50 years ago
May 9, 1973
— Everything exposed to the elements in the Cassville vicinity last Friday morning is dented following what has been termed the most serious hailstorm in modern history here.
Heavy hail, some stones as traditional as golf balls, pelted the area for a good 20 minutes. The storm, apparently an offspin of tornadic-cyclones that caused death and destruction 30 minutes earlier at Joplin, struck Cassville at 7:30 a.m.
Stones ranging in size from marbles upwards to two inches in diameter and some chunks of ice, cut roofs, dented vehicles and mobile homes of the area. Trees did not escape damage as some were stripped of leaves and bark by the deluge of hail. Insurance companies in the area acted promptly after the storm in arranging for adjuster crews to canvass damage for their customers.
In most major company cases, crews began arriving Monday to promptly make settlements. Some are making announcements and arrangements for wholesale settlement of damaged auto claims through check-lines established at various locations. None of the company representatives here would make an estimate of dollar damage. Most predicted claims would be arriving at their offices for another 30 days as residents find damage after closer inspection of property.
The heavy hail broke all sky lights in buildings at CHS, forcing cancellation of classes until about 10 a.m. Principal Bob LeMon said Students all were assembled in the gym for a program while mop-up operations and temporary repairs could be completed.
— Twenty -one members of the Purdy High School graduating class and their sponsors departed Monday For New Orleans on their annual senior trip. The group will travel by chartered bus and will be quartered in New Orleans at Place d’Arms.
Plans call for tours of the French Quarter and other places of interest with the group returning on Wednesday.
Sponsors for the group are Mr. and Mrs. Hazim Naayem and Mr. and Mrs. David Sparkman, and graduating seniors making the trip are Perry McLeod, Debbie Harris, Pat Martin, Nancy Stolfus, Carla Peterson, Bill Holloway, Jeff Vanderpool, Sandra Wiley, Walter Meister, Lynn Dodson, Richard Bottorf, Donna Pozniak, Patty Thomas, Debra Rice, Pamela Williams, Janene Casper, Mary Davis, Larry Denney, and Mike Windhausen.
40 years ago
May 11, 1983
— Three businesses were destroyed and two others were damaged on Wheaton’s main street early Tuesday morning in a fire that apparently was caused by faulty wiring. Despite the efforts of 17 fire fighting vehicles from Wheaton and adjoining communities, the blaze gutted the post office, Flower House and Shockly Television Repair. Heavy damage was reported at an upholstery shop and paint store adjoining the burned-out area, according to Bob Lombard, Wheaton fire chief. The blaze was brought under control at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. The fire was discovered at 3:30 a.m. and was believed to have started in the recently remodeled flower business. Lombard said 50 volunteer firemen from Wheaton, Fair-view, Butterfield, Purdy and Exeter answered the call for assistance. Damage in the blaze was estimated at $60,000. Some mail in individual boxes at the post office was destroyed. The post office, which serves the town area of Wheaton without rural routes, had not received early morning delivery of mail. Temporary postal facilities were being setup in the community building in Wheaton for continuation of service. The fire was contained on the north side of Main Street. There were no fire walls separating the businesses at the locations which were destroyed.
— Work starts on a classroom expansion project for Southwest of Washburn on May 23, according to Superintendent Dick Reavis. The SW board of education has issued a contract to Cardinal Builders of Springfield on a bid of $134,618 for work scheduled. Included will be addition of four classrooms, faculty area and offices. Bonnie Pendergraft, board secretary, said extensive roof work would be accomplished in adding the facilities to the existing fifth and sixth grade building on the east side of the campus. Building costs amounted to $114,950. Alternates for roof work were $19,668. The project is being accomplished without a bond issue or tax levy increase. The board of education is using insurance funds received by the district in the fire loss of the old gymnasium two years ago.
— Cassville is requesting the U. S. Housing and Urban Development agency to release previously announced grant funds to proceed with construction start of Alvey ‘Inc. proposed plant here. Mayor Bill LeCompte said this week the city plans to release the funds on or about May 10. As a prerequisite to the program, the city is stating there will be no significant impact to the environment and same will not be affected with the project. The process is necessary for clearance for use of federal funds. Cassville has received a $741,840 UDAG grant for project, which was outlined last week. Mayor LeCompte said records available for review On the project are available at the city hall between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. He said any interested agency, group or person desiring to make comment on the Proposals should do so before May 27.
— The Cassville eighth grade girl’s track team finished their season at the Monett Bi-County Relays with a firstplace victory. The mile relay team consisting of Tracy Cowls, Perlinda Pettigrew, Mary Jane Schlichtman and Ginger Moore, set a new meet record with А time of 4:47. Schlichtman also set records in the 1320 with a time of 4:23 and in the 880 with a time of 2:45. Also placing at the meet for the team was Perlinda Pettigrew with second in the 1320 and third in the 880. Ginger Moore placed third in the 220-yard dash and second in the 440 yard dash. The 880-relay team consisting of Rayeve Moore, Laurie Moore, Tracy Cowles and Kim Norris placed second. In field events Shannon King placed first in the high jump with a jump of 4’7” Laurie Moore also placed third in the high jump. In the long Jump Tammi Dilla placed second, jumping 14°3”. Shannon Skinner placed second in the shot with a throw of 25’11”. Total points and placings for the day were Cassville 60, Mt. Vernon 56, Monett 31, East Newton 29, Aurora 28. The Cassville seventh grade girls placed several firsts in the relays. Krista Blevins placed first in the 880-yard run with a time of 2:51. She also placed second in the 440-yard dash. Kitty Rogers placed first in the long jump with a record-breaking jump at 14’7”. Tracy Ennis placed third overall in the 220-yard dash. The Mile Relay team consisting of Kitty Rogers, Sheila Costlow, Lori Edmonsdon, Krista Blevins, placed first with a new record-breaking time of 4:51.
— Pvt. Robert M. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Williams of route 1, Wash-burn, has graduated as an armor crewman at the U.S. Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Ky.The training was conducted under the one station unit training program, which combines basic combat training and advanced individual training into one 13-week period. During the course, students received training in the duties of a tank crewman, including firing the tank’s armament and small weapons. Instruction was also given in field radio operations, map reading, and tank maintenance and repair. He is a 1981 graduate of Exeter high school.
30 years ago
May 5, 1993
— Anita’s Pizza, owned and operated by Coy Cummins, has opened in a new location in Cassville. Formerly on Highway 112, the eating establishment is now in the Timmons Center at 904 North Main. Cummins has added new equipment to that which was moved from the previous location. Anita’s Pizza began serving in the downtown Cassville location this week.
— Formation of a Central Crossing Fire Protection District in two Barry County townships and portions of two in Stone County will be subject of a circuit court hearing in Cassville June 8, according to clerk Dick Sanders. The hearing has been proposed as an extension of the service of the existing Shell Knob-Viola Central Crossing Fire Department. Sanders said the hearing before circuit judge William Pinnell would be scheduled at 1:30 p.m. the second Tuesday in June. Townships involved in the proposed district would include all of Shell Knob and White River, two voting precincts in Barry County. Stone County area involved would be all of Apine and Williams townships, except that part of Williams that is now part of Southern Fire Protection District. Ron Rickard, chief of the present Central Crossing fire department, said the proposed area would serve approximately 2500 households in a 96 square mile area. The existing fire department presently serves a 75 square mile area in the Shell Knob and Viola communities surrounding the Central Crossing Bridge area of Table Rock Lake. In the present service area, the department has four stations and has 14 units of equipment available to respond to residential and commercial fires. The area within the proposed new district is one of the fastest growing in this area. Approval of the district organization in next month’s hearing could result in an election, as early as August, for voter approval on the proposition. At the same time voters would be asked to name a five-member board of directors to serve on staggered terms.
— Coast Guard Ensign Kevin B. Wilson, whose wife, Kristin, is the daughter of retired Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Robert L. Sturgis of Cassville, was recently commissioned in his present rank upon graduation from Officer Candidate School. During the course, at the Coast Guard Reserve Training Center, Yorktown, Va., candidates are taught navigation, seamanship, communications, leadership, and Coast Guard search and rescue and law enforcement procedures. Officer Candidates also participate in a rigorous physical training program, and studied general administration, Coast Guard missions and history and human relations.
— Southwest of Washburn fifth graders took part in a lesson on cooperative learning. In this lesson the fifth grade assisted the kindergarten class with various art projects. The fifthgrade class also wrote a book for the kindergarten about shapes, colors and numbers. The fifth grade class learned many skills. Teachers involved with the project were Mrs. Marjorie Tabor and Mrs. Janet Bose.
— Units of the Central Crossing fire department at Shell Knob were involved in burglaries last week that resulted in an estimated $10,000 in damage to the trucks and fire houses, according to a report at the Barry County sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s deputy Mick Epperly had the incident under investigation. Part of the destruction occurred in Stone, part in Barry County. The sheriff’s office said stations on Route H and Route YY were broken into with as many as two units removed from the station. One was driven through Shell Knob, crossing. Crossing the Central Crossing Bridge about 3 a.m. and BLER COR parked in a quarry location. The tires were slashed, and radio equipment removed.
