50 years ago

Jan. 14, 1976

— Cassville turndown of proposed junction change

Property owners and business interests rejected a proposed redesign of the Highway 37, 112, 76, 86 and 248 junction during a meeting Tuesday. Missouri Highway Department District Engineer Wilbur Stegner said the plan would have eliminated more than half of existing parking along the right-of-way. Following discussion, Stegner said the project would be terminated, noting it is not department policy to build facilities not desired by the public. Estimated at $235,000, the project would have signalized intersections and installed curbing to handle about 4,000 vehicles daily. Business owners expressed concerns about parking loss, and Stegner said alternate plans were unlikely due to surrounding structures. Chamber officials thanked Stegner for his efforts, and he assured them the department would not force unwanted projects.

— Eagle Rock boat dock under new ownership

Eagle Rock Boat Dock has been purchased by Charles “Chuck” Edwards of San Jose, Calif., from Charles and Maxine Ryter, with operations assumed Jan. 9. Edwards has submitted proposed operational and facility changes to the Army Corps of Engineers, including improved launching facilities, swimming docks and expanded services. The dock will be renamed Eagle Rock Landing. Located near the Highway 86 bridge, the facility serves the upper regions of Table Rock Lake, with public camping and use areas on both sides of the highway. Edwards said additional services and staffing will be announced later.

40 years ago

Jan. 15, 1986

— County concerns: in budget, coming sales tax vote

January 15 is the deadline for county departments to submit budget requests, while a Feb. 4 sales tax election could address Barry County’s financial problems. Presiding Judge Lloyd Dilbeck said budget reviews will begin this week, with all but four departments having submitted requests. County Clerk Rex Stumpff said early review suggests little increase in proposed spending, though reductions from last year’s $702,348.43 in general revenue expenditures may be necessary. The county spent $86,220.66 in federal revenue sharing funds in 1985, with only about $50,000 expected in 1986. More than $200,000 in 1985 tax collections went toward loan and interest obligations. The proposed sales tax would levy a half-cent for general revenue and a half-cent for road districts, each expected to raise about $500,000. Dilbeck said passage would allow a sharp reduction or elimination of the general property tax levy. County officials plan public meetings, including Jan. 28 at the Purdy Community Center, to explain the proposal. Assessment ratios are also under review by the Missouri Tax Commission.

— Slight drop in sales tax revenue for city

Cassville sales tax revenue declined in 1985 for the first time in four years, according to City Clerk Jo Ledgerwood. December receipts of $18,099 brought the annual total to $237,640.11, down slightly from the previous year. The one-cent sales tax has funded street projects, park upgrades and general administration, with major street expenditures near $200,000. Ledgerwood said sales tax funds are invested at variable interest rates averaging about six percent.

— Basye completes Navy recruit training

Navy Seaman Recruit David J. Basye, son of James and Barbara Basye of Cassville, completed recruit training at Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Basye studied general military subjects, seamanship, drill, naval history and first aid. Completion qualifies him for three hours of college credit.

30 years ago

Jan. 10, 1996

— New concessions manager at Roaring River prepares for opening

Roaring River State Park’s new concessions manager has arrived and is already busy preparing for opening day. Sheldon Smith comes to Roaring River from Yosemite National Park, where he served as manager of Yosemite Lodge. The Rochester, N.Y., native also worked for 10 years at Grand Canyon National Park. “I started washing pots and pans and worked my way up in the company (Fred Harvey Inc., the company who has the concessions contract at Grand Canyon),” said Smith, who holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Since arriving at the park one week ago, Smith has been inventorying park facilities and acclimating himself to the surroundings and is currently living in one of the cabins. This week, Smith is joined by a team from Delaware North Inc., the Buffalo, N.Y.-based company that now holds the concessions contract for Roaring River. Smith said the team will install computer systems and determine where improvements are needed. A portion of Delaware North’s bid included money for capital improvements to existing buildings, which Smith said has been set aside but not earmarked for specific projects. He said a limited-service restaurant will likely be installed in the lower level of the lodge, serving soup, sandwiches, beverages and ice cream, with rolling carts stocked with coffee, soda and snacks available to fishermen and other visitors. In the next two weeks, Smith said he will hire managers for four key areas: food and beverage, the lodge, accounting, and quality control and customer service. He said the positions will be advertised locally. Smith said his first descent into the park valley reminded him of where he grew up in New York and the farm country where his grandfather lived.

— Ambulance district plans public meeting in lake area

Officials want public input on ambulance service in Shell Knob. South Barry County Ambulance District and Cox Paramedics are seeking public input on ambulance service in the Shell Knob area and will host an open forum Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Shell Knob Community Building. One issue to be discussed is whether Shell Knob residents would be better served by a local ambulance station. District officials received a February letter from the Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce medical committee requesting the service be put up for bid in 1996 with a 24-hour station included. Dr. Richard Taylor, representing the committee, met with the board Oct. 10, when members expressed concern about costs and whether Shell Knob generates enough calls to justify a station. Board chairman Dr. Dale Assing said the district is supported by limited tax revenue, totaling $94,035.73 in 1995. Taylor suggested increasing fees per ambulance run district-wide, but the board said it could not raise rates for the entire district to serve one area. Mark Alexander, director of Cox’s pre-hospital services, said staffing a 24-hour station would cost at least $125,000 annually and that Cox will provide statistical information at the meeting. Cox Paramedics currently holds the district contract, which renews automatically each December. The service is based in Cassville with three ambulances, one operating 24 hours a day. Pat Brown, county ambulance services manager, said crews responded to 2,226 calls in 1995, with 1,228 in the Cassville area and 208 in Shell Knob. Average response time to Shell Knob was 26.1 minutes, compared to 20.8 to Jenkins, 19.9 to Wheaton, 21.5 to Eagle Rock and 20.2 to Seligman. Brown said Shell Knob has a strong First Responders group trained to provide immediate care until ambulances arrive. Assing said a previous Shell Knob station was often pulled to respond elsewhere. The board urges lake-area residents to attend the meeting.

— Southwest graduate stationed in Bosnia 

Navy Airman Recruit Brandon H. Deschane, son of Barbara Deschane of Seligman, is serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS America in the Adriatic Sea near Bosnia. Deschane is among more than 5,000 sailors and Marines supporting peace implementation operations in the former Yugoslavia. The USS America Battle Group includes 11 ships, more than 80 aircraft and submarines armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Since leaving Norfolk, Va., in late August, the ship has traveled more than 15,000 miles. Deschane recently returned to the Adriatic after assisting with enforcement of the no-fly zone over southern Iraq, traveling more than 4,000 miles in nine days. During NATO air strikes against Bosnian Serb targets, aircraft from USS America flew more than 360 missions. The ship is not scheduled to return to the United States until late February. Deschane is a 1994 graduate of Southwest High School.