30 years ago
December 22, 1993
— Flu Hits Schools
Flu bugs hit the Cassville R-4 campus this week with 134 absentees listed in the elementary unit Monday, according to Dr. Dan Bailey, superintendent. That represented a 14 percent rate, according 1o Bailey. There were no numbers available Tuesday morning from the high school unit. A busy spot on the campus was the office of health nurse Joanna Smithson.
— Mobile Park Expanding
Havenar mobile park near Roaring River State Park on Highway 112 is beginning an expansion project. Dale Havenar said a new store building 40×80 feet is currently under construction. The Havenar facility includes 65 parking units for recreational vehicles. The Haveners also provide rental trailers at the park just outside Roaring River.
— Area Graduates In SMSU Commencement
Nine area students were included in commencement activities at Southwest Missouri State University over the weekend. Also included in the number were several honor graduates. From Cassville, Molly B. Chapin and Jana B. Nations were cum laude graduates; Louis B. Chapman and Rebecca L. Thompson also received diplomas. Washburn graduates included Wendy M. Bailey and Judy S. Randall. From Shell Knob were Joseph D. Lietz and Keith H. Sharp. From Monett was summa cum laude graduate Shirley I. Wood. Nations has received a graduate assistance position in the mathematics department at SMSU. She will work on master’s degree hours at the same time.
— Area Military People Completed Basics
Three soldiers from this area have completed basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, according to Army and Air Force hometown news service. Pvt. Marion W. Jacobson, son of Marion W. Jacobson of Rural Exeter, Pvt. David A. Craig, son of David and Zona Craig of Cassville, and Pvt. Michael D. Sikman, stepson of Rock Conway and son of Linda Conway of Monett, are in the announcements. During the training, students received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid and army history and traditions. Craig is a graduate of Cassville high school.
— State Hands Cassville Most of Jenkins Area
A decision by the Missouri Board of Education regarding division of the former Jenkins school district, has generally followed the wishes of parents concerning where they want their children to attend classes for not only this year but for years to come. The decision came in Jefferson City where the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been working since November 24 when the Jenkins board of education decided to close the district. That decision came after the district received a non-accredited rating from the district, had gone through difficult financial situations, had been involved in an employed treasurer embezzling funds and conflicts and audits concerning constructing a gymnasium. Students were transferred to other districts after the Thanksgiving holidays. In that move, Cassville received 84 of 105 students. Included in the 84 were 29 high school puppies and nine elementary who were already on the R-4 campus. A number of parents in the Jenkins district had moved their youngsters to Cassville when the state’s rating was first received. Dr. Dan Bailey, Cassville superintendent, said the Cassville district’s current 255 square miles of land area would be increased by some 45 square miles in the state’s reassignment. Cassville’s $55.5 million assessed valuation would be increased by an estimated $1.92 million, figuring 80-percent of the $2.4 million total value of the former district. Cassville school officials “aren’t sure”, how the $36,000 tuition due R-4 from Jenkins will be handled. The novelty of the situation places this phase of the transfer in the “undetermined status,” according to Dr. Bailey. Current taxes being collected for the Jenkins district, at the direction of DESE are being held in an escrow account by treasurer Ben Loudermilk. The funds will remain in this account until the end of 1993s tax collection period. Again, in a first-time action by the state in a district closing, legal arrangements are being studied at this time. Loudermilk said the Jenkins district last year collected $55,562.87 from real and personnel taxes. That amount will increase this year with a waiver of roll-back approved by district voters earlier in the year. Apparently, after this year, Jenkins district property owners will pay. In addition, the district received about $5,800 monthly from Proposition C sales tax receipts. This revenue was directed at teacher salaries and tax rollback. September’s payment to the district was $5,737.27. Bailey said the state had made no determination concerning a bank balance of some $19,000 the district has after closing the school doors. Contracts with administrators, faculty members, office staff and others were apparently cancelled when the board of education made a decision not to resume classes after November 24. State offices noted the division was basically along those lines that the Jenkins district had sent high school students to other schools in previous years. Parents were given the opportunity last month to express their preference in a public meeting. Cassville and Aurora received most of the district, Crane and Purdy gaining three students. A DESE spokeswoman, Mary Lou Rogers, was quoted as saying, “Parents” wishes were a key factor in the decision. The factors that were taken into consideration had a lot to do with the parent input. Of the parents involved, we had a majority of them indicate that they want their children to go to Cassville of Aurora. Few were interested in Crane or Galena.
40 years ago
January 4, 1984
— Seatbelt law enacted
New laws became effective in Missouri on January 1, 1984. Included are requirements that all children under the age of four will be required to wear safety restraints while riding in automobiles in the state. The others included a measure to generate additional funds by speeding up collection of sales taxes and improving overall collections; a law to crack down on odometer fraud and one requiring emission inspections for St. Louis area automobiles.
— Cassville Manor Bonds Signed; Project Start At Earliest Date
Nursing care facilities location in Cassville came a step closer Thursday when Industrial Development Authority, county, city and officials of Medical Holdings, Inc. of Ft. Smith, Ark. closed a bond issue that will finance the 90-bed facility. Officials of Cassville Manor, said construction on the $2 million project will begin as soon as weather conditions permit. The lengthy process of completion of the Barry County Industrial Bond issue began with a public hearing conducted by the IDA. Involved were Cherry Warren, chairman; Glen Garrett, vice-chairman; Jerry Sebastin, secretary; Art Hegi, Bob Windes, Bob Mitchell and attorney Joe Ellis. Warren said the process was the final set in the IDA completing legal requirements on the issue. Members of the Barry County Court, Presiding Judge Lloyd Dilbeck, Southern Judge Lige Frost and Northern Judge Vedes Davis, also attached their signatures to the county bond issue that will be retired entirely through revenue of the nursing center operation. County clerk Rex Stumpff made the county action official with his seal. Acting for Medical Holdings, Inc., were S. W. Creekmore, Jr., of Ft. Smith, S. W. Creekmore III and Dennis Meeks of Dallas, Texas. The company officials flew here after snow was cleared from Cassville Municipal Airport for their landing. Earlier this year the firm building Cassville Manor acquired a 14-acre site from South Barry County Hospital district just off old Exeter Road in the Southwest section of Cassville. Cassville city government had previously cleared zoning classifications for the project through a series of public hearings and council Resolutions. Mayor Bill LeCompte and city clerk Jo Ledgerwood completed municipal requirements of paperwork on the project prior to the public hearing. Construction changes in the project will provide a structure with six wings from a center core design. The 90-bed facility, complete with all features relating to a nursing care facility, was designed by architect David R. Riggs of Ft. Smith. Plat location of the building calls for the wing-shaped construction to be located about 250 feet south of the old Exeter Road. Officials of Cassville
Manor, the father-son combination of Creekmores, said future plans of the firm on the site could include construction of cottages located elsewhere on the 14-acre location. These could be used for out-patient care or residences for family members of persons residing in the nursing care facility.
50 years ago
January 2, 1974
— Industry Survey Coming January 17?
The possibility exists that a major industrial survey will be conducted in Cassville on Thursday, January 17. A joint announcement from the Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Corporation made the information available. Bill Wiley, IDC president, said the information was being released of the possible date to permit those visiting here over the coming holidays to make arrangements to join the labor survey should they desire employment in the area. Complete details for the survey will be announced the week of January 9 in area publications. For the present time, only the possibility of the survey coming can be provided to residents of the area. Wiley said local organizations have been working with the prospective company for several weeks.’ The survey will be conducted according to re-‘ quests made by the inquiring industry.
— J-J Shoes Sets New Production, Employee Levels
Production figures at the Jumping-Jacks Shoe plant in Cassville are taking a significant jump and with this factor will come an increase in the manufacturing staff according to company officials. The division of U. S. Shoe Corporation in its Cassville plant will assume some manufacturing operations of the Marionville plant. Donald Apt, vice-president for manufacturing, acknowledged the Cassville production and employment increases after company officials in Marionville had noted a reduction due to changes in operations. Involved is a transfer of the Marionville plant’s cement shoe production which will be consolidated with the Cassville and Monett plants. Larry Croster, Cassville plant manager, said the increases would add between 20 and 25 employees to the work force here. Present employment stands at the 250-mark including supervisory personnel At the present the local plant will assemble shoes of the children lines which are cut in Marionville. Within 60 days the Cassville facility will do its own cutting and fitting for the increased production line flow. Apt, who was superintendent of the local plant during construction and initial manufacturing stages, said the local plant has achieved good records during its nearly ten years in the U. S. Shoe Co. organization. The first pair of shoes were cut on March 16, 1964. Among the most modern in the industry, Cassville’s Jumping-Jacks plant has been used as a design for at least one other plant. Company officials have always been high in their praise for the production efforts and workmanship of the Cassville plant staff. Marionville plant officials said the change in operations there would affect as many as 50 jobs. Part of these people will be incorporated into the Cassville operation if they so desire. At least one in supervisory capacity has been transferred here and is moving to this community soon.
