50 years ago

Nov. 27, 1974

— AIRPORT PROJECT UNDER FAA HIGH PRIORITY STATUS

A meeting of the minds of organizations involved in Cassville airport possibilities was held Tuesday morning. Involved were CASCO Corp., the Chamber of Commerce airport committee and city government officials. The group heard a report from George Ulmer, project engineer, that the Federal Aviation Administration central region office in Kansas City had re-emphasized a “high priority” for the local project, when funds are available.” Funding for programs in Missouri has been exhausted for the current year. The situation caught Cassville in the middle of completing land acquisition. Ulmer told the combined groups preliminary plans have been approved by the FAA. Local interests have been in touch with Senators Stuart Symington and Thomas Eagleton and Congressman Gene Taylor regarding the project. Mayor Bill LeCompte told the meeting through airport chairman Max Fields, that the city airport commission, would be completing obligation for previously pledged funds of $25,000 toward the program this week. Paramount of airport problems locally are options on approximately 90 acres involved in the project. Options with four land owners expire on January 1. CASCO owns 12 acres of access land fronting on Highway 37 that has been pledged for the facility. Additionally, Leon Sanders 29, Bob Gibbons 2.6 acres, L. D. Pennell 9.3 acres and E. R. Heston 38. City commitment of local funds on required forms would pave the way for acquiring a matching $25,000 of state monies for the program. Missouri airport officials have informed local involvement this phase of the project will require about three weeks for completion. Attending the breakfast session Tuesday were: Fields, Eldon Johnson, Marlee Edie, Gene Schlichtman, Leon Sanders, Bill Wiley, Ulmer, Carter Koon, Bob Mitchell and Bill Ward.

— DEER SEASON TOTAL DOWN TO 442 IN BARRY COUNTY Deer hunters in Barry County lacked 123 taking the same number out of the forest this year as they did during a record season in 1973, according to Missouri Conservation Commission check lists. Agents Charles Marrs and Ron Glover said the preliminary 1974 total stands at 442, compared to 565 last year. After last week’s report of 128 bucks taken in the first two days of the season, hunters bagged 176 more of the antlered types and added 138 doe for the total. Any-deer season in the county was the final two days, Saturday and Sunday. Marrs said the county take of deer possibly would grow some when figures from adjoining counties were com-piled. Some border- line kills could have been checked in adjoining counties. Extremely warm weather greeted hunters Saturday under overcast skies. Cooler weather was the order of the day throughout Sunday’s closing day. Basically, ideal weather conditions prevailed throughout the season in woods of the county. Several hunters noted a switch of deer population from heavily timbered areas of the county to those where more grazing area of grasses and fescue were available. One observer said the area down Flat Creek from Cassville was hunted heavier this year than usual.

— APPLE HARVEST COMPLETE AT VOLLENWEIDERS

Harvest of approximately 190 acres of bearing apple trees at Vollenweider Orchards between Cassville and Exeter was completed this week according to John Vollenweider, manager. Retail trade at the orchard will be closed effective immediately. Vollenweider estimated approximately one-third of the potential crop was harvested at the orchard this year. Some losses were experienced by late spring cold weather and windstorms nearer picking time knocked some fruit off the trees. Orchard officials said labor availability from local sources was extremely good this year, which helped in the harvest. An estimated 80,000 bushels of apples were taken from the trees. Coming year prospects at the orchards look good, according to Vollenweider. In addition to the existing bearing trees, an additional 20 acres of young trees are about four years away from good crop years.

40 years ago

Nov. 28, 1984

— MITCHELL AN AGENT FOR AMERICAN FAMILY

Burl Mitchell, a native of Seligman, now residing in the Rocky Comfort area, has been named Barry County agent for American Family Insurance. Mitchell, formerly with Seligman and Cassville fiscal institutions, will office at the old Hailey Tractor Building on South Main. Announcement of his completion of training and licensing by the Department of Insurance in Missouri was made by Bill Lee, district manager, of Neosho. Mitchell is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Mitchell of Cassville. He and wife Debra and two children reside in rural Rocky Comfort.

— COURTHOUSE PUTS UP XMAS TREE

The Barry County courthouse will have an old fashioned Christmas tree in the lobby for the holiday season. Custodian Charley Baker said the 17-foot tree, that reaches to the second story, will be decorated with handmade items. Youngsters at the Cassville school have provided paper chains as a contribution. Various offices are making other decorations.

— ROARING RIVER STATE PARK MISSED LATE RAINS IN RECENT STATISTIC REPORT

Fall and early winter rains, at the abundant stage for this area, were sorely missed at Roaring River State Park during the hot, dry summer months. Nearly all departments of the park operation were down for the 1984 season. Most noticeably was the number of fishing tags sold. Charles Curry, hatchery superintendent, said a total of 9,705 anglers purchased tags, down bout six percent from the 106,757 record of the previous year. Figures or 1984 were the first time in several cars the park hasn’t reached the 100,000 tag level. Low water conditions gets the edit for fishermen being reluctant visit the stream. During extremely conditions, park fishing activity Ops rather markedly, also contributing were early spring wet weekends. While weather conditions were dry during the summer, the opposite has been the case during the fall and early cold weather times. Cassville measurements at the U.S. Forest service stand at 12.82 since the first of October. Measurements for June and July were 3.34 inches and August 1.14, not sufficient for stream water. March and April totals were 11.64, most of which fell on weekends, including 14 inches of snow in March. Even part of this rainfall would have been helpful in Roaring River during the heavy tourist season. Boyd Holcomb, park superintendent, says camper numbers were down about the same as trout tag sales. But, visitor numbers were up about two percent for the March through October season. Carolyn Marrs, restaurant concessionaire, said the number of meals served ran about the same minus figure as other park statistics. Jack Nickols, accommodations-store concessionaire, said the number of units rented during the season was down about the same percentage as y other departments. A bright spot in the park operation was the ice vending concession, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Carney. As might have been expected, hot dry weather resulted in a slight gain of this sale department. An abundance of rainfall and rushing Twin Falls at the park during the fall did post once casualty, as a pure blue Rainbow Trout that had made it’s home mainly in the mouth of the park spring, has been noticed in the stream area, apparently a victim of being washed over the falls. Park officials are hopeful the trout will be caught during the release season and can be returned to the upper lake area for public viewing. Holcomb said this week park officials were anticipating a number of projects in the popular park during off-season. Included are scheduled a $50,000 roof and lodge balcony renovation, improvements to camp ground number one, stabilization of walls at the Twin Falls and renovations at Camp Smokey. The park superintendent said a scheduled meeting at the park December 10 will make full determinations of work. Currently underway is construction of a fish station to replace one removed several years ago. The station is located near the mouth of Dry Hollow.

30 years ago

Nov. 16, 1994

— HENDRIX BUYS SPORTING GOODS STORE

Wayne Hendrix of Cassville has purchased Cassville Gun and Sporting Goods at Hilltop from Jeff Cooper. Hendrix, formerly associated with Barry County Plumbing, recently sold that interest to Jeff Beattie. Hendrix assumed full operation of the sporting goods firm Tuesday afternoon. Allen Sparks will continue association with the business located south of Cassville on Highway 112.

— BISHOP ASSUMES STATE FARM AGENCY JANUARY 1

It will be a family involvement when the State Farm Insurance agency in Cassville changes hands January 1, 1995. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bishop and two children of Lee’s Summit will be moving here. In so doing, they will assume the agency started by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Nations 34 and one-half years ago. Bishop will transfer to Cassville after association with the company near Kansas City for 18 years. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have purchased the former Dr. Andrew Crighton home near Butterfield, taking possession November 23. He will remain at the Lee’s Summit post until the first of the year. Mrs. Bishop, the former. Carolyn Nations, is licensed and associated with their current agency and will continue active in the Cassville business. At present the offices will remain at the Main Street location until the Bishops make decisions on a larger office. Mr. and Mrs. Nations will officially retire from State Farm as of the first of the year and when transfer of the agency is completed. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Sanders, who have been residing in the Crighton home, have purchased property in Cassville.

— NINE WILDCATS TAPPED FOR BIG 8 HONORS

Cassville’s football Wildcats landed nine players on Big 8 conference allstar selections after a poll of coaches over this past weekend. Bryon Hobbs, senior running back-quarterback, was a unanimous selection as running back for the squad on the first team. Other first team selections were Cecil Robbins, senior line-backer; Clint Blankenship, senior guard and Hobbs tapped for a defensive back position also on the first team. Second team selections went to Tim Thompson, senior end; Rusty Cornelious, senior lineman; Jay Bailey, senior split end and Sam Wilkenson, junior defensive tackle. Honorable mention positions, according to coach Joel Wells, Doug Ross, senior linebacker, Thompson at defensive end and Kris Buchholz, sophomore defensive end. Cassville, finished the Big 8 season with a 5-2 record, in a three way tie for second place with Lamar and Aurora.