50 years ago

June 4, 1975

— REVENUE SHARING RECEIPTS FOR COUNTY INCREASED

11% County and local governments will receive about an 11 percent increase in Federal Revenue Sharing for the sixth entitlement period. The payments are scheduled for arrival at the various levels of government about July 1, according to government officials. Distributions of the federal, program are based on population, per capita income and tax effort. Levels of government have used the federal funded program over the past two years for various functions. Barry County used a major portion of it’s past receipts for construction of the new jail, various courthouse improvements, funding law enforcement salaries and other offices. Cassville has used the federal funds for salary increases, street work, purchase of park land, park improvements and airport programs. Under the federal program, Barry County is scheduled to receive $135,267 in the entitlement period. The July payment is scheduled to run $23,250. Payments to city and town subdivisions listed in the government report include the following: Cassville, entitlement $22,-375 and July payment $5,201. Exeter, has an entitlement of $3,771 and payment of $84. Monett’s entitlement is set at $39,118 with the next payment $6,057. Purdy is scheduled to receive $9,587 in the entitlement and $1,547 in July. Seligman’s receipt for the period will be $1,996 with July receipt $959. Wheaton is set for $2,204 entitlement with a $425 payment next month. Butterfield receives $447 in entitlement and $100 in July. Washburn has a $1,906 entitlement with $423 for payment in July. Overall, the county and city-town payments, scheduled in July amounts to $38,802. General practice of governments in this area is to invest the funds in interest-bearing certificates for a period of time while decisions are being made on its uses. Federal reports on the plans and actual uses of the funds are required but not followed by all levels receiving the monies.

— FARMERS MARKET OPENS NEAR PARK FRIDAY

The merchant’s committee of the Chamber of Commerce met Thursday at the Chamber office. Following the business session the committee discussed and completed plans for a “Farmer’s Market.” The committee will provide a location, where all local area residents and organizations, will have the opportunity to sell their home grown fruits, vegetables and products. There is no charge for a stand or truck space but each seller will be responsible to clean up their own trash and haul it away. The market will open on Friday and Saturday, June 6-7 and continue each Friday and Saturday until September 1. The location for the Farmer’s Market will be the vacant lot south of the swimming pool, and the highway bridge on Mill Street. Anyone desiring any further information concerning this market may contact the Chamber office. Plans for the July 4 celebration here, including free watermelon, band concert and fireworks display were also discussed, reports Wayne Tomblin, chairman.

— HAY PROSPECTS BRIGHTER THAN FIRST EXPECTED

Expectations for a hay crop in Barry County are better than they were two months ago, says Ken Morris, area farm management specialist. Many of us felt that the adverse spring weather less than usual amount of fertilizers, alfalfa weevil and army worms would reduce the hay crop greatly. These factors have been detrimental but probably not as much as expected. We have reports of reduced alfalfa yields, and some near normal yields. The use of insecticides on alfalfa has been helpful although some weather factors reduced the effectiveness of some of the products used. Fescue, fescue-legumes, orchard grass and orchard grass-legume mixtures have been fairly productive. Some yields have approached 100 bales per acre, the usual report is around 50 or 60 bales per acre. Weather conditions have not been favorable. There were many acres of hay in the swath or windrow early this week. The quality suffers when this material gets wet and must be re-raked and becomes bleached out. The prospects for regrowth are dependent upon the amount and spacing of rains during June. The amount of higher quality hay is short and dairymen are doing all they can to harvest for ages at the proper stage. Much of the other kinds of hay are in larger supply which is better news for the hay producers. According to Morris, one major problem exists in this whole picture. What about the pasture situation and the cattle supply? There may be some trouble ahead if we have harvested the only feed on our farm and face the prospect of using the hay or liquidating some of the cattle. It is a time for some good marketing practices and forward planning.

40 years ago

June 5, 1985

— TWO AREA STUDENTS SMSU HIGH RANKERS

As seniors at Southwest Missouri State University, Angela G. Criswell and Jon Loren Horner, both of Cassville, were among more than 75 SMS students initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society May 1. Criswell, an art education major, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lee Criswell, Cassville. She is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society, the Student Missouri State Teachers Association and the National Art Education Association. Horner, a finance and banking major, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Horner, Cassville. Phi Kappa Phi recognizes excellence in all academic fields. To qualify for membership a student must complete 75 credit hours with at least a 3.90 cumulative grade point average or be a graduating senior with at least a 3.50 cumulative g.p.a.

— RAINFALL COULD PRODUCE LARGER CUT FESCUE SEED

Barry County’s fescue seed harvest could produce more poundage for the 1985 season if rain conditions continue. At the art of the hay season, it was believed most of the Kentucky 31 fescue crop would go into forage. But, almost daily rains have put some fields in the stage of being beyond haying. Next Monday could be the decision time for those making a choice. If hay isn’t cut by that lime, the value of fescue for seed might increase. Heavy stems on plants make the crop less desirable for hay. ,Farm interest say constant showers that have gone through the area in the past few weeks have increased the possibility of fescue being seeded instead of hayed. As of Tuesday, 11 of the last 15 days have produced general showers in the area. One market place this week estimated the price of seed would open between 11 and 12 cents a pound. That’s up some from the original estimate of a low eight cents projected earlier. Farmers wanting to go the hay route in their crop, have experienced problems, including cut hay getting wet at least four times before baling was possible. Anyone not facing this problem has been termed a good planner or just plain lucky. First of the week downpours in the area posed another problem in the seed game. Heavy fescue heads were beginning to fall as a result of blowing rains. Growers anticipate some will not straighten to meet swathing schedules. One grower commented this week, “I might be better off if none of my seed was harvested this year. It would make that from last year which is in storage worth more.” Richard Prewitt, agronomy specialist for the University of Missouri Extension Service, estimates harvesting of fescue seed will begin in the next two of three weeks. His advice, “visit with your seed dealer about prices, dockage, etc.” The extension specialists also suggested: There are two ways used for harvesting seed in Southwest Missouri. One is the windrower, along with a pickup attachment on the combine. This method removes many of the problems associated with direct combining of fescue seed. The seed is usually cut with the windrower when the straw in the head is yellow, or when the earliest heads will shatter an occasional seed when the stem is tapped blow the head. The last several years here in Southwest Missouri, windrowing usually starts somewhere between June 10 and June 20. Those who windrow seed too early will be too light for sale. Combining the windrow can usually begin by the time the farmer has finished windrowing all his seed or in about three to five days. Fescue seed can also be directly combined, some seed is usually lost by shattering of over-ripe heads and from failure of late heads to thresh. Fescue seed heads don’t all come out at the same time, there is usually 10 days between the earliest and latest seed heads. This seems to be a problem every year. Grass seed combined directly from the stand needs to be further along in maturity than when cut with the windrower. A few of the more advanced heads may be in the shattering stage. Usually the straw will be yellow about six inches below the head when direct combining begins. The combine needs to be set according to the manual. The air will need to be cut down or completely cut off, to prevent seed from blowing over. The heads only should be cut with no attempt to clean seed or seed will go over with the chaff and straw.

30 years ago

May 24, 1995

— CASSVILLE DEMOCRAT TO NEW OWNERS JUNE 1

The state’s oldest family-owned newspaper will be under new ownership beginning June 1. Mike and Lisa Schlichtman of Cassville will purchase the 123-year-old Cassville Democrat from Bob and Sue Mitchell. Mitchell has been an editor of the publication since 1963. His mother, Kathryn Ray Mitchell, served as publisher of the Cassville Democrat until her death on March 25 of this year. The Schlichtmans, who will serve as co-publishers, have been Cassville residents since 1986. Schlichtman is a native of Cassville and graduated from CHS in 1981. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Missouri, where he met his wife, Lisa. Mrs. Schlichtman has worked at the newspaper on a part-time basis for the past eight years. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to purchase a newspaper with such a long tradition of serving Barry County,” Schlichtman said. “Lisa and I believe a newspaper is a vital part of any community, and we are committed to publishing a newspaper of which Cassville and surrounding cities can justifiably be proud. We will continue to cover Barry County like the morning dew.” Mrs. Schlichtman will serve as editor of the paper with Schlichtman overseeing advertising and commercial printing aspects of the business. Schlichtman is also employed as regional manager for Bakery Feeds, Inc., owned by Cincinnatibased Griffin Industries. Mitchell will continue to be associated with the newspaper in an advisory capacity. Other Cassville Democrat employees include: Darlene Wierman, who has served as the paper’s office manager for 25 years; Matt McClamrock; and Leatrice Strother. The Cassville Democrat is the only paper in the state and probably the nation, that can claim ownership by one family 123 years. It is the second oldest Missouri newspaper still in publication. The newspaper was founded in 1872 by Dr. John Ray, a Cassville physician-turned publisher. Dr. Ray’s son, Charles, took over operations of the paper in 1888, and then Mrs. Charles Ray succeeded her husband in 1926 as publisher and held that position until 1945. Their sons, John and Means, served the newspaper as editors from 1912 to 1965. Mrs. Kathryn Ray Mitchell became publisher in 1954. Mitchell represents the fourth generation of Rays publishing the newspaper. He joined the staff in 1953 after completion of four years in the Navy during the Korean War. The Mitchells said this week there were “certain anxieties involved in selling the paper.” “We had always said that there would be no changes involved so long as the former publisher, Kathryn Mitchell, was alive. Her recent death changed a lot of things,” they observed. “We feel very comfortable in turning over this fourth generation publication to Mike and Lisa,” Mitchell said. “They represent the type people we think should be operating community newspapers. They are interested in the community, willing to make an investment in their future and anxious to continue building a strong community that cannot be equaled anywhere!” “Of all the options that might have been available in the sale of this general circulation newspaper, we think our choice is the best,” Mitchell said. “Individual ownership by people who have an interest in the community can by far, best serve the readers, Cassville and surrounding area. This type family operation, as compared to group or corporate media ownership, has served this area well over the course of the years, and can continue to be a driving force in the community,” the outgoing owners said. Official operations of the newspaper will go into the hands of the Schlichtmans on June 1.