50 years ago
Dec. 4, 1974
— STATE DEER TAKE DOWN 4,486 KILLS
Missouri’s 1974 gun deer season closed Sunday, November 24 with 28,827 deer 4,486 from the final 1973 total. The 1974 harvest may go slightly higher as the figures are refined. Texas County had the most deer checked with 1,214. Gasconade had 1,014 and Benton 933. The total for 1974 was 770 lower than the 1972 total. There were an estimated 225,000 hunters in the field at one time or another. The lower harvest had been expected by Department of Conservation officials because of slightly more restrictive regulations. Probably the largest deer taken was one by David Rogers Sr., a retired Marine from near Gallatin. He took a buck estimated to weigh 310 pounds a half mile from his farm home. Donnie Walters, Lebanon, took a nice 10-point, 175-pound buck on the opening day of the season, but someone stole the fielddressed animal from his front lawn later the same day. In another unusual incident, Aurthur Griffith, Mineral Point, took an antlered doe. The animal had antlers still in velvet, but with eight points. “The harvest is about what we expected,” says Dean Murphy, assistant Wildlife Division chief for the Department of Conservation. “Two of the north Missouri units that were open to any deer last year were bucks – only this year and we felt this would cut the statewide harvest.”
— CALIFORNIA STATION
Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Bruce D. Perkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Perkins of Eagle Rock, graduated from recruit training at the Coast Guard Training Center, Alameda, California. He is scheduled to report to the Coast Guard Port Safety Station, Long Beach, California. The training included instruction in seamanship, damage control, close order drill, first aid, marksmanship, Coast Guard history and military regulations.
— WATER, SEWER PROJECTS BEING BID
Two major project bid dates are scheduled in Cassville within the next two weeks. Included are: December 12 the city will accept bids for installation of new water and sewer lines in the south part of town, drilling of a new well and well house construction. On December 20, a tentative date is set for letting contracts for construction of Senior Citizen Rental Housing units under a $250,000 loan from the Farmer’s Home Administration.
— STRANGE COURSES AND HAZARDS CHALLENGE GOLFERS AROUND WORLD
The sun never sets on a swinging club. Golf, onetime sport of kings and queens, now is played by millions of enthusiasts from Australia to Zambia. Nowhere is enthusiasm for the sport greater than in the United States, where a new World Golf Hall, of Fame recently was dedicated at Pinehurst, N. Carolina. Framed by towering pines, rolling hills, and geysered pools, the golfers’ shrine overlooks Pinehurst Country Club’s famous No. 2 course. The manicured course at Pinehurst seems a far cry from the obstacles encountered by dauntless duffers in other parts of the world. A coating of oil keeps the shifting sands in place on a course carved from the Namib Desert in Southwest Africa. When players land on the “brown” they are allowed to use a small raking tool to smooth a path to the cup. Things aren’t dry enough for players at a club in Bermuda, where a drive must clear an enormous water hazard at the fifth hole. Caddies fish out at least 40 balls a day from the miniature lake. Unnerved by the water expanse, a duffer once sliced a ball through the window of a cottage on a nearby hill. Moments later an irate housewife charged onto the course, brandishing a frying pan on which the ball was resting atop her husband’s breakfast bacon. Golfers require total concentration in Seoul, Korea, where a small course was created inside the city’s race track. Oblivious to the excitement around them, players tee off even while horses are thundering by the fairways. Other animals imperil putters at the Yellowknife course in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Dodging rock outcroppings on the fairways, players swat away fierce mosquitoes and black flies while keeping a lookout for stray moose and the large ravens that sometimes steal their golf balls. The animals are even more intimidating in some parts of Africa. Signs on playing areas in Zambia and Zaire warn, “Elephants Have the Right of l Way” and “beware of Snakes and Crocodiles.” It takes a dedicated sportsman to get the right of way to a course in Tokyo on busy weekends. Players sometimes get up at 2 a.m. so they can line up for a round. Despite the Tokyo joke that “the Japanese tee off in order of their salaries,” golf is a serious business. Investors speculate in golf-club memberships, and daily greens fees can run as high as 8,000 yen, about $30. The worldwide popularity of golf has converted unlikely terrain into lush green fairways. Lebanese players were so eager to have a course near hilly Beirut that they dynamited fairways from solid rock, trucked soil from miles away, and flew in special turf from aboard.
40 years ago
Dec. 5, 1984
— NOVAK BUYS PROPERTY
Stan Novak, Cassville certified public accountant, has purchased the business property of S.L. McDougal on Main Street as the future location of his offices. Also purchased was the tax practice formerly operated by McDougal. Novak said a move to the property, formerly occupied by Ozark Production Credit, would be accomplished this month.
— 4-6 INCHES OF SNOWFALL
Snowfall, the first covering of the year in this area, welcomed area residents this (Wednesday) morning. Measurements were from four to six inches after the start about 11 p.m. Tuesday evening. Possibility of additional accumulation was predicted with the snowfall to continue through the day. Road conditions resulted in the first school cancellations of the year.
— GROUP STUDIES EFFORT FOR MARBUT MEMORIAL
As the Barry County Soil Survey progresses in the County, many of the local citizens remember that a native Barry County citizen was one of the early pioneers in the field of soil surveys, Curtis Fletcher Marbut. Many questions have been asked about his contribution and some have suggested a memorial in his honor. To answer these questions, and get the public interest, the Barry County Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring an interest meeting on this subject at the Purdy Community Center, December 6, at 7:00 p.m. A short program is planned. Dr. Vernon Renner, Soil Professor of SMSU, will discuss Marbut’s contribution to the field of soils and geology. An update on the progress of the Marbut home as a National Historical site and discussion and questions from the public are scheduled. All interested persons are urged to attend this meeting. For additional information, contact Carolyn Marbut Hutchens, Monett, or Max Aldrich, Barry County Soil Survey party leader in Cassville.
30 years ago
Nov. 23, 1994
— MORE EAGLES AT ROARING RIVER
The Bald Eagle population increased at Roaring River State Park last week with 10 sighted along the stream according to naturalist Merle Rogers. Observers said appearances of the birds in other areas of the county have not grown in numbers that significantly in the past couple of weeks.
— CITY INTEREST RATE LESS THAN 2.5 PERCENT
In special session Tuesday night, Cassville city council completed bonding requirements for a $1.2 million waste water project that will provide equipment for sludge removal at the local plant. Mayor Rolland Meador said a state revolving fund financing effort results in a 70 percent subsidy, leaving the interest rate on the bonds to average less than 2.5 per-cent. Cassville’s project average interest through 2005 is 6.4 percent according to a Kansas City financial representative. Financing completion for the project paves the way for contract letting scheduled after the first of the year, says city clerk Jo Ledgerwood. Three members of the council acted on the special meeting decision, Rick Linebarger, Sue Brattin and Randy Stockton. Member Darrell Ledenham was absent.
— HUNTING, FISHING PERMIT SALES INCREASE
No one would be surprised to learn that fishing conditions in Missouri have been better this year than they were during the deluge year of 1993, so it comes as no surprise to Al Brand that fishing license sales have increased this year. As assistant chief of the fiscal division with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Brand keeps track of how many permits are sold each year. he says that as of October 31, MDC had sold about 50,000 more resident fishing licenses than it had by that date last year. “No question about it, the flood hurt us last year,” says Brand. “Some people didn’t buy fishing permits because their fishing holes were under water,” says Brand, “but the effects went far beyond that. People outside the state didn’t know that most of the state was not affected by flooding, and that kept away even more potential permit buyers.” The good news, says Brand, is that permit sales have rebounded to normal levels. In the first 10 months of 1992, MDC had combined sales of all hunting and fishing permits of $15,540,438. That dripped to $14,537,775 in 1993. This year’s 10-month total is back up to $15,432,720. “We’re fortunate to have a stable funding source for conservation programs, says Brand. “The one- eighth of one percent sales tax prevents debilitating revenue swings experienced by agencies that depend almost entirely on permit sales to fund their work.”
— 1,494 DEER CHECKED IN NINE DAY SEASON
Barry County’s 1994 gun deer season was completed Sunday with an end result of 1494 successes in the woods of the area according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Checking stations recorded 729 deer taken in the first weekend of the season and then 765 going through stations the l remaining seven days. The last weekend had rain throughout the area, apparently conducive to road hunting as agents made 12 arrests of the total 28 of the season the closing day. All these arrests were made in connection with mechanical deer locations to nab road hunters. Agents speculated the inclement weather brought hunters out of the woods to their vehicles in pursuit of the game, resulting in citations being issued. There were no hunting accidents recorded in Barry County by agents Charles Marrs, Bill Stimson and Bryant Ward. Of the total deer kill, 936 were bucks and 558 were doe according to check station cards. Total numbers were up only slightly from last year, specifically seven, over the 1487 reported. Both years have been under the standing record of 1635 recorded in 1991. In 1992 there were 1507 deer taken from the county’s woods.
— AF BASIC
Air Force Airman Eddie F. Cunningham has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Cunningham is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Cunningham of Golden.
