50 years ago

Feb. 26, 1975

— FASCO PLANT NEARS STAGE OF COMPLETION

Moving day for FASCO Industries in Cassville from temporary headquarters at Seventh and East street to the company’s 150,000 square foot plant is drawing closer. Morris Castleberry, plant manager, said this week the process will start soon. Two big factors are the weather and availability of city water at the plant. First full operation will be to occupy office quarters in the building. Installation of some equipment and overhead facilities will begin immediately in the manufacturing portion of the building: The city of Cassville is in the process of completing tie-in for water service to the plant. Mayor Bill LeCompte said some changes in service at the plant probably would be necessary from original plans. Electrical service to the plant will be in full operation in the near future. Joe Preddy, manager of Barry Electric Cooperative, said transformer facilities for the entire service arrived this week. Preddy said the weather would also be a factor in this heavy installation. Castleberry said the local staff was shooting for a March 10 occupancy of the office portion of the building. FASCO’s intentions are to keep the temporary spaces for additional storage at the present time. By Monday crews are expected to start installing equipment in the plant as space is made available by contractors. With a great number of preparations necessary, Castelberry said FASCO could now begin to make plans for the start of manufacturing. He said these plans would be announced at the earliest possible time.

— SPLIT COURT VOTE ON AGENCY FINANCES

The first split vote on action by Barry County’s administrative court came in Thursday’s session in action regarding a session with the Health Unit board of trustees. With Presiding Judge Nolan McNeill and Northern Judge Dick Sanders casting affirmative votes, the usual procedure of fiscal payment by the unit will be followed. Southern Judge Lige Frost cast the dissenting vote. Trustees, Dorris Hocker, Milt Wilhelm, L. F. Weaver and Charles Main met with the court to discuss procedure on vouchers. By the 2-1 vote, the treasurer will pay bills on presentation of vouchers by the unit. Court action also requested a 1974 fiscal statement and budget for 1975 from the unit. David Doennig, librarian of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, also discussed a fiscal statement and program budget for 1975. Court action Monday consisted of ordering new radiator valves for the court house heating system for better individual office control and relocating the thermostat from County Clerk Howard Bounous’ office to the circuit court room. Members of the Silver Leaf Benefit Club of Cassville, Mesdames Clyde Hoover, Bill LeCompte and Ida Blalack, met with the court concerning a club sponsored fountain in the court house lawn.

40 years ago

Feb. 27, 1985

— FRIDAY’S THE BIG DAY…..ROARING RIVER PARK OPENS

There’s a good weather forecast….. preparations are complete….with nothing standing in the way for the 1985 opening of Roaring River State Park this Friday. Park officials are looking for a possible record breaker as those hardy folks that call themselves trout fishermen are expected to flock to the state’s most popular park. Fishing will begin at 6:30 a.m. on the opening signal to be provided this year by Missouri’s new secretary of state, Roy Blunt. The former Greene County clerk elected last November, will take up the opening gun firing chores held for many years by his predecessor, James Kirkpatrick. Conservation Agent Charles Marrs said Blunt will fire the opening signal from the park bridge closest to the lodge. Prior to opening, park staff have been getting shelves stocked, preparing for meals and doing some patchwork on earlier improvements. The stream flooded slightly Saturday, but had been repaired by Monday. Boyd Holcomb, park superintendent, said this week, “one thing is for sure, we’ll have ample water.” Weather, which could have a strong effect, is predicted as good. Cool temperatures might greet early arrivals, but temperatures are scheduled to be in the high 50’s during the day. Restaurant facilities in the park; operated by concessionaire Carolyn Marrs, will open for breakfast at 7:00 a.m. Thursday, February 28. The same day, Jack Nickols, concessionaire for store and lodging, will open at noon. Nickols said tags for opening morning would go on sale at noon that day. Those wishing to avoid opening morning crowds should purchase tags early. Roaring River observers will be watching the Friday opening hopefully to see a new record set. Standing weekend opening record at the park is 3,504 set on a Sunday in 1981. Last Friday opening was in 1974 when 1690 anglers were at streamside. Stocking for the stream, an estimate 10,000 trout, will begin Wednesday, according to Charles Curry, hatchery superintendent. Included will be 60 Rainbows weighing from four to 12 pounds. Daily tags are required in the park with a daily limit of five fish. Cassville Chamber of Commerce members will be at the park to begin a 4:00 a.m. start of brewing gallons of coffee for service to anglers along the stream. The hospitality project will continue until the start of fishing. The most successful anglers in men’s, women’s and youth categories will be presented trophies for their catches, also provided by the C of C. Catches over three pounds will qualify for a Cassville Lunker Button.

— HIP DEEP MUD FOLLOWS HEAVY WEEKEND RAINS

Official measurements at the U.S. Forest Service put Thursday through Saturday rainfall at 3.64 inches. That came after a five and one-half inch cover of snow had just melted and the ground started to thaw. The result, near-hip-deep mud in many areas of Barry County. Presiding County Commissioner Lloyd Dilbeck, part of whose job it is to be concerned about county roads, said he saw a half-loaded milk truck in his home community west of Butter-field stuck to the axles Monday. “It took two tractors and a wrecker to free the vehicle,” Dilbeck said. “The end result was ruts in the road nearly hip deep.” A number of “experienced folks” found themselves stuck while feeding cattle or just traveling through the area from Saturday through Monday. Thaw, combined with the rains, will also serve to breakup many paved roads in the area. School bus routes, presented problems during snow cover earlier this year, had to avoid some sections Monday because of washouts and muddy roads. Measurements through the three-day rains were from five to six inches in some home gauges. Road district efforts to grade roads and remove ditches and travel ruts, often resulted in equipment becoming stuck. Flooded streams, most of which in this area deposit their water in Table Rock Lake, means another surge of water in the reservoir. Dick Groves, resident engineer, said officials were not encouraged about water conditions at this time. Grove said he didn’t expect conditions to “be a repeat of December, nor should the water match heights of 1961, but, we’re getting into the heavy rain season with a full reservoir, which could present problems.” Groves said the Army Corps of Engineers encouraged people with docks and other facilities on the reservoir to watch their property closely during the high-water periods to prevent dams. Flat Creek and branches through “the city of seven valleys” in Cassville, flushed as a result of the heavy rains. There was no serious damage reported by city officials. Rick Linebarger, at the Cassville ranger station of Mark Twain National Forest, said official rainfall amounts for February stood at 4.23 inches.

— NATURAL GAS MERGER INVOLVES GAS SERVICE

The Kansas Power and Light Company this week asked for Gas Service Company with and into KPL. Gas Service is provider of the utility in this area. The applications stated that the merger is desirable to reduce organizational and operational duplication of activities and increase economic efficiency. A merger will enable the company to provide better service to both KPL and GSC customers, the application said. The proposed merger is to be effective when all regulatory approvals and other conditions are satisfied. Upon merger, KPL shall become the surviving corporation. The merger of the two companies will have no effect on rates paid by customers, or employment of work forces of either company. Filings seeking approval were made with the Public Service Commission of Missouri, and the State Corporation Commission of Kansas.

30 years ago

Feb. 15, 1995

— WANT TO CATCH A LUNKER RAINBOW?

Fisherpersons attending the March l opening of Roaring River State Park should have ample opportunity to land some good rainbow trout. Jerry Dean, hatchery supervisor for the Missouri Conservation Department, said about 9,000 pounds of fish would be in the stream when the whistle blows for the Wednesday morning opening week after next. Stocking of some 2,100 fish was accomplished for winter catch and release angling, with another 5,000 plus scheduled for release before the opening to put the finny population to somewhere over 7,500 for the opening. In that number should be about 175 fish in the 3.5 to five pound range for those interested in lunkers. In addition, Dean said winter anglers had reported “some really big fish in the stream.” Jack Nickols, park concessionaire, said restaurant facilities in the park would open early this season, beginning service this Friday.

— CITY FUNDS $5,000 FOR SESQUICENTENNIAL

Observing Cassville’s 150th anniversary got a $5,000 funding boost from the city council Monday night. Councilman Darrell Ledenham, who wears a second hat as sesquicentennial chairman, made a presentation that was accepted by members Sue Brattin and Randy Stockton. Ledenham said the observance committee was hopeful to be able to pay back some of the funds in their coming efforts. There was no repayment schedule attached to the effort as council agreed they needed to provide support to the program. Programs throughout this year will tie into Cassville’s reaching the 150th anniversary Emphasis programs will be June 30-July 5. Committee efforts, open to the public, will continue with a meeting Thursday night, 7 p.m. at Community Center.

— RETIRED

Wheaton auctioneer, Col. Vern McCracken, retires after 39 years of auctioneering service, covering eight states and selling over 8,000 auctions. McCracken was recently honored by being made a lifetime member of the St. Louis Auto Auction.