50 years ago

June 25, 1975

— COUNTY COULD RECEIVE $58,675 ROAD FUNDS

The Barry County Court will confer with representatives of the Missouri Highway Department Thursday concerning a possible windfall of $58,675 in funds for road projects. Wilbur Stegner, district engineer, is scheduled to talk to the county about federal funds made available through the Missouri Association of Counties. County Clerk Howard Bou-nous said a requirement on use of the funds held that a county match of 30½ must be made available. Revenue Sharing Funds are not to be used as a match. This leaves available road district funds the only remaining local source. Allocations in Missouri are on the basis of farm acreage and mileage of rural roads in each county. Adjoining county receipts scheduled are: McDonald $40,792, Lawrence $56,543. With a county match required, Barry could have an additional $76,277.50 to apply to projects designated by officials and approved by the system. Funds not used by various counties who choose not to participate will be reallocated. Projects must be implemented before July 1.

— COUNCIL SESSION COVERS AIRPORT AND CREEK PAY

A special meeting of the Cassville city council Tuesday night put the finishing touches to paper work involved in the new airport program. Attending the meeting, at which a resolution was passed on federal grant requests, were Mayor Bill LeCompte, and aldermen W. E. Leonard, Bill Hailey and Marlee Edie. City attorney Joe Ellis and clerk F. O. Fields were also involved in the completion stage of the city involvement. Acceptance of the grant funds paves the way for receipt of partial funds for complete land purchase in the next week. George Ulmer, engineer, told the council work included installation of electrical ducts, access road, power line removal, all in addition to the actual strip and related facilities. City action also made requests for an additional $25,000 in state funds at the start of a new fiscal year, July 1. This would make a total of $50,000 in Missouri monies available for the project. Ulmer reminded the council that complete audits of the project would be made by federal and state agencies and that unused funds would necessarily be returned to the granting source. Completing council action in the special session was authorization of funds amounting to $8,667.30 payable to Evan Hutchens and Son Contractors for current brush removal and re-channelization of Flat Creek through a major part of town. Mayor Bill LeCompte said work was virtually complete on all adjoining properties which have given permission to the city to accomplish the project.

40 years ago

June 26, 1985

— FESCUE SEED PRICE JUMP AFTER RAIN AT OPENING

This year there is a race between fescue seed harvesters and weekly rains to see which might prevail. But, growers and harvesters are quite sure a general downpour last Saturday contributed to a healthy price increase. As combines were getting set to roll, rains fell that ranged from one and one-half to four inches over the heavy fescue seed producing area of southwest Missouri. At the time the starting price was being set at 12 cents a pound. By the time skies cleared Monday and machines got in the field to pick up previously swathed seed, the price had jumped eight cents a pound. The price for dry seed was standing at 20 cents through Wednesday. Between the rain and full start of combining, reports are a lot of seed that went into storage on a low price last year, came out of that situation at 15 cents a pound on Friday. There are a number of factors involved in the market this year. Rain in the early spring made good hay crops a certainty. And, cattlemen remembered the dry summer last year and heavy feeding in the winter, passed the chance for cash cropping in taking seed. With about a one-half crop of seed remaining, markets are more anxious to get the seed, even though a substantial part of the heavy 1984 crop went into storage, some growers and brokers having a million pounds of seed from last year. The half crop theory, which was predicted in post season guesses by many growers, rain-fall, hay needs and last year’s lessons, have combined to make a price break for growers. Total production would be somewhere in the six million pound range for Barry County under these conditions. Rainfall that pelted the area Saturday, was virtually throughout the heavy seed harvest area. An estimated 70 percent of the fescue seed harvested in the United States is thought to be combined within a 70 mile radius of Cassville. The moisture came in heavier amounts to the west and north of here. Days in the field aren’t beginning early for the harvest, as heavy dew requires a warming sun for drying out. Moisture content of seed is also heavier this year due to high humidity. Seed quality is rated as good by buying stations at Barry County Co-op in Exeter, Pennington Grain and Seed at Washburn, and United Seed Co., south of Monett. Those involved in developing fescue in Barry County about 36 years ago, say the three-way crop has contributed substantially to the ag-economy of the area. Features of grazing, haying and seeding have worked well in the heavy cattle industry of the county.

— PURDY ACCEPTS BID FOR ROOFING PROJECT

The Purdy R-II board of education held its regular monthly meeting June 17, 1985. After completing regular monthly business, the board of education voted to accept a bid of $36,918 from Tiger Steel Company of Springfield, for roofing materials for renovating the elementary school roof. In other action, the funding to the school district in Chapter I, Chapter II, Title I, and a new program for gifted and talented pupils. In addition, applications for special education funds, state school money, and transportation funds were also approved. The board heard a report from Miss Nola Bowman, elementary principal, on a proposed school policy dealing with retention of elementary school pupils, and also received information from DI. Mark Fickie, high school principal, on a new dress code proposal for high school students developed by pupils in the senior high school. In final action, the board extended teaching contracts to Joel Easter for high school counselor and varsity girls basketball coach, and Nancy Easter for elementary physical education and varsity girls volleyball coach. The next meeting of the board will be on Monday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m., reports Superintendent Richard Place.

30 years ago

June 21, 1995

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSVILLE 1845-1995 – 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

The stage is set for a non-stop weekend of activities celebrating Cassville’s Sesquicentennial. Festivities begin Friday, June 30 with a picnic dinner and free bluegrass serenade from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the high school parking lot. “Two for the Show”, a performance by a professional country music comedy group, will begin at 7 p.m. in the gym. A hot air balloon glow will close Friday’s events. The balloons, which will be competing in weekend races, will be at the FASCO grounds. Seven Cassville industries, Arning, FASCO, George’s, Luck “E” Strike, Justin, Thorco and Wells Aluminum are sponsoring the balloon events. Historic encampments will be held throughout the weekend at Rocky Edmondson Memorial Park. A group of mountain men dressed in buckskin will set up walled tents and a teepee to reconstruct life as it was in the 1840s and 1850s. Muzzleloading and firing, tomahawk throwing and primitive camping and cooking will all be demonstrated. Confederate soldiers will also set up an encampment and appear in the parade. This group will shoot an authentic Civil War cannon each hour Saturday at Edmondson Park. Cassville will also be the scene of shootouts throughout the day on Saturday, July 1. A group of Old West gunfighters, calling themselves “Legends of the West” will stage shootouts around the square. Other Saturday activities include: a run, which begins at 7:30 a.m.; the sesquicentennial parade, beginning at 9 a.m.; and non-stop performances on the square throughout the day. Clogging and square dancing exhibitions, musical groups, a clown show and historical performances will be featured on a stage on the Square’s west side. Food, industry exhibits and arts and crafts booths will be in place around the Square, and carnival rides and games will be set up near First Baptist Church. As activities close down on the Square, area residents can head to the Cassville high gym for a musical history of Cassville presented by local talent. “Cassville’s First 150 Years” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Balloon races will be held at 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., taking off from FASCO on Sale Barn Road The third race will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 2. Other activities on Sunday include: children’s carnival rides from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.; Indian fancy dance exhibition, 2:00 p.m.; kids games, 3:00 p.m.; and a benefit chicken barbeque, 4:00 p.m. These events will be held at the American Legion grounds. The Ministerial Alliance will sponsor a community- wide ser-vice, beginning with a gospel sing at 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Park. The service will conclude by 8:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and bring a lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at the First Baptist Worship Center. All of Sunday’s events will take place at the American Legion grounds and picnic area.

— HISTORY OF NEWSPAPERING IN CASSVILLE BY MEANS RAY (WRITTEN APRIL 18, 1953)

Writing an article about Cassville’s two newspapers by me would be like preparing a eulogy for one’s self for the newspaper history is so entwined with my own family to start with my grand-father, Dr. John Ray, my father, Charles Ray, my brother, John Pharis Ray, my nephew, Bob Mitchell and myself. An apology is offered first for any references to the Cassville Democrat which has been so much a part of my life. Cassville has two newspapers, the Cassville Democrat and the Cassville Republican. The Democrat was founded by my grandfather, Dr. John Ray who purchased the Cassville True Democrat from Dr. William Ogle in 1872 and retired from the practice of medicine to devote his time to the newspaper and continued to do so until his death in 1889 when Charles, my father, took over the ownership of the paper and continued until his death in 1927. It was then the ownership was transferred to my mother, Jennie B. Ray who passed away in 1945 when the paper was taken over by her children who still own it. The Cassville Republican was established by B. W. Bennington who continued the paper until about 1889 when it was sold to George E. Harris, editor and publisher, until 1901 when John M. Grimes, now an Iowa newspaper-man, became the owner and continued until the paper was purchased by E. N. Meador. Mr. Meador continued with the paper until 1950 when it was sold to the present owners, Emory Melton and Wayne Ennis. Fred W Bennington, son of the founder, has been connected with the paper since its establishment as mechanical foreman. The policy of both papers has been for the upbuilding of Barry County to use every effort for better roads, better farms, and better farming and to bring it to the forefront in the dairy industry until it now stands fourth in the state. Some 40 years ago the Cassville Democrat with the cooperation of the First National and Barry County Banks and George E. Joslin, operator of a creamery, enlisted the assistance of the late A. J. McDowell, Frisco Railroad dairy commissioner, organized a dairy and beef club each. Both the dairy and beef industry have continued to grow since that time. The Cassville Democrat has carried on a persistent campaign for a permanent pasture and soil improvement program and has worked for all weather grasses. Fortunately for their plan former Barry County residents, Bill Talbert, a county agent in Kentucky and now president of a bank at Hopkinsville, Ky,, and Pat Perry, farm superintendent for a Tennessee prison farm, were carrying on like programs and supplied much information. This pasture program started some years ago and anyone visiting the county can see the results have been a success. At a meeting of newspapermen the writer was asked to participate in a panel on circulation because the Cassville Democrat ranks among the top eight Missouri county weeklies in circulation. He told of the grass program and that it had helped considerable along with the building of circulation. At a subsequent meeting a newspaper publisher from another community asked how our seed business was progressing and would hardly believe that our interest was not in selling seed but was in building a better county and newspaper. Another program we have fostered is the use of silos. Our campaign in this has been successful with more than 500 trench silos being constructed last year. Their use has demonstrated the great value and neighbors of those having them are planning the use of silage this year. They realize that if the season is good the silage will keep and feel also that if a rainy season is encountered at haying time the hay may be saved by making silage of it and prevent its loss. To create interest in campaigns for better farming and dairying it has been our policy to visit the farms employing the better practices and have news items about their accomplishments. This kind of news items brings others into the office to tell what they have done and it is our policy to give such items the very best attention with all the ability we possess. The Cassville newspapers are both strong advocates of the two major parties and do the best to espouse the principles enunciated by those they favor. We’re glad to say that the people of Barry County are not too hidebound in their politics but give each other the right to express their opinions freely. This, we can say without exaggeration, has been proven by the circulation of the Cassville Democrat. Another promotion it has been our privilege to foster has been that of the broiler industry to bring our county to the foremost place in the state and result in a chicken processing plant being located here which employs some 60 or more people. One of the owners of the plant credits us with being responsible for it being here. The broiler and tomato canning plants is a must with us for we feel the best interest of the community are in preparing our production for the consumer. This applies to timber, stone and other products in addition to foodstuffs. The Forest Products Co., manufacturers of hardwood flooring and other hardwood products, is a result of this policy. Southwest Missouri has many good weekly newspapers that do much for their beloved Ozarks. They, like the public sale bill listing articles to be offered, are too numerous to mention.

—EARLY NEWSPAPERS IN BARRY COUNTY

The history of Barry County, published in 1888, records that the Barry County Banner was established on January 29, 1870 by B. W. Bennington and J. S. Drake. On January 14, 1871, Mr. Bennington issued his valedictory to the readers of the Banner. He said: “My career was short and not very brilliant and now that it is run I have no regret that it was otherwise. The duty was a task to be performed to best conduct to my own interest which is ultimately having to please everybody and be everybody’s tool and plaything, to be used and tossed about at their pleasure.” The Cassville True Democrat was first issued by W. M. Ogle, January 28, 1871. Ogle’s salutatory occupied about two and one-half columns of the paper. The first paragraph read, “In the last issue of the Barry County Banner some of my readers perused the valedictory of my amiable young friend, B. W. Bennington, Esq., who has retired from that paper which has been merged into the Cassville True Democrat. His kind wishes for my success pecuniary are reciprocated. The paper was purchased from Mr. Ogle by B. H. Farmer on September 2, 1871, and in November 1872 it was purchased from him by Dr. John Ray The Valley Press, published at Corsicana in 1872 but was moved to Cassville in the summer of 1876 and the name changed to the Cassville Republican with Dr. John T. Horner as editor until 1882, when Mr. Bennington again entered the business again.