50 years ago

Aug. 20, 1975

— “LAST PICTURE SHOW” AT HALL’S ON SQUARE

The “last picture show” has been projected on the screen at Cassville’s Hall Theater. Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hall, owners, announced this week the facility will not be reopened this fall. Instead, the Halls have begun a remodeling project that will convert the structure on the west side of the public square to a 5,000 square foot commercial building. While the Halls do not plan reopening their indoor theater this fall, they will continue operation of the Green Hills Drive-In on Highway 248 east of Cassville. Hall said next season an extended show date would be scheduled for the outdoor facility to serve this area. The Halls acquired movie business operations here in 1943, purchasing the theater on the south side of the square from Mrs. Ageline Nolan. They bought the Cassville Community Building a year later and converted the auditorium- type structure into a theater with an opening in August of 1945. Commercial and office spaces were later included in the structure that includes about half of the square location. Hall said declining box offices in small town indoor theaters have resulted in similar closings throughout the area. He said the decision to close the facility after nearly 30 years of operation was not an easy one for their family. He said continued high quality films will remain on the schedule for Green Hills Drive-In during the season with expanded dates next year. Included in the renovation of the building will be installation of a level floor and remodeling of the entrance way. No exact plans for the building’s future have been announced.

— AN OPINION…

Cassville faces a situation…. that this newspaper has previously labeled “The Dog Capital of the Country.” Stray animals and the wandering pet type canines are virtually running in packs in about any part of town you choose to observe. The situation could well be nearing serious proportions, as evidenced by one local young woman presently taking anti-rabies shots after being bitten by a stray animal that was found dead two days later. Early in this opinion we would like to point out this is not a situation of an anti-dog movement. There are few more ardent dog lovers than this writer. In fact, we’re the proud owners of three. This is where we differ with many animal owners… we keep ours penned unless they are released for supervised runs or hunts. Were this practice the rule for all pet owners, the situation would not exist that does today. Pets, the supervised and cared for types, are the most wonderful creatures to have around. But uncontrolled strays mixed in the bunch, somewhat similar to humans, can cause problems. It is a wonder to us there have not been more incidents involving canines that are running loose in Cassville before now. If the situation is allowed to continue, we can only guess at what serious happening might confront residents in the future. As a lover of dogs, what we’d suggest is that human owners take more interest in their pets. Provide adequate spaces for them. Keep them on their own property for their enjoyment, not the often destruction or messing of belongings or land of others. Perhaps the most sound solution is not a more strict dog licensing program, or even the enforcement of existing rules and regulations…. how about fines or penalties for owners that permit their pets to cause difficulty with others. Control of our pets….or better still…their owners, will soon lessen the problem and danger created by stray dogs in Cassville.

— AF TRAINEE

Airman Richard D. Corn, son of Johnny L. Corn, Rt. 1, Seligman, has been selected for technical training in the U. S. Air Force fuel services field at Chanute AFB, III. The airman recently completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Tex., where he studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special instruction in human relations. Airman Corn is a 1975 graduate of Southwest high school.

40 years ago

Aug. 21, 1985

— NEW DOCTOR, NEW CONCEPT FOR HOSPITAL

Arrival of a new doctor in Cassville could also be the start of satellite clinics out of South Barry County Hospital. Captain John Ferris, MD, USAF, has confirmed with hospital officials he will open a practice in this community. Administrator Edward Browning said at recent board meeting, the district would consider a system of satellite clinics in outlying communities. Dr. Ferris will have a central office at 86 Gravel Street, in property owned by the hospital district. Dr. Ferris, who received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1979, did two years residency in family practice and a year residency in Air Force flight surgeon school. He also holds a degree in psychology from Oklahoma State University and served seven years in the United States Navy as a nuclear power engineer on three submarines. Scheduled to specialize in family practice, including both obstetrics and pediatrics, Dr. Ferris and family, including five children, are scheduled to arrive in this community in October. They visited in Cassville prior to making their decision and were here this week. For the past two years, Dr. Ferris has been responsible for Air Force personnel and families and emergency room duty at a military hospital at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He has also served as a flight surgeon providing primary care for pilots and families. Moving from the Omaha, Nebraska area, the Ferris family indicated their choice of new residence was based on good schools and churches in the community, important to them in raising their children.

— COMPLETES BASIC

Air-man Mark D. Lawrence, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh M. Lawrence of rural Washburn, has been assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, after completing Air Force basic training. During the six weeks at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. The airman will now receive specialized instruction in the aircraft maintenance field. He is a 1985 graduate of Southwest high school, Washburn.

30 years ago

Aug. 16, 1995

— LOST BIBLE MAKES MIRACLE JOURNEY HOME FROM ENGLAND

Galvez, LA – A World War II veteran gave up his Army-issued Bible in England before he was transported to Normandy for the Allied forces invasion. He has thought of that Bible in the past 51 years, but never dreamed he would see it again. Charles “Buck” Sweitzer, 72, of Osburne, Idaho, was amazed when his daughter called him on May 22, and asked if the U.S. Army ever gave him a Bible. “He said, ‘Yes, but the Army took it away from me in England,’ “ Switzer’s daughter, Nancy Hedegaard, said. Switzer gave up his Army-issued Bible Henly-on-the-Thames, England, in 1944. The Bible was later purchased in Kaerehave, Denmark, by a member of the Danish Merchant Marines in 1979. Hedegaard discovered the antique Bible in her Galvez home May 22. The Bible’s travels began when the Army issued it to 19-year-old Sweitzer in 1943. The Army then took it from him while his unit was in England preparing for D-Day. “Security was very tight,” Switzer said. “We couldn’t have anything with our names or family’s name and address.’ Nancy Hedegaard was baffled when her husband Jorgen Hedegaard discovered the New Testament inscribed with her father’s name among books Jorgen purchased in Denmark. “I never knew my father to own a Bible,” Nancy said. In 1979, Jorgen purchased miscellaneous books at an estate sale in Silkeborg, Denmark. Jorgen, whose family had lived near Silkeborg since the 1600s, did not know Nancy or her father when he bought the books. “I didn’t go (to the sale) to buy books,” Jorgen said. “They were selling beer and in the last half-hour of the sale, my father and I bought everything in sight. I never really looked at the books.” Those unexamined, antique books traveled to the U.S. with Jorgen and have been sitting on a bookshelf since he met Nancy in Baton Rouge in 1986. Jorgen, who served in the Danish Merchant Marines from 1976 to 1984, was cleaning off a bookshelf for his office when he discovered the Bible. “I would like my daughter to keep the Bible,” Sweitzer said who has not yet seen the well-traveled book. “Them finding it that way, why it’s just something.” Barbara Schlichtman covers the River Parishes along the Mississippi River for the Baton Rouge Advocate.

— WILLIAMSON, FOHN FUNERAL HOMES ANNOUNCE MERGER OF BUSINESSES

Owners of four area funeral homes announced a business merger Monday. The Williamson and McQueen Funeral Homes of Cassville, Shell Knob and Wheaton, and the Fohn Funeral Home of Cassville have merged, effective immediately. Jim Fohn and Skip White, owners of the two businesses, said the funeral homes will continue to function as they always have. “Barry County families will still have the choice of locations and facilities based upon their personal preference,” Fohn said. The businesses have operated continuously in Barry County for more than 30 years. Fohn and his wife, Janice, purchased the Axley-Culver funeral home five years ago. White and his wife, Kathy, bought Williamson’s in Sept. 1991. Fohn said the merger had been discussed over the past six months. The Fohns, who are controlling stock holders in the merger, will continue to manage Fohn Funeral Home, and the Whites will manage Williamson Funeral Homes in Shell Knob and Cassville and the McQueen Funeral Home in Wheaton. Ken and Pam Rapalje will no longer manage McQueen Funeral Home. They made the decision to leave the funeral business prior to the merger. White said their departure was one of the reasons he wanted to pursue the business deal. Both Fohn and White said that working together will hopefully give each family more “personal time.” “Bringing these funeral homes under single management offers us the opportunity to provide a higher level of service and response to the families of Barry County,” Fohn said. Jim Fohn and Skip White are licensed funeral directors and embalmers. Kathy White and Janice Fohn are licensed funeral directors. “Between the four of us, we have over 75 years of combined funeral director and embalming experience,” said White. “It is our intention to continue the high traditions of service and quality that have typified these firms in the past.”

— DRUG MONEY USED TO PURCHASE GUNS

Cassville police officers will be issued new weapons thanks to money the city recovered from a drug bust. Greg Beavers, city administrator, reported that the city would be able to purchase .42 caliber stainless steel Smith & Wesson guns for each officer. The recovered drug money would also be used to pay for new holsters and belts. Police Chief Jay Reyes said that the standardization of weapons would allow the city to standardize ammunition and training as well. “We like the idea of using their money to work against them (criminals),” Beavers said. Currently city officers must purchase their own weapon. As a result, police are using about four different guns, which means the city must buy four different types of ammunition. Several weeks ago, the council voted to purchase new hand held radios for the police and fire departments. Financing for that purchase also came from recovered drug money. Beavers also reported that the police department had completed the move to their new location.