50 years ago

Dec. 10, 1975

— City Update Of City Well Chlorination

The Cassville city council went on record to replace chlorination equipment at two wells during their regular meeting Tuesday night. Mayor Bill LeCompte said the expenditure would involve slightly over $500. Present equipment is considered inadequate and will be replaced as soon as the new installation can be installed by local employees. Chlorene has been injected into the water system for about three years in an effort to remove heavy odors of sulphur in the Eighth Street well. In other action taken by three members of the council present, Gene Schlichtman, W. C. Hailey and Marlee Edie: Jack Pew Oil Co. will furnish a tank from which city vehicles can be fueled at considerable saving to the city government. A resolution was passed authorizing Mayor LeCompte to proceed with RC&D plans for flood control projects here. Jim Callahan of the Mt. Vernon office visited with the council regarding the project. Cassville or the government agency do not know at this time when the extensive work project can be started. Council action also moved to purchase a street striper, costing $700, which can be used for maintenance of cross walks and parking areas on city streets. Plans for a Community Center and Ambulance Garage at the Main Street city building remodeling project under HUD were discussed with Lonnie McCullough, representing South Barry County Ambulance District.

— Hawk Shopping Center Sold To Loren Walters

The Northview Shopping Center on North City 37 has been sold by Mr. and Mrs. Jake Hawk to Mr. and Mrs. Loren Walters. Hawk is retiring from operation of the four-business structure. Walters will also continue operation of his pest and spraying service. Located adjacent to Cassville Bowl, the structure houses four businesses: John’s Clothing Store, a new addition to the business community here; Joyce’s Beauty Shop, Carolyn’s Sewing Bee and Diane’s Poodle Boutique. Hawk also announced the sale of his farm near Cassville to Mr. and Mrs. Don Carr of here. Operators of the respective businesses include John Hendrix Jr., Joyce Hastings, Carolyn Marrs and Diane Gray. Immediate possession of both properties was given the new owners according to Hawk.

40 years ago

Dec. 11, 1985

— Roaring River ‘86 Projects

Six major projects are planned at Roaring River State Park, to begin this next year, according to Wayne E. Gross, director Division of Parks and Recreation of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Gross said the projects would either be underway or planning started this next year. The department is also conducting interviews Friday with prospective concessionaires for the park’s restaurant facilities. Seven bidders made proposals on the contract opened when Mrs. Carolyn Marrs of Cassville resigned. In an outline to the Democrat this week, Gross made these projections of projects at the state park near Cassville. He also said these projects were considered the major ones, with additional work and improvements scheduled throughout the coming season. The public restroom in the lodge will be renovated and the parking area behind this building will be paved. A study will be completed to identify the best location of a new swimming pool. Once the site is identified, the new pool will be designed. Funding to construct the pool will be required in next year’s budget. The buildings which comprise the area known as Camp Smokey will be further remodeled to include new roofing. A pitched roof will be constructed on the motel to alleviate problems with leaking. Also, a roof of this type requires considerably less maintenance. Three sprinkler guns will be added to the existing wastewater irrigation system in order to meet current environmental standards and to keep runoff from entering the river. Campgrounds two and three will be upgraded to include paving and electric hookups, and campground number one will be further upgraded to all electric.

— Eagle Rock Missed Bronze Eagle Statue

That bronze Eagle from a Washington, D.C. hotel that was to be given away… it’s going to Eagle, Wisconsin, just outside Milwaukee. The decision was made Monday after the Georgetown Hotel in the nation’s capital surveyed 53 locations in the country which have eagle in their name. Eagle Rock, a Table Rock Lake community, wanted the statue to place at their community center on Highway 86. Proposals, as one of 15 responding communities, were drafted by a committee, Willis Curry, Haupt Mayo and Roy Smith, president of the lake community association. The six-foot tall, 90-year-old statue is one of two the hotel has at its entrance. One will be retained in a remodeling project. Eagle Rock planned installing the statue on a pile of rocks at the community area. The winner sent 200 elementary school children’s letters, requesting the statue for a new school that opens next year.

30 years ago

Dec. 6, 1995

— Bids for lodge complex were $1 million too high

No bid was awarded last week for construction of Roaring River State Park’s new lodge complex. When bids were opened Thursday, all seven submitted were $1 million or more over the state’s estimated project cost of $3,515,000. The Department of Natural Resources has 30 days to award the bid or choose another option. Edgewater Construction of Eureka Springs, Ark., submitted a low bid of $4,506,621. Other bids were received from: R. E. Smith Construction, Joplin, $5,008,000; Crossland Construction, Columbus, Kan., $5,206,000; G & G Construction, Carthage, $5,300,000; Branco Enterprises, Neosho, $4,995,000; MW Builders, Overland Park, Kan., $5,357,000; and Nabholz Construction Corp., Rogers, Ark., $5,060,000. Contractors also submitted bids on five alternates. According to Doug Eiken, director of the Division of State Parks, his office is reviewing options. “We were disappointed with the bids, but we’re going to try to figure a way to re-look at the project,” Eiken said. “We’d like to do it if at all possible.” The state has four options to choose from, according to Eiken. They are: 1. To re-bid the project. 2. To re-design the complex and try to whittle down construction costs. 3. To seek supplemental appropriations from the legislature and re-bid the project in the spring. 4. To review the entire project and create a completely different concept. Eiken admitted that scrapping the project could be an option but one they weren’t ready to consider at this time. “We’re not giving up on the project,” Eiken stressed. “It is the legislature’s call if they want to do it or not.” He said the $3.5 million for the complex was re-appropriated this session so they have another year and a half to spend the money. The legislature has the power to add to or change appropriations at any time. Eiken said the future of the lodge complex will be decided in the next few weeks.

— Hospital project headed upward

South Barry County Hospital’s building project is beginning to emerge from the basement level, following four months of foundation and site work. Steel support beams are being erected this week and will be followed by the installation of metal studs and construction of concrete retaining walls. According to a construction schedule provided by Springfield Builders Incorporated (SBI), contractor for the $1.4 million expansion, the project should be completed in 18 weeks. Finishing work, site grading and the final clean-up are scheduled to be done by April 12. A construction update was provided by architect Dana Blay at the hospital board’s November meeting. At that time, board members reviewed projected project expenditures compiled by Keith Daniels, the hospital’s chief financial officer. Daniels said the project would run close to the total allowable project cost based on the hospital’s certificate need. He stressed that change orders should be avoided to keep costs within the projected total. So far, the board has been asked to approve five change orders, which totalled over $35,000. At the board meeting, Daniels also presented the hospital’s October financial report, which showed total revenue of $701,132, total expenses of $431,835 and net revenue of $493,516. Year-to-date, the hospital has total patient revenue of $6.2 million. After expenses and patient adjustments, the hospital has a net income of $511,562.72 in 1995. In other business, the board: • Reviewed emergency room statistics, which showed an increase in patients visits from 608 in September to 654 in October. The hospital’s hospice program also experienced an increase from 212 visits in September to 382 in October. • Voted to approve Dr. Hugh Madden’s application for medical privileges. • Heard a report from George Roden about setting up a retirement plan for hospital employees. The board gave Roden and Debbie Stubbs, chief executive officer, permission to choose a plan and get it established. • Voted to restrict employee smoking to one designated area outside the hospital building. There is no smoking allowed inside the hospital.