50 years ago
April 4, 1973
— Barry County Sales Tax Indicates Business High Although up-to-date figures are not available, sales tax collections in Barry County indicate a steady growth in the sales capacity of the trade territory doing business with merchants of the county. Figures obtained from the Missouri Department of Revenue, sales tax division indicate the following: In 1966 total sales tax coll-the comparison for 1967 was $642,000; for 1968 the figure was $645,000 and in 1969 the total was $738,648. Collections increased to $824,528 in 1970 and by 1971 had reached $925,251. Total collections for the first three quarters of 1972, January through September totaled $664, – 944. Barry County has constantly led the five-county area of Southwest Missouri over the past few years. Included are Lawrence, McDonald, Newton and Stone counties.
— An emergency fund has been appropriated by the Missouri Legislature that reportedly in. dudes funding of a food stamp program for Barry County. The unofficial word here is that the conversion of the program from the current commodity food distribution to the stamps will take effect about July 1. Warren Swanson, Barry County Welfare director, said Tuesday evening the program would be administered through his office. He said a great deal of coordination and transition work would be required to make the switch, Requested funds for the food stamp program for one year amounted to $I22,000. No information was available as to the amount of funds actually furnished by the legislature. Officials of the food stamp program through the State Department of Welfare are expected in the county in the near future to assist in making the switch from present operations. This will include sessions with county banks who agree to handle the stamps and food vendors who agree to accept them.
— Court Awards Clear Way For Golden Project Commissioners appointed in the condemnation of three parcels of land in connection with a planned Recreational Access road in the Golden community have presented their award recommendations to the Barry County Circuit Court according to Artie Spain, clerk. Appointed recently by Judge William Pinnell, the three-member panel filed reports this week. Consisting of Collins Clay of Golden and Ray Jordon and Raymond Pharris of Monett, the awards were as follows: Loyce Boswell, Edna Boswell, Lee Dick, Betty Dick and Ernest E. Laws, $1,600. Christian Church, no award given. Lea Earl Beck and Maggie Beck, $1,050.
— ASCS Grain Program Changes Set Reductions A change in the feed grain program set-aside requirements has been announced by the Barry County ASCS officers. The change is set aside requirements for producers who enrolled under the 25% plan has been reduced to 10%. The acreage reduction is automatic and will not require producers to visit the County office. This change will not affect producers payments, only the amount of set-a side acreage. Producers who chose wheat and feed grain program plans that include set-aside acreage are being reminded that the five-month period during which grazing of set-aside is prohibited began April 1. Producers who chose the set-aside options may elect to graze the acreage throughout the year, or to cut hay or silage from it, provided they give advance notice to the county ASCS office and will forfeit a part of their program payment..
40 years ago
March 30, 1983
— SW Bids Classroom Expansion Four new classrooms for the Southwest of Washburn junior high department are in a bid call issued by the district this week. Superintendent Richard Reavis said bids will be accepted on the $100,000 project until 4 p.m. on April 21. Vern Dalton, board president. Planned for the district is a 5,200 square foot addition to the south end of the existing junior high building. Construction will be frame and brick to match the present facility. Reavis said the growing enrollment in lower grades and shortage of classrooms after a fire last year destroyed the old gymnasium building, makes the structure a necessity to relieve crowded conditions. Funding for the project will be provided by insurance monies from the loss last year and local funds made available by the district.
— No Freeze Damage To Fruit Crop Little or no damage to area fruit crops was experienced in last week’s drop in temperature in this area. Growers of apples, peaches and grapes said their crops were not to a stage that they were subject to being hurt as temperatures fell into the teens. John Vollenweider of Vollenweider Orchards said temperatures dropped to 16 degrees outside protected areas of the orchard. General temperatures were 23 degrees in trees that were protected by overhead wind machines. The apple grower said buds on the trees were not out as far as last year when a hard freeze on April 5 wiped-out Some segments of the apples. Brice Cassity, peach grower in the Exeter area, said only the slightest damage Was reported. The majority of the crop was not in bloom When readings dropped Tuesday morning, March 22. Situations in the grape Vineyards of the area were the Same, according to Wayne Tomblin.
— Golfers might be interested to know that a dragging apparatus that went through the lake at Cassville Golf Course recently retrieved 3,100 balls. Fritz Brown, course manager, said the drag went through the lake in one direction only, figuring another couple of thousand might have been brought to the surface if a second direction would have been possible. Enough said on this subject.
— Barry County unemployment increased for the month of February, according to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Unemployment in the county went to 11.4 percent for the month. Adjoining county figures stood at: Lawrence 10.7, McDonald 13.9, Jasper-Newton 10.7 and Stone 22.7.
— The U.S. Forest Service is currently conducting a study that will determine the feasibility of selling approximately 17 percent of the National Forest land included in the Cassville district of Mark Twain National Forest. Similar action is being taken in 12 other districts of the forest area in Missouri. Of the 1,467,972 acres in Mark Twain, 163,155 are being studied for disposal. Selection of acres for future study does not mean all will be sold, news releases from the program state. The purpose of the program is to identify federal lands and other real properties that are inefficient to manage or no longer needed for federal government purposes. According to information received, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under which the Forest Service functions, will propose legislation to authorize sale of portions of national forest lands which ultimately may be found suitable for disposal. Tables provided state the following statistics involving the 13 acres of Mark Twain. Listed first are the total number of acres involved, second figures are estimated national forest acres to be studied for disposal: Ava 141,223 and 22,754; Cassville 70,321 and 12,270; Cedar Creek 14,929 and 14,929; Doniphan 127,068 and 1; Fredericktown 80,358 and 18,641; Houston 83,837 and 33,390; Popular Bluff 154,368 and 13,725; Potosi 202,337 and 16,207; Rolla 106,933 and 14,342; Salem 189,003 and 2,764; Van Buren 79,740 and none; Willow Springs 102,611 and 14,132; Winona 115,244 and none.
— Bob Lombard, chief of the Wheaton volunteer fire department, has been named to the board of directors of a regional association during a recent gathering. Duane Parker, district forester of the Missouri Conservation commission, will also serve on the board. Object of the organization is to provide communication between departments and conduct training program.
30 years ago
March 24, 1993
— Danny Preddy’s Town Square Restaurant on the south side of the public square in Cassville will Close at the end of the business day, April 4. Preddy said future plans are not complete, that he was looking into several possibilities.
— A 24-year-old Eagle Rock professional fisherman, in his rookie year on the BASS tournament circuit has reached for the top ring in a second- place finish on Lake Sam Rebourn in Texas. Jeff Fletcher, who cut his teeth on a boat paddle while guiding area rivers, won second place in the three-day competition that ended Saturday. His catch, three limits of five fish daily, weighed 61-9, which was six pounds, four ounces away from the top spot taken by Texas angler Randy Dearean. Fletcher actually led the tour-hey after two days, with limits of bass that weighed 54-10. His ranking in the BASS event is the highest ever reached by a Barry County angler. The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Fletcher, operators of Devil’s Dive Resort on Table Rock Lake and long-time owners of Fletcher’s Float Service, the champion angler says, “I’ve been on the shores of Table Rock Lake and rivers of the area since birth. That’s not only given me some fishing knowledge, but has provided Ozarks traits, including patience, that have paid big dividends on the fishing circuit.”
— Four Speakers Take Forensic Award Cassville high school speech team competed in the National Forensic League speech tournament last week, bringing home the “traveling trophy.” This trophy is won by the school who has accumulated the most rounds of speech and debate competition at National Forensic League tournaments. The award will remain in the possession of CHS until next year’s NFL tournament. This is the first time Cassville has won this trophy, said instructor Glenda Ward.
— Baseball Wildcats To Home Opener Mon. There are 12 returning Cassville Wildcat baseball players from last year’s squad. Seniors are Jeremy Marple, Chris Sparks, Mike Cornelison. Juniors: Lynn Smith, Neil Robbins, Owen Shoemaker, Brad Harvey, Travis Russell, David Ross. Sophomores: Cecil Robbins, Jeremy Marshall and Cody Rose, said coach Todd McCracken. The coach said this year’s squad has several new members. Seniors: Chad Samuel; juniors: Scott Tucker, Jeremy Browning, Jeff Hurlbut, Todd Stringer; sophomores: Brad Popanz and Chris Reibert; freshmen: Justin Curry, Dennis Donovan, Chad Sturgell, Chris Henderson and Dustin Brown.
