50 years ago

Nov. 5, 1974

— RECORD HIGH WATER FROM FLAT CREEK FOLLOWS WEEKEND RAINS

Record flood waters highest seen in Cassville in over 50 years, rushed the length of Flat Creek during the darkness of Sunday night causing thousands of dollars in damage. High waters in low areas of town as well as the creek channel were the result of 6.01 inches of rainfall recorded in official measurements at the U. S. Forest Service here over the weekend. Also hard hit were roads, farmlands and recreation areas. The floods were the second of the year for the area, which went through the same process in June of this year. While the official measurement will stand, home gauges throughout the area were emptied to a tune of over seven inches of rainfall in the twoday period. A breakdown at the Forest Service had 2.17 inches Saturday and 3.84 on Sunday, possible the highest on modern records for a two-day storm, said Jim Roles, ranger. Water was high enough on Flat Creek and branches that extensive highway blockage was reported. Included was Highway 37 at Washburn and several spots in Cassville, Route 76-86 east of Hilltop, Highway 112 at Dry Hollow in Roaring River and Route F east of the park. Main Street in Cassville was flooded from First to Fourth Street and in the vicinity of 11th Street. Ten families were evacuated by volunteer firemen and other individuals from the Fair Street area between 10th and 11th Streets. Four and one-half inches of water were reported in GWEN Industries building at Main and Third, causing extensive damage. Traffic along Main pushed water into some businesses between Second and Third. Owners said, had the sight-seers stayed away they might have kept water out of their buildings with sand dikes. Insurance agencies locally also reported damage resulted from lightning that accompanied the storms. Most heavy damage everywhere the flood waters existed was from floating debris being deposited along with silt from the muddy water. Agricultural damage consisted of washed fields, downed fences, some outbuilding damage and access roads being washed. Observers in Cassville and down Flat Creek said they had never seen the water higher. Ray Correll, city water superintendent marked water at its highest in his 50 years. Most of the water damage resulted in Flat Creek going on the rampage. Other drainage areas, Brock Spring, Horner Branch, Hawk Branch and Little Troublesome, didn’t reach heights recorded previously. Heavy rains in Roaring River watershed put that stream and Dry Hollow up throughout the State Park, according to Superintendent James Woods. Six and one-quarter inches of rain were recorded at the park. Only slight damage was reported since most park operations have been closed for the season. Mrs. Anna Lee Farley’s operation at the miniature golf course was heavily damaged according to Woods. By contrast to the June storm, when 9.25 inches of rain were recorded over a four-day period, the six inches over the past weekend came in extremely heavy showers. Rainfall for the year stands at 50.50 inches, compared to last year’s 63.66 total. The weekend storm also caused considerable damage at the FASCO Industries plant under construction here. Materials were washed off the site and air conditioning equipment on the ground had two feet of water lapping upon them. Extensive damage was also recorded at the Little League ball park. Fence work, just recently repaired from the spring storm, was again washed out, as were other sections. Road damage, in most areas waiting for $60,000 in repairs from federal funds granted after the earlier storm, were more seriously rutted and washed. As a result of heavy rains, Table Rock Lake had a .91 rise to level 917.60 on Monday. This increase in water jumped to 923.37, an increase of 5.77 feet on Wednesday. The increase had dock owners rushing to move facilities. Private dock owners were cautioned to watch their docks closely during the high water conditions.

40 years ago

Nov. 7, 1984

— TORNADO CROSSED COUNTY LAST THURSDAY

Tornado winds swept across central Barry County Thursday morning, confirmed in the Wheaton area, where the most property damage was reported. Generally, the path of the storm went just north of Wheaton, north of Butterfield and south of Jenkins. The same storm apparently proceeded in a southeastern direction, hitting Reeds Spring. The storm ripped through the Bobby Hughes place near Wheaton about 9:30 a.m. Destroyed was a garage, trees with other roof damage reported. There was no one at home at the time. Heavy tree damage was reported along Highway C in an area northeast of Cassville. Roads were closed in the area while clearing was accomplished. In the McDowell and Wheelerville areas, more limbs, utility line and metal roof damage Weather service warnings were in effect for the area during a 45-minute period that the storm hit the county.

— WILDCATS TO RETIRE WELCH’S NUMBER 43

A Cassville Wildcat basketball standout for three years that ended his career last season, will have his playing jersey, number 43, retired to the school trophy case. Lance Welch, who as a varsity player three years helped the Wildcats win or share Big 8 Conference crowns, will become the second CHS player so honored. Melissa McFerrin, who attained all-state honors in girls basketball several years ago, is equally honored in the Wildcat trophy case with a retired jersey and picture which outlines her accomplishments. Welch, currently on a full basketball scholarship with Evangel College in Springfield, racked-up school, district, region and state honors throughout his career. At the completion of his senior year he was named all-state first team in class 3-A. In addition to setting individual game scoring records for the Wild-cats, Welch was recognized throughout his career for offensive, defensive and all-around play for the Wildcats. The honors came from teammates, tournaments, Big 8 Conference and district selections. Principal Jerry Marple said Welch’s playing jersey, the white worn at home games, would be placed in the senior high gym trophy case. A photo and listing of his accomplishments during his three varsity years will be outlined. Miss McFerrin, who had a good career at the University of Missouri, is now coaching women’s college basketball at Central Michigan University at Mt. Pleasant.

30 years ago

Oct. 26, 1994

— POURED DOWN DRAIN

Cases of beer and bottles of hard liquor went down the drains at city hall this week as Cassville police cleared out an evidence room to make room for more possible storage. Chief Bob Ruggles said the assortments mostly came from confiscations by officers since the first of the year. Placed on display in city hall, the containers made a large stack atop a table, with officers finally proclaiming “that was enough to make a point.” Ruggles said most of the items were taken “recently,” which he classified as “during the last month. We haven’t counted any of the containers, cases or 12-packs but we know it’s an amount that is above acceptance,” the chief concluded. Officer Gary Meek, credited “ by the department with leading a concentrated effort toward elimination of this problem, “mostly around the public square and up and down Main Street on Friday and Saturday in cruising conditions.” Meek said in most instances, minors were involved in 90 percent of the confiscations, onethird of them around the public square.” Noting the efforts had become more concentrated during the past two weeks, Ruggles said the program was being guided by officers of the force providing enforcement ideas. The department is also guided by an ordinance passed this month by the city council that increases fines for alcohol and drug related traffic offenses. Increased costs for violations will result as the new ordinances permit the municipal court to recover virtually all costs involved in making the arrests and securing evidence. Municipal court involvements have been on the increase this year, according to Evelle Lyall, clerk. She said this week there had been 79 open container citations issued this year, 40 of them involving minors. There have been 35 driving while intoxicated summons issued by the department. Since July, there have been 21 minor in possession citations, 47 open container violations and 22 DWI charges filed. Not included in these charges are a number that are not available to public review due to their being juvenile offenders. These records are closed to the public under Missouri law. Department concentrations on the public square result in recent incidents where second story windows at some properties were smashed. Debris deposited on streets around the square also brought complaints from business owners.