50 years ago

Jan. 15, 1975

— ROARING RIVER BIDS ATTRACT 16 PERSONS

Interest on concessions open this year at Roaring River State Park is apparently high according to Superintendent James Woods. The park official, quoting a Jefferson City office staffer, said a total of 16 inquiries had been received regarding four contracts scheduled for award January 31. Open this year at the state’s most popular park are: cabins, store, and swimming pool; restaurant and grocery; coin-operated laundry and horseback riding. Inquiries have been received in this number; three on laundry, one on horses, five on restaurant and grocery and seven on cabins and store. The park official did not release the names of those who had made inquiry about bid forms on the programs. The laundry facility, scheduled to be installed in the old Roaring River School would be a new concession. The cabins and restaurant are being divided into two units this year. No horse stable concession was operated last year. Bids on the proposed operations must be in the Jefferson City offices of the park system by 9 a.m. Friday, January 31. Sam Gearhart is business manager of the park operations.

— THREE-COUNTY JUVENILE OFFICE HANDLED 600

During the calendar year of 1974, a total of 600 cases involving 191 girls and 409 boys, were handled by the Juvenile Department, says Bill Hemphill, officer in charge of the three county area. A breakdown of the cases shows 357 delinquency cases, 59 traffic cases, 87 runaway cases, 68 neglect cases and 29 adoption cases. Of the 600 cases handled by the Juvenile Office, 317 were Lawrence county, 207 were Barry county and 76 were Stone county. Each month the Juvenile Officer investigates numerous complaints of neglect which are found to be without sufficient grounds for further action. Since no record is made of such investigations or of home studies for investigations made for other counties and states, they are not reflected in this report. Of the total number of cases processed, 182 were handled officially by the juvenile Judge, W. H. Pinnell, through the juvenile court. These fall into the following categories. 111 delinquency cases – 27 neglect cases, 19 adoption cases, nine runaway cases and six traffic cases.

— WATER SAMPLES TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF SLIME

Residents of Cassville who periodically experience dirty and oil slime water will be requested to take samples of the water at the time and turn them over to the city for proper testing. The possible cause of the condition will be traced by the Joplin engineering firm that handles most of Cassville’s utility extension programs. Mayor Bill LeCompte and a representative of Alligier-Martin and Associates made the request after a citizen brought the situation before the council Tuesday night. James Homesley, who lives in Crystal View Addition, appeared before the council. His complaint was substantiated by Bob Mitchell, a resident of Sunset Heights. The engineering representative reviewed current State Health Department reports that certify the water is pure. After hearing of the problems which happens at various times throughout the city, he said improvements underway should help the situation. Included in the improvements will be a new well to add to the water supply and 150,000 gallon storage tank which will double present storage. Engineers think the additional storage will not work one well as constantly. The East Eighth Street well is a source of sulpher content of the water. Residents talking to the council about the situation were asked to keep samples of undesirable water and turn same over to the city which can obtain analysis of the content in attempts to determine the cause. Council business was centered around an early start time Tuesday as they went through the procedure of signing contracts for the new well, water and sewer lines and tower. Work will begin on the respective projects sometime next week. Included in the mains running to the FASCO Industries site will be fire hydrant improvements from the West Seventh Street tower to the plant. Future need in the southwest part of town will also be taken into consideration with outlets being included in the lines. All four councilmen were present for the regular meeting, Gene Schlichtman, Marlee Edie, W. C. Hailey and W. E. Leonard.

40 years ago

Jan. 16, 1985

— CASSVILLE SALES TAX CONTINUES TO GROW

Comparing the last three calendar years of receipts, Cassville sales tax continues in a growth status, according to Mayor Bill LeCompte. The last payment in 1984 amounted to $18,805.83. LeCompte said the growing sales tax return for Cassville indicates continued upswing of the area’s economy and factors relative to job availabilities here. State officials have noticed some communities of the size of Cassville have slipped in receipts during the past few years. Established in 1979, the one cent sales tax last year produced $239,562.87 for the city, compared to $218,145.55 in 1983 and $203,638.35 in 1982. Mayor LeCompte said the council had followed the initial intention of sales tax use in the city with 60 percent for street improvement, 25 percent for park projects and 15 percent for city administration. When the scheduled meeting was scrubbed, Dilbeck, Davis and Stumpff said they would make one more attempt to complete the public hearing process, setting a second public hearing Monday, January 21. Stumpff said he had requested department heads begin preparation of budgets on December 21. Budgets missing at the public hearing included sheriff, prosecuting attorney and associate circuit court. Dilbeck and Davis said they were concerned about funds being available to cover requests, obviously indicating the budget process might take longer than normal. The budget for 1984 amounted to $1,052,088.03 in expenditures, with some departments running over their budgeted amounts. In attempting the second time to hold a required public hearing with all budget requests before them, the county commission will review funds amounting. to at least those of last year. Included in last year’s divisions of revenue available were: general revenue $557,658.83, Federal Revenue Sharing $92,095.20, assessor’s normal $46,458 and equalization $351,376. County officials said increased budget requests would have to be reviewed in a thorough manner. If the average request is up 20 percent, that would require an additional $21,000 in revenue that the county probably won’t have.

— ARKANSAS FIRM BUYS CRYSTAL SPRINGS TROUT

Production facilities at Crystal Springs Trout Farm in Cassville have been purchased by Osage Springs Farms, Inc. of Rogers, Arkansas. Clyde Bloomfield, president, said the corporation also operates Tail of the Trout Restaurant located west of Rogers, Arkansas. Bloomfield said the corporation completed purchase of 7.4 acres, including spring and all production facilities with CharterBank of Cassville this week. With the purchase, Osage Spring Trout Farm at Rogers will be converted to a holding area with production of all trout for the firm conducted at Cassville. Crystal Springs will produce about 85,000 pounds of Rainbow Trout an-nually, under the managership of Charles Porter of Exeter. Continuation of nationwide live-trout delivery from Cassville in addition to supply of the Arkansas fish-out and restaurant, are planned. Associated with Bloomfield in the corporation are his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Bud Bloomfield. Trout will be grown here from the egg stage to transfer size for further growing at the Rogers site.

— PURDY PITCHER IS RED’S DRAFT CHOICE

Purdy high school graduate, Kevin Pozniak, a sophomore pitcher at North Arkansas Community College in Harrison, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday in the regular phase of the winter amateur baseball draft. The right-handed Pozniak, who was picked on the eighth round, posted a 7-2 record last season for the Pioneers. Said the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Poz-niak: “I feel like I had a good freshman season, but I didn’t think I had a chance of being drafted. It’s really a surprise. I’m glad it’s the Red’s.” Reds’ scout, Bill Clark who lives in Columbia, recommended Pozniak after sending him through a tryout recently at Harrison and seeing him throw last summer at Mickey Owen Baseball School. Pozniak, also a standout basketball player at Purdy, will be eligible to sign in the spring after the finish of the junior college season. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Pozniak. He was also a standout basketball player for the Eagles while in high school.

30 years ago

Jan. 4, 1995

— SHOOTING IN DRIVE-BY AT SOS HURT ONE

One person was injured in a 1 a.m. Monday driveby shooting at SOS quick stop at Hilltop. Police chief Bob Ruggles said at least two shots from a small caliber weapon were fired from an unknown vehi-cle. One of the bullets struck an on-duty employee at the time. Vernita Simmons of Eagle Rock, was struck in a shoulder by a bullet. She was treated at South Bam Co Barry County Hospital emergency room and reportedly returned to work. Ruggles said shots fired shattered the store front windows. All law enforcement agencies in the area are involved in the investiga-tion. The quick stop is located at the southeast edge of the Cassville city limits on Highway 112. Police officers said a least two suspects are included in the investi-gation. Ruggles said Tuesday morning no arrests have been made. The drive-by shooting was the first such incident in this area in a number of years. Another hilltop business was the object of such an incident a number of years ago. There were no injuries in that incident. Barry county deputy Jack Lowe and Cassville officer Gary Meek were the first responding officers. The facility Sprint One Stop is open 24 hours a day. Ruggles said Tuesday, Mrs. Simmons’ wound was to her left shoulder. He said officers at the scene found a pair of .22 caliber shell casings on Highway 112 in front of SOS. He said the casings had been sent to MSSC crime lab facilities in Joplin for fingerprint- ing. He said the two shots came from a semi-automatic weapon. The chief said anyone who might have information about the incident should contact the Cassville police department. He said officers believe the vehicle from which the shots were fired carried two persons at the time of the shooting. Chief Ruggles said any information from the public would be held in the most strict confidence by the department.

— ESSAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Barry County Natural Resources Conservation District, formerly SCS, has announced three winners in a county-wide sixth grade essay competition. First place went to Shana Daniels of Exeter, second to Ryan Walsh of Cassville and third to Lane Cowan of Cassville. Fenney Derden of NRC coordinated the activity.