hearts of a Cassville couple. It’s their daughter, Phyllis Beeson Susen who is moving from a similar post at the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mrs. and Mrs. Kenneth Beeson of Cassville and a youngster sister, Jo Ellen Fielding, also of Cassville, were pleased with the prestigious music organization’s selection. In her new position, Ms. Susen will oversee all of Carnegie Hal’s educational projects, professional training workshops and community outreach program. Hall director Judith Arron said, “Phyllis Susen has created and presented a wide variety of outstanding programs in Philadelphia and her stature in the field is unmatched. I am delighted that we are able to have someone of her considerable experience and imagination on our staff.” She held the Philadelphia post since 1988, responsible for all aspects of the orchestra’s educational and outreach projects. A professional harpist, she played with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She has also held many voluntary positions at arts councils and advocacy groups in Pennsylvania.