50 years ago

Aug. 28, 1974

— LIBRARY PROJECT SEEKS $30,000 FOR BUILDING

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library trustees, caught in a shortage of funds for a proposed building project, will begin this week attempting to raise $30,000 for the program, according to David R. Doenning, librarian. The 6,280 square foot building will be constructed in Monett, to serve as regional headquarters and library spaces. Construction bids on the program in February this year amounted to $142,000. Present cost estimates have the project nearer the $172,000 figure, necessitating the additional funds which will be sought from donation sources. Doenning said 40% of the total costs is available from state and federal grants. Of the total estimated amount, $50,000 is available from invested district funds accumulated over the past five years. Doenning noted the City of Monett had pledged Revenue Sharing Funds to provide furnishings for the new building through 1976. Anticipated increases in materials, labor and the over-all project expected in a re-bidding of the project brought the fund raising effort to the front of the two-county area. Shaping plans for the new building is a six-member board of trustees, which had two members recently resign. Presently serving are: Charles Rowell, Monett, president, James Smart, Marionville, vice-president; Mrs. Jewell Farwell, Eagle Rock, secretary; and members, Ruth Casper of Purdy, Eunice Thomas, Cassville, and Maxine Pannell of Mt. Vernon. County courts of the two counties involved are expected to name one additional member each to the board in the near future. A fact sheet made available from the library organization said the contributions to the library fund are tax deductible. Book collections in facilities operated by the district were listed as follows: Cassville 37,243, Mt. Vernon 38,378, Marionville, 7,359, Miller 1,990 and Monett 24,943. Total collections in the library system numbers 110,027, with circulation of books checked-out numbering 219, 709. Local funds needed for the expansion program for the Monett facility will amount to about $103,231. Included in this amount is the $50,000 available funds, $9,300 architects fee paid by the board and allowable site costs of $17,052. This totals $76,352 available with a shortage of $26,879. Doenning said the $30,000 being sought would cover this amount and other contingent expenses. Doenning said completion of the regional headquarters facility at Monett would pave the way for expansion of present facilities elsewhere in the district, some of which need more space at the present.

40 years ago

Aug. 29, 1984

— FORMER PROSECUTOR APPOINTED JUDGE

W. Dale Burke, former prosecuting attorney of Barry County, has been appointed municipal judge by the Monett city council. Burke, whose practice is in Monett, assumed the new duties September 1.

— COUNTY CONTINUES LOW IN UNEMPLOYMENT RATIO

Barry County continues to be among the lowest in unemployment statistics according to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. As the state rate hit a four-year low in July, Barry County dropped to 5.3 percent of the work force listed as unemployed. The county standing of those employable not holding jobs was among the low percentage in 16 of Missouri’s 114 counties. Adjoining county figures included: Newton-Jasper 7.1, Lawrence 6.9, McDonald 8.2 and Stone 6.6. State employment officials said the last time Missouri’s unemployment rate fell below seven percent was the 6.6 of April, 1980. Current state figures were set at 6.9 percent.

• Missouri’s July unemployment figures are in contrast to the national figures, which increased from 7.1 percent to 7.5 percent for the same period. Unemployed Missourians were listed at the 165,500 figure for July by the state agency.

— ELECTRIC RATE HIKE BY CO-OP WILL BE 8%

With no specific date set, Barry Electric Cooperative power users are going to get an 8% over-the-system rate increase this year. Joe Preddy, co-op manager, said the increase will result in power cost and basic cost of services, as approved by the board of directors. Preddy said the board had set no exact date, but electrical customers of the co-op would probably see the increased rates for their November usages. An average user of 1,000 kwh is presently paying about $51.85 for the power. Under the new rate, the charge will be $56.20. Charges came after a rate study, the first since 1972, for the cooperative. Preddy said Barry Electric now serves approximately 6,000 patrons. In the last 12 years, the coop has experienced a 300 percent increase in the purchase cost of electric energy. In the past, some of these costs have been met by the use of the power cost adjustment factor to increase the kilowatt hour charge on monthly usage bills. Preddy said the “continued use of this adjustment, without a complete review of system costs, fails to properly place part of the charge on the cost for providing basic service, security and street lighting and the demand cost for power purchased.” Present rates are based on 40 mills per kwh average cost, the proposed rates are based on 42.8 mills. The rates proposed to Rural Electrification Administration also change the minimum charge to a monthly customer charge. New commercial and industrial — BROWN TRUCKING GROUP ACQUIRES OKLAHOMA FIRM A Cassville trucking firm, L.D. Brown and Associates, has acquired he operating rights of American Farm Lines in Oklahoma City. Danny Mackey, general manager of the Cassville based firm, said the name has been changed to American Farm Land, Inc., as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Brown firm. Mackey said the present 50 units operating out of Cassville would be increased by about 30 trucks and six trailers. He said the former Oklahoma firm was a Department of Defense carrier. Authority for full carrier rights is being sought in the new acquisition. Joining the Brown firm is Bill Jackson, former AFL official, who will coordinate expanding operations of the local group. Mackey said Brown and Associates presently employs 137 persons in this area. The expansion will add about 40 drivers to the staff. Headquarters for dispatch and maintenance of the local firm is on Sale Barn Road near Highway 37 at the southwest edge of Cassville.

30 years ago

August 17, 1994

— SURVEY COMPANY OPENS

Duncan Land Survey has opened offices in Cassville with Craig Duncan, Washburn resident, the owner. Duncan, a registered land surveyor in Missouri, Arkansas and California, received his training at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. The firm’s offices are located on East Seventh Street just off Main Street. Duncan has been in the survey business 12 years.

—UNEMPLOYMENT LOW IN COUNTY

Unemployment dipped to a new low in Barry County with July figures released by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The county’s rate of unemployment went to 4.4 percent, compared to 5.0 in June and 6.8 a year ago. The state average was 4.1 percent the agency said. Adjoining county figures, Newton 6.1, Lawrence 5.0, McDonald 5.6 and Stone 4.0.

— VET CLINIC BUILDING NEW OFFICE Miekley and Cupps Veterinarian Clinic has started a construction project that will provide a new office and treatment area for the Cassville firm. A structure 40×40 will be built on property at the southwest edge of town according to Drs. Eugene Miekley and David Cupps.