50 years ago

June 11, 1975

— STORM WINDS STAYED OUT OF TOWNS

Tornadic winds, which some think might have been two storms, hit central Barry County at 4:30 a.m. last Thursday. The high winds that twisted large trees out of the ground made a path across the county south of Cassville. In the path of the storm were crumpled buildings, scores of uprooted and damaged trees and other property damage running in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. About the least hard hit by the storm were utility lines. Accompanying the heavy winds was heavy rainfall, with more than an inch reported in a short period before the storm moved out of the area. Just skirting Cassville to the south, the storm racked up heavy damage to some farm homes and outbuildings south and west of here. Hardest hit of these were the Bill Edie property at Exeter and Charles McGruder home at Wayne. After leaving the Cassville area the storm or storms bore southeast to smack the Bridgeway Plaza at Shell Knob. At this business complex a portion of the roof was blown off, causing heavy damage at Evoy’s Fabrics, Rima’s Market and Barrett’s Boutique. Roof tile was also blown from the Shell Knob post office. Portions of the business roofs crossed Highway 39 causing heavy damage to autos parked on the Luken Auto Sales lot. The Slats James property was also damaged. Only minor damage was reported to boat docks in the Table Rock Lake community area. Spotted tree damage with some autos smashed or bent underneath was also reported. One went through the Slats James home near Shell Knob causing considerable damage. Near Exeter the storm winds dropped a utility pole that split the home of Clarence Still. A portion of the pole ended up in bed beside the sleeping Mr. Still. He was not injured. Considering the damage to homes and buildings, officials say only slight injuries were reported, mostly from flying glass in the homes. Most residents were in bed and many were unaware the storm was passing. At its closest point to Cassville the storm ripped across the Gladys Stimson property, tearing up barns and ripping large oak trees from the ground. It then crossed Highway 112 and virtually eliminated golf cart sheds at the facility. Buildings at the course were not damaged but winds took their toll of large trees at the point the storm seems to turn southeast and head toward the Table Rock area. Storm damage was sufficiently large that officials of the American Red Cross visited the area to offer assistance. Checking with South Barry County Chapter chairman Carl Borresen, Dick Gilbert, field director from Kansas City, toured the area. Borresen said no assistance was requested by those having property damage in the storm. Listed among those most heavily hit in the storm was the Loren Easley property. A large tree crashed through the west end of the home while the Easleys were sleeping. Winds also completely peeled the bara from around stacked hay inside. Some injury was reported to cattle which were in barns at the time of the storm which traveled about two-thirds the way across Barry County. After leaving this area the storm continued east, striking at the Indian Point Boat dock and School of the Ozarks area. Crews from the Missouri Highway Department were out quickly after the storm removing trees from routes. They were being removed from the right-of-way the day after the storm. Although the storm was accompanied by heavy lightning, only minor reports of damage by this method were reported to insurance agencies of the area. Shell Knob area businesses damaged by the winds had roofs quickly replaced and clean-up operations initiated. The Rima food market opened for business that day with damaged merchandise removed from the shelves.

— EXETER RECEIVES COST INCREASE SEWER GRANT

Exeter has been granted an additional $48,000 from the state of Missouri “to meet higher construction costs” for sewage disposal systems under development for the city. The announcement came from Jefferson City from the Department of Natural Resources. City officials are in the process of working with engineers on the program to get bids out this year for construction of the project to serve an estimated 200 residents of the town. At present there is no city sewage system at Exeter. Funds granted by the state this week will supplement $70,000 from the same source earlier, $205,000 from Farmer’s Home Administration and a $234,000 bond issue voted by Exeter in 1974. The project started under development about nine years ago. The project now is estimated to cost well in excess of the original $400,000.Thebondissues received a 131-4 approval by Exeter residents when they went to the polls over a year ago. Mayor Junior Mattingly said the attorney for Exeter, Mike Baker of Springfield, who is a Barry County native of Purdy, and engineering firm of Alligier-Martin and Associates of Joplin were in charge of the program. Since last year, a major step in the project was acquiring two acres of land east of the city limits for location of a treatment plant for the disposal of sewage. This will be located on land purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Jake Mahaffey. Engineering calls for a ditch treatment of sewage to a point that it will be in excess of 99% pure when deposited in a drainage creek. Service will be provided to all homes in the Exeter city limits according to plans laid six years ago.

40 years ago

June 12, 1985

— MIGHTY MO HALF

Way In Modernization The $500 million modernization of the USS Missouri batleship is about half complete, and “Mighty Mo” should rejoin the fleet in less than a year, according to its prospective commanding officer. Captian A. L. Kaiss met Friday with groups from St. Louis to brief residents on the ship’s renovation. During his stops, he showed a 20-minute slide presentation on the ship and its modernization. The USS Missouri, one of the most powerful battleships ever built, was commissioned in 1944. In World War Il the ship supported allied landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Japanise formally surrendered in 1945 in a ceremony aboard the Missouri. The ship also supported U.S. efforts in Korea before being decommissioned in 1955 docked in Bremerton, Washington. The ship is receiving new weaponry, including cruise missiles, as part of its modernization. Its home port will be San Francisco or Hawaii.

— PRESSURE CANNER TESTS AT TWO LOCATIONS

The pressure is on! Now is the time to have your pressure canner gauge tested, according to Mickey Belosi, food and nutrition specialist, Missouri Cooperative Extension. Pressure gauge testing will be Wednesday, June 26 at Consumers, Hwy. 60, Monett and Friday, June 28 at the Community Room, Third and Main, in Cassville. Bring your canner lid with the gauge still on it to be tested between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. “Pressure canner gauges need to be tested every year” says Belosi. This is a free service of the extension service.

— MORE SESQUICENTENNIAL PROGRAMS AT SHELL KNOB

Continuing with their observance of the 150th anniversary of the community, Shell Knob will present a number of activities this weekend, according to the Chamber of Commerce, coordinator of events. The 15th Annual Arts and Crafts Show is June 15 at the Community Building from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be a wide variety of handmade crafts from dolls to leatherwork. The Presbyterian church will be manning a snack bar during show hours. Admission is free and door prizes will be awarded hourly. Spaces are still available for exhibitors For a look at how pioneers lived, a Freetrappers Rendesvous at the old C.C.C. camp on Highway YY. There will be buckskinners in teepees and traders with goods from the period 1800-1840 with as much authenticity as possible. The buckskinners will be at the camp all weekend but Saturday will be the best day to see them. Antique gasoline engine exhibit in conjunction with a special pro-motion. Six lowboys of engines will be on display on the Tapjac Lumber grounds.

30 years ago

June 7, 1995

— SBC HOSPITAL SIGNS ON AS NETWORK PROVIDER

South Barry County Hospital in Cassville has entered into a cooperative agreement with St. John’s Health System, Inc. in Springfield. The signed agreement between the two hospitals allows South Barry County Hospital to function as a network provider of medical services for St. John’s. “For rural hospitals to survive in the changing healthcare market, i’s essential for there to be a network relationship with the larger health facilities,” said Debbie Stubbs, South Barry County Hospital’s chief executive officer. Otherwise, as larger hospitals such as St. John’s and Cox market their managed care products in areas such as Barry county, the local hospital could be left out of the loop.” Stubbs said that this agreement encourages people, who are insured through a St. John’s managed care plan, to seek medical services at their local hospital. Insurance pays for a larger amount of medical costs if patients use a hospital that is a network provider. The agreement with St. John’s is not exclusive, Stubbs said. South Barry County Hospital has also entered into discussions with Cox Medical Center about serving as a provider for them. “We hope to have an agreement in place soon,” Stubbs said. Both St. John’s and Cox will have a physician presence in Cassville by September. Currently Dr. Norman Tullis and Dr. Michael Payne practice locally through Cox Health System. Dr. Thomas Harris is scheduled to open a St. John’s clinic in Cassville in September. Dirt work at the building site has begun. The clinic is being built for St. John’s by Springfield builders, west of the hospital- owned clinic and physical therapy building. The new clinic and land will be owned by St. John’s. Land ownership terms are still under negotiation, Stubbs said. Independent physicians practicing in Cassville include Dr. J.C. Flanary and Dr. Victor Occeno. Dr. James Warn is employed by the hospital. Stubbs said that to her knowl-edge, St. John’s had not begun marketing its managed care product to local industries.

— DOWNED POWER LINE CAUSES OUTAGE

A telephone pole broke and a power line went down near Hutchen’s Construction in Cassville, causing a power outage for the area east and south of the business. FASCO, Wells, The Rib, the light at the Four-Way intersection, Motel 8 and other surrounding businesses and residences were without power for an undetermined amount of time this morning (Wednesday). Barry Electric crews were busy restoring power and could not be reached for detailed information.