50 years ago

Oct. 10, 1973

— COUNCIL TAKES AMBULANCE AND NEW AIRPORT ACTION

The Cassville city council tentatively committed total of $32,000 of available funds Tuesday night toward two projects. The first of the actions was pledging $7,000 for purchase of two ambulances should they be needed to improve equipment for continued emergency services to the area. Second was the play to spend $25,000 toward obtaining state and federal matching funds toward a $200, 000 airport project. Action on the two major projects was unanimous by the council, with all four members, W. C. Hailey, , W. E. Leonard, Marlee Edie, and Gene Schlichtman in attendance. Mayor Bill LeCompte brought the ambulance problem to the council’s attention first. He said the “city apparently must take action since no other political subdivision seemed willing to move on the much-needed service.” The council’s agreement to spent $7,000 would permit ordering two units, valued at a total of $28, 000 through federal soures. Included will be the ambulances themselves and radio equipment, Council action permits Joe Ellis, city attorney to proceed with preparation of ordinances to make the purchase. The mayor explained the equipment probably won’t be available until April, but arrangements are being made to continue emergency services to the area. Council action was toward obtaining equipment that could be leased for services by another level of government or an individual service. Mayor LeCompte also described conversations with the director of the State Division of Health, Dr. Wallace, regarding the critical situation in this area, Airport facilities for Cassville were considerably enhanced by the council’s agreement to match local efforts with $25, 000, which would be further matched by State funds and then added to 75% contribution of federal funds, could provide Cassville with a $200,000 airport facility for one-eighth of the total cost. Bill Wiley, representing the Cassville IDC and Max Fields, C of C airport chairman represented their groups at this meeting Mayor LeCompte has appointed an airport commission, consisting of Bill Wiley, chairman, Eldon Johanson, Gene Schlichtman and Norman Chaney, to work with the council in bringing all preparations toward the airport project into completion. In another action before the council Tuesday: The office of the City Collector will receive new posting and addressing equipment to the tune of a $3,900 expenditure. Mrs. Christine Bradley, collector, was in attendance at the meeting to explain the new equipment and its use. Present equipment was completely outdated. At the request of the council, Mrs. Bradley re- ported eight water accounts were coming three months overdue this month, but that five had been paid. The council ordered notices of service discontinuance sent to the remaining three. If not paid by October 15 service will be stopped October 20. The council decision on a radar unit was to rent the equipment for four months at a monthly price of $42.52; to determine if a purchase would be desired. Lige Frost appeared before the council to request space for a boxing club workout program. The program, for youths 12-18 will be carried out by public donations, with the club furnishing equipment. The request was from W. F. Burden. The council agreed to permit use of the old fire station at the city hall for the program. Leroy Rouse, at Cassville Nursing Home, re- quested City water and sewer hook on permit. His request was for private home use, outside the present city limits. Council ap-proved, An annexation report from Ellis was that he and surveyor Sam Mitchell were obtaining legal descriptions of the area proposed for annexation and proceeding toward entering the action in Barry County Circuit Court.

— EVIDENT NEED FOR AMBULANCES

Since private ambulance services “went out of business the first of the month, approximately 20 calls have been handled by a “volunteer force” from Cassville to the surrounding area, include some who supposedly have their own emergency services. These are the statistics that have been furnished the South Barry County Volunteer Rescue Unit, Inc., directors for a meeting Monday. The corporation is in the process of determining what can be done on a permanent basis to provide this service to the area. One thing is for certain costs are going to increase and collections must be handled in the most efficient manner possible. A possible lease of equipment, to be obtained, to a private service or establishment of an ambulance poses are also being discussed by the directors. Handed the problem of continued ambulance serv. ices in the area, the res cue unit is making every effort to keep the service running. However, financial assistance will be necessary from throughout the area. The board must go in debt for purchase of initial equipment and then secure the funds by public subscription. In the meantime, emergency calls are being handled both through the South Barry County Hospital and Barry County Sheriff’s Office.

40 years ago

Oct. 5, 1983

— FLETCHERS PURCHASE RIDDLE STORE

A Cassville business operated on the north side of the square by Mr. and Mrs. Verdayne Riddle for about 25 years has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Fletcher. Riddles will become Fletcher’s Apparel on October 17. Joining Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher in the operation will be their daughter, Alta Jean, also a resident of Cassville. Fletcher will also continue representing a grocer company as supervisor for the most of Missouri and north Arkansas. The new owners said extensive remodeling would begin after the first of the year. The transaction included the purchase of the business building. Opening of the upstairs portion for additions to the business is also in expansion plans. The Fletchers, former owners of a Fastrip here, recently sold a convenience store in Marionville. They reside in rural Cassville. Mr. and Mrs. Riddle have announced no future plans.

— ADDITION TO RR PARK THROUGH DNR

Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources has announced a 58-acre addition to Roaring River State Park. The addition, in the Chute Ridge area south of Off Davis Hollow, is on the east side of Route 7. Located at the southeast corner of the former park boundary, the area runs adjacent to Route F for about one mile, according to Boyd Holcomb, park superintendent. The land, acquired from Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Marlsword, will be used to preserve a natural glade area. The purchase was recorded August 29 in Barry County. Holcomb noted the new area is across Route F from about 80 acres acquired by the Missouri Conservation Commission along Roaring River at the southeast edge of the park a year ago. Holcomb said the boundary of the entire park, including the new area, has been posted and no hunting is permitted. The new area boosts to 3,517 the total acres contained in Roaring River Park. The s8-acres do not touch park land at any of its corners. A map designation of the park addition appears elsewhere in this week’s Democrat. Holcomb said DNR funds were used to make the purchase following a policy of preserving additional area in the state park system for future generations.

30 years ago

Sept. 29, 1993

— CALVARY WILL START REBUILDING

Burned to the ground by arsonists Saturday night, Calvary Baptist Church, two and one-half miles from Exeter, *will begin rebuilding almost immediately according to pastor Richard Jones, Sr. The pastor and a large number of his congregation gathered at the church site Sunday morning at 10 a.m., for a prayer service at the time, embers were still smoking from the blaze that leveled the nearly 100-year-old structure. Members held hands in a circle at the west side of the lot that was once the front of the building. There were recollections about what had happened from some of the more senior members. Betty Thomas recalled how many years she had played the organ for the congregation. Bill Laracy, who resides in Cassville but owns land across the rural road from the church property, said he was sure there would be a lot of volunteer labor available when the congregation was ready to replace the building. Authorities said the loss was at least partly covered by insurance. The structure was approximately 95×120 feet as measured by fire marshal personnel in the meantime Calvary congregation is making arrangements to use the Exeter Cemetery Building for Sunday services. Wednesday Prayer meetings will be scheduled at residences of various members for the present time.

— LANDFILL CLOSING REMAINING WITH DISTRICT DECIDED

Barry County Solid Waste Advisory CommitteemetinCassville last week, covering solid waste deposit problems in the area. Persons in attendance were Rolland Meador, mayor of Cassville, Charli Jo Ledgerwood, assistant to the mayor, Cassville, Dan Miller, Schreiber Foods, Monett, E. W. Bradford, mayor of Seligman, Red Edens, Barry County commissioner, Ken Witt, Fasco Industries, Cassville, Carolyn Easley, Monet, Erma Orndorff, Tyson Foods, Monett, Elston Drummond, Barry County, and alderman Dennis Fischer, Cassville. Meador conducted the meeting, updated the committee concerning the October 8 closing of Newton-McDonald County landfill. Easley stated that the city of Monett currently takes their waste to the Newton-McDonald County landfill, and after October 8, they have signed a temporary contract until January 1994, to take their waste to the transfer station at Verona. After discussion, the main consensus was to express the advantage of recycling, and to better educate the communities about solid waste reduction and recycling. The committee felt it would be to the county’s advantage to have a drop-off recycling center in each town located in the county. Drummond expressed his concern about how this plan would address ground water protection, specifically agricultural waste. In a recent letter to area officials, the Barry County Commission outlined a position. “As you are aware, Barry County is in Solid Waste District “N° which also contains Dade, Lawrence, stone, and Taney counties. In compliance with state law, a Solid Waste Management Plan is being written for the five counties. The plan will determine how to achieve the mandate of 40 percent reduction in solid waste by 1998 while providing recycling opportunities and attempting to control illegal dumping. “There has been some discussion and consideration about Bar County withdrawing from this district, due to the difference in our waste stream compared to that the Branson area was agreed the best course of action is remain in the district, become actively involved, and see that the plan which is adopted is one which is beneficial to our area,” the letter noted.