Through the years

30 YEARS AGO: UP-UP BUT NOT AWAY — Operating from a tether line, Charles Venable, a native of Exeter, now in the glass business in Neosho, put on a show for Cassville elementary Monday. The balloon inflation and rides for some came a week late because of weather last week. Venable is shown here making adjustments to his flight equipment with help of Cassville R-4 staffers. The elementary student body is shown in the background. Below, Venable talks with Ron Cowan about the process of filling the balloon, with fan equipment which Cowan was watching as a crew helper.

40 YEARS AGO: NEW WILBUR LOOK — Pep club efforts during CHS Wildcat athletic contests will present this new Wilbur the Wildcat look. Inside the new costume is Laura Maloney, who will be the mascot this year.

40 YEARS AGO: AGING LAND TURTLE — In May, 1940, Pete Tucker of Cassville carved his initials and the date in a land turtle near Eagle Rock. Just recently, Buford Ball found the terrapin in his yard. Tucker said his RFT initials were barely visible on the shell. He estimated the terrapin was about one-quarter mile from where he released it 44 years ago.

40 YEARS AGO: NOT FLAGGED — A violation for delay of game Friday night drew no flag....instead an official escorted (better still carried) the offender off the field. It was one of the dogs that frequent the CHS campus. The whistle-toater (instrument in mouth) carried the friendly pooch off the field, necessitating a delay in the contest that was not chargeable as a violation to either team.

30 YEARS AGO: SHOWED WELL — Jim Hinson, 15, above, and Tyler Hinson II, below, showed well enough in the Missouri State Fair Santa Gertrudis FFA divisions to win recognition. The more senior of the pair received a grand champion award for his bull.

30 YEARS AGO: ONCE IT’S IN THEIR BLOOD — Natives of Cassville were included in the numbers at Roaring River State Park that helped push the popular attraction toward new records over the Labor Day weekend. In this photo, Jill and Brian Hunt and sons Nick and Caleb, get ready for an expected cool evening in the Dry Hollow area camp ground on Sunday evening.

40 YEARS AGO: WILDCATS SURROUND OPPOSITION — This particular play by Berryville’s Bobcats Friday night didn’t get far as the Arkansas quarterback Steve Reber, 13, was surrounded by CHS Wildcats.

50 YEARS AGO: ANOTHER BANK PROJECT PHASE — When this picture was taken, construction of the Community Bank of Shell Knob turned to the interior as the openings were closed in with window and door installation and virtually all exterior work completed. Marking the phase, from the left are: Howard Mclirath, president; Lester Prewitt, general contractor; and Dan Short, executive vice-president. Prewitt began construction on the project March 25. Actual construction time was about 105 days for the structure containing 2,800 square feet in its 40x70 foot outside dimensions.

40 YEARS AGO: FINISHING WELL WORK — Crew members of a Kansas City firm, put the finishing touches on Well Four for the city of Cassville Tuesday afternoon, ending a three and one-half week shutdown of the water source. Tim Miller, water superintendent, said initial tests of the well were successful. If a clean-out pumping goes well, the well will be back in service sometime Wednesday. A