50 years ago

Nov. 7, 1973

— NEW DIRECTOR FOR WELFARE PROGRAM IN COUNTY SERVING 3,943 PERSONS

A new director is in charge of the Barry County office of the Missouri Department of Welfare, and made a participant report this week. Now in charge of the office in Cassville is William Moseley, a native of Georgia, who has been with the Missouri government agency seven years. Programs under his supervision now serve 3,943 persons in seven different avenues of welfare. Moseley replaced Warren Swanson, who has been elevated to a district supervising post headquartered in Rolla. Moseley comes here from an assignment in Monroe County. He has also worked in Laclede and Pulaski counties with the department. The Moseley family includes his wife, Sharon, two children, Cindy, a seventh grader and Wendy, a third grader. The new Barry County director this week said the department here now had a wide program under the Department of Welfare and was rated one of the top efficiency offices of the state. Participants in the program here now include: 44 child welfare cases, 875 old age assistance recipients; 117 persons on disability, 25 receiving aid to the blind, 73 general relief cases and 179 aid to dependent children. Largest of the supervised programs is the food stamp distribution which NOW has 918 families and 2,630 per – sons. The food stamps not too long ago replaced commodity food distribution programs. Food stamps are completely financed in Missouri by federal government funds.

— AF ASSIGNMENT

Airman Clarence V. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. son of Marion I. Morgan, Route 1, Cassville, has been assigned to Sheppard AFB, Texas, after completing Air Force basic training. During his six weeks at the Air Training Command’s Lackland AFB, Tex- as, he studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special instruction in human relations. The airman has been assigned to the Technical Training Center at Sheppard for specialized training in the transportation field. Airman Morgan is a 1972 graduate of Cassville high school.

— DAIRY TREET PURCHASED

Mrs. Mabel Sutton and son Mike have purchased the Dairy Treet operation on Highway 112 in south Cassville. The assumed operation of the business Nov ember 1 from Mr. and Mrs. Charley Baker and Allen. The name will be changed to Sutton Dairy Treet with short order food service specialty being featured. The property belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Edmondson and Mrs. Virginia Turner. Only the business was involved in the transaction.

— BLACK GOLD AT RECORD PRICE

Black gold, the harvest of walnuts in Barry County, is at a record price at hulling facilities operated by Lonnie Yarnall of Cassville and Packwood Hulling and Shelling of Exeter. The price went to $5.50 per hundred pounds this week from a start of $5 this year. The starting price this season represented a top price paid last year after an opening price of $4.25.

40 years ago

Nov. 2, 1983

— YOUNGSTER’S GOOD DEED

A Cassville fourth grader has been cited by Cassville police officers for his good deed recently in finding and returning a lost purse. Jesse Graftenreed, was on his way to school Friday when he found a purse containing a “sizeable amount of money” less than a block from the school campus. Police Chief Ray Burnette said Jesse turned the purse and money over to school officials who notified the authorities. Belonging to Linda Hall of Wheaton, the purse apparently fell from a vehicle on Harold Street at the location the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Stubbs made the discovery. Jesse’s reward of $30 was put to good use according to the youngster who bought a remote-control car and has funds remaining for some other items of his liking.

— DISTRICT PROPERTY TAXES DECREASED

As a result of Proposition C, local patrons of Cassville schools should notice a decrease in their property tax statements of approximately 25 percent, says Superintendent Dan Bailey. Last July the Cassville R4 school board reduced property taxes from a $4 levy to a levy of $2.99. This reduction, brought about by the statewide passage of the one cent sales tax, allows school districts to roll back their property taxes. One-half of the revenue received from the sales tax is applied to this property tax reduction. Bailey said, “The Cassville board of education and the local Cassville Community Teachers Association would like to thank patrons for the support in passing Proposition C and are very pleased to note the property tax reduction.”

— OFFICIALS REPORT QUIET HALLOWEEN

Cassville and county law enforcement officers reported one of the most orderly Halloweens in a number of years throughout the area Monday night. Police chief Ray Burnette said only minor incidents were reported. No major property damage has been reported. All officers were on duty throughout the evening, with a number of vehicles stopped as suspects in egg and water balloon throwing incidents. Local merchants were especially appreciative of the lack of window soaping on the public square and elsewhere. One commented the young people did themselves proud in taking part in organized programs and not causing damage or marking private property. Church groups and civic club sponsorship of activities found larger crowds than usual with young people and oldsters, too, choosing this type of entertainment for the observance.

30 years ago

Oct. 27, 1993

— LOCAL CHURCHES DEDICATE; START USING NEW FACILITIES

Two Cassville churches, having recently completed expansion and improvement projects, will begin using those facilities or hold dedication services this Sunday. First of the activities will be United Methodist Church on Seventh and Gravel using for the first time a new sanctuary. Pastor Charles Reed said the congregation will use the remodeled and expanded auditorium for the first time this Sunday. The program of improvement began this summer for the 264-member congregation. First Baptist Church of Cassville will hold dedication services Sunday afternoon with a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Hohn Duncan, noted the 8,000 square foot addition of fellowship hall and education facilities was finished about May and has been in use for several months. The $610,000 project was attached to the main church building off the Sixth and West Street entrance. Duncan said the 615 member congregation will observe a carry-in lunch at noon. They will host former pastor O. V. Dodson and one-time education and music minister Ed White as special program guests. James Weaver, present education minister, said the Sunday school enrollment for the church is 769 members. Reed noted the sanctuary project at United Methodist, while not fully complete, will have services in the new area for the first time this week. He said a dedication program would be scheduled at a later date. United Methodist’s $150,000 project turned the auditorium around reversing the pulpit location. Seating was extended from 200 to 300 persons. New pews, stained glass windows and sound systems are included in the project. While minor completions are scheduled at a later date, Reed said preaching services would be moved from the church’s fellowship hall. The congregation added 8,000 square feet to the church in an extensive 1988 building program. In this project was a fellowship hall and educational facility expansion. Activities of the two congregations this Sunday are open to the public.

— SEEK ZONING CHANGE FOR LOCAL PROPERTY

A change in classification for a recently purchased piece of property at First Street and Highway 37 is being sought by Cassville barber Mal Hudson. He will present his request to the zoning and planning commission in a hearing November 11, according to attorney Jim LeCompte. Hudson bought the residential property three months ago. It is at the southeast corner of the location. Hudson seeks a change from residential one to commercial two rating. The property is bound by residential one, commercial two and property outside the city limits of Cassville. LeCompte said adjoining property owners are being notified of the hearing, in addition to publications placed by Evelle Lyall, secretary of the commission, Hudson’s plans for the property have not been announced.

— GROUNDBREAKING SCHEDULED FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL NOV. 9

Cassville R-4 school district will observe a groundbreaking for a new high school Tuesday, November 9 at 10 a.m. Dr. Dan Bailey, superintendent, said a short program at the site would be open to the public. The district’s new $4.3 million facility will be located at a new campus at the corner of Route Y and Partridge Drive, about two blocks north of the present campus. Site preparation work will be in progress at the time of the groundbreaking. Dr. Bailey also acknowledged the board of education’s plan to bid the project sometime in January. Voters of the district approved the bond issue in the spring that will finance the project. Scheduled for completion next year, district plans are to convert existing high school facilities on the main campus to relieve middle school and elementary unit crowding. In a recent meeting, the board members Tim Frye, Landon Fletcher, John Sullivan, Greg Allen, Mike Ball conducted business with members RaDonna Fancher and Jeff Cooper absent. Board action included tabling of bids for parking lot repair. Five proposals were received. Jeff Leake Co. was low with a $10,067 bid, Hutchens of Cassville second at $10,495. High proposal was Journagen Col. at $14,993. Director Sullivan will head a Citizens Committee established for promotion of a state mandated operating levy of $2.75 for the district. That issue will go before voters in February, according to previous announcements. Board conducted an executive session to discuss personnel and a previously discussed purchase of real estate. No announcement on either was included in board minutes. A resignation was received from part-time teacher Mrs. Nola McMillen. Program for the meeting was Sue Cavness and Martha Dunnam from elementary and Jill LeCompte from middle school on new reading, series in grades K-6. Bills payable for the month $200,606.23. Administrative reports came from Dunnam, high school Ron Richardson and middle school Ron Richardson. Richardson will be in charge of the school’s annual Veteran’s Day program Wednesday, November 10, in the high school gym. Open to the public, the even will start at 10:20 a.m. The District will seek quotations Of property insurance and two new buses in the near future. Additional administrators in the meeting as observers, Marvin 1 – Henningson, Larry Quinalty and Joe Cavness, faculty members, Joel 2. Wells and secretary. Wanda Paul.