50 years ago

April 21, 1976

— Condemnation At State Park Draws Petitions

Condemnation of about one acre of commercial land in Roaring River State Park was ordered by Circuit Judge William Pinnell in court here Friday. Judge Pinnell said the Missouri Park Board had a right to condemn and purchase the land from the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Edmondson of Cassville. Also named in the petition filed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources are Mr. and Mrs. Gary Box, lessees of the property. Mr. and Mrs. Box operate Fisherman’s Inn. Judge Pinnell named three commissioners to view the property and assess damages that should be awarded the Edmondsons in the condemnation. Bill Edmondson of Cassville, Charles Main and Dave Whitlock of Monett are to report to Circuit Clerk Artie Spain on their appraised value by 10 a.m., May 6. In his signed order, Judge Pinnell said the state and Edmondson family could not agree on the proper compensation for the land, but that the state had a right to acquire the property. Involved is approximately one acre of land at the bottom of the Highway 112 hill that enters the park. It is presently the lone piece of private property in the park used for commercial purposes. Following action in the case, petitions being circulated in Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City and the Roaring River area became known this week, which protest the condemnation. The 11 pages of signatures designate themselves as regular visitors to the park. The cover sheet on the petitions says this is not the only private property in the park but is singled out for condemnation; that a loss in revenue will occur should the business be eliminated and that the Box couple will be deprived of their method of making a living. The petitions also allege a popular spot in Roaring River among visiting tourists would be eliminated with the state’s acquiring the land.

— Child Center Forms In Survey For Care Effort

Due to the growth in the number of working mothers in this area, a survey is underway in order to document the need for a child care center, according to Mrs. Larry Seal of Cassville and Mrs. Johnny Fite of Washburn. Questionnaires are being submitted to working mothers in local business and industry. Boosters of the program have set a goal to involve the community in the care of its children and to offer quality child care to those who need it at a minimum cost. Major plant figures have an estimated 200 mothers employed at FASCO Industries and about 100 at Jumping Jacks Shoes. Proposed by the group is a building or house with adequate space for a playground. Also required would be time, money and materials from organizations and individuals. The center would be a nonprofit corporation governed by a board of directors. Operations would be five days a week, approximately 12 hours a day. Services of breakfast, lunch and two snacks would be included. A director, aides and cooks would also provide learning centers, planned activities and rest and quiet times. Initial review of the program possibilities brought a comment from Bill Ward, Chamber of Commerce secretary, that hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t inquire about child care facilities. Mayor Bill LeCompte joined the effort, “feeling a center is needed, and I encourage its establishment.” Persons desirous of working toward establishing a center should contact either of the two principals in Cassville or Washburn. Questionnaires used in the survey ask the names and ages of children whose parents are employed and what type of child care they have at present. Working mothers not being contacted through regular channels should request proper forms from those in charge of the efforts.

40 years ago

April 23, 1986

— State Highway Survey Party Starting Seligman By-Pass

Survey personnel of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department are scheduled to begin this week making initial proposed relocation plans for a Route 37 bypass to Seligman. The work will be concentrated to the east of the present route that passes through Seligman on the way to the Missouri-Arkansas line. R. K. Stalcup, district engineer, said the work would begin this week. Crews have previously made survey of the Highway 37 relocation between Cassville and just north of Seligman. Survey stakes are in place for this project, scheduled for building late this year. The Seligman bypass, removed from the overall project two years ago when public hearings indicated a lack of interest in the community for the project, was reinstated late last year. Petition efforts in the Seligman area resulted in the highway commission taking a second look at the project. Bypass projects will run from the vicinity of Route 112 at the north edge of Seligman to south of the town, just short of the state line. The location as approved by the highway commission begins near the west city limits of Seligman and proceeds easterly on relocation, then crossing Route 112 about 550 feet east of the existing Route 37 intersection and continues southerly on relocation east of Seligman and rejoining the existing road about 800 feet north of the Arkansas state line. This location was discussed at a public hearing held October 24, 1985, is about three miles long and has an estimated cost of $5.3 million. Seligman’s status with the highway department will also include a project of widening a bridge in the center of town now used by Highway 37. The project, which includes filling a road under the bridge and elimination of railings, is a combined project of the department and the city of Seligman. Existing Highway 37 through the town of Seligman will remain in the county system as part of a road extension that now serves the area running west out of town, Route DD. Highway officials credited Mayor Johnny Corn with leading the effort to have the bypass project reinstated in the state’s plans. In charge of the current work in the south part of the county is W. Campbell, survey party highway officials said care would be taken to observe the signs and the personnel working in the area. It might be that this crew has been starting on Missouri Route 37 in Cassville and Seligman the past two weeks establishing initial right-of-way limits for improvements of that portion of route.

— Rural Property In Burglary Increase Status

One of every seven Missouri farmers was robbed last year, three times the robbery rate of city dwellers. In addition, 9 percent of farm operators reported at least one incident of vandalism to property. “The larger the farm, the more likely that an incident of vandalism or theft occurred,” said John Holik, University of Missouri-Columbia rural sociologist. “Approximately 22 percent of the farmers operating 1,000 acres or more were robbed, compared to 10 percent of the operators of farms 50 acres or less. The figures for vandalism were 13 percent for large-farm operators and six percent for small-farm operators.” Holik said the rate of theft on Missouri farms — 13,930 per 100,000 population — is 2.75 times the rate reported in Missouri cities with populations greater than 250,000. Only 40 to 50 percent of rural crimes are reported to law enforcement officials, according to Rural Crime Victimization research. According to Holik, the 1985 Missouri Rural Life and Farm Poll respondents reported an average loss of $690 due to theft between July 1, 1984, and July 1, 1985. The highest loss reported was $150,000; the lowest was $3. Cost of damages due to vandalism ranged from below $3 to $5,000. The average cost was $396.

— 49 Turkey In First Days Of Hunting Season

Monday’s opening produced 33 checks at Roaring River, a record according to hatchery superintendent Charles Curry. By comparison, last year’s opening had 12 checked. First day checks were by: Jack Wogoman, David Counts, Kent Arnaud, Steve Pendergraft, John Cross, Ken Wrobleski, Lavelle Horn, Gordon Denny, Boian, Johnny Speck, Mary Kevin Holloway, Dale Craig, Roger McClintock, Mike Shockley, James King, Don Bailey, Philip Cole, Randall Pendergraft, Glen Foster, Brett Harmon, Walter Houk, Larry Turner, Skip Doak, Clarence Still, Alfred Saunders, John Goodman, William Dodson, Jim Hayworth, Kevin Murdock, Doug Goostree, Jerome Rutherford, Arlie David and Brent Endicott. Tuesday’s second day check totaled 16 after morning temperatures dipped below freezing. Included in the names were: Kenneth Holloway, Landon Fletcher, Johnny Howard, Charles Marshall, R. G. Edmondson, Loy Rose, James Roder, Randy Davis, Calvin Schultz, Waborn Phillips and Steve Rose. Hunters will have the remainder of this week to down their first bird of the season. The second week of the season will permit another bird to be taken. Curry said last year’s check through the Roaring River State Park facility was a total of 81 gobblers. Largest bird of the first two days was a 25-pounder taken by Steve Pendergraft of Washburn. David Counts’ bird was a 23-pounder, said Doak, with an Independence hunter taking a 23 1/4-pound bird. Asked where the heaviest concentration of birds were reported, one hunter-check station operator said, “They are all over Mark Twain National Forest,” after indicating it wouldn’t do any good to ask a hunter where he got his bird. “If he knew exactly where he was he wouldn’t tell you,” Doak said.

30 years ago

April 17, 1996

— Mother Nature delays annual dogwood display in county

Mother Nature’s failure to provide moisture and her late-season cold blasts have caused a two-week delay in Barry County’s annual dogwood blooming season. Rick Linebarger, with the Mark Twain National Forest’s Cassville Ranger Station, said the normal full leafing of native trees also had been delayed. This phenomenon typically occurs by the second week in May. The consensus at the Cassville Ranger Station is that dogwood trees should be in full bloom beginning the last weekend of April and continuing through the first weekend in May. “Dogwood is set back, but probably not damaged,” Linebarger said. Scattered sightings of white have been spotted in nearby forests, and redbud painted the woods with pink over the weekend. Linebarger said there could be an “explosion” of dogwood due to the delay, which he says is Mother Nature’s way of protecting trees from freezing temperatures and drought-like conditions. Fire danger in the area has placed Forest Service personnel on “extra hours” during very high to extreme fire conditions. High winds across the area have contributed to fire danger levels. In addition to public reports of fire, Linebarger said Missouri Conservation Department’s forest division personnel have been extremely active patrolling the forests by air. Ruth Johnson of Shell Knob is flying most of the fire watch missions. Linebarger said fires during this time of year could result in unusually high damage to trees due to the fact that sap is beginning to rise. Those in search of magnificent dogwood displays should visit Cassville, southwest Barry County, Roaring River State Park and the Table Rock Lake area of the county. Conservation Commission officials predict that peak dogwood blooming will coincide with the arrival of spring turkey hunting season, April 22 through May 5. They also noted this week that redbud trees were more sensitive to weather than dogwoods. State forestry people echoed local Forest Service’s wildfire concerns, citing an ample supply of fallen leaves, which, exposed to dry winter wind and bright spring sunshine, provide tinder waiting for a spark.

— Dogwood car and truck festival was a success

The 10th annual Dogwood Car and Truck Festival was a blooming success, according to the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event. Tom Koehler, event chairman, reported that 96 vehicles entered the show. The effort netted the chamber approximately $1,500. Complete reorganization of the festival allowed contestants to register their vehicles in Cassville, then parade through downtown to the show site at Roaring River State Park. Once the vehicles arrived at the park, judging began. Winners of the new Dogwood Dozen awards were: Sharyn Crouch, 1930 Model A; Andy Staugaard, 1965 Mustang; Glenda Rose, 1994 Chevrolet; Don McGowen, 1931 Ford; Bud Rieck, 1951 Ford; Floyd McGary, Jr., 1976 Chevrolet; Dave Kelley, 1953 Chevrolet; Ron Cendroski, 1962 Chevrolet; Michael Losh, 1986 Mazda; Michael J. Brookshire, 1968 Chevrolet; Ike McRoberts, 1929 Ford; and Ruth Wayne Pendergraft, 1954 Nash. Dignitary awards were also presented. Winners were: Paul Herd Award — Roger Brandy, 1965 Corvette; Kustom Kemp Award — Harrell and Nyla Brabant, 1941 Oldsmobile; Mayor’s Choice — Darryl Irion, 1967 Corvette; Senator Emory Melton’s Award — Bill Abrans, 1934 Plymouth; Rep. Sam Gaskill’s Award — Larry Thomas, 1977 Corvette; Sheriff Ralph Hendrix’s Award — Mickey Bryan, 1950 Mercedes; and Fire Chief Millard Andrews’ Award — Nancy Zimmerman, 1956 Chevrolet. Best engine honors went to Jerry Krob for his 1957 Chevrolet. Lynn Falkner and his 1936 Ford won best interior, and Bill and Billie Pohl claimed the best paint award. The Outlaws and Inlaws Car Club won the club participation prize. They were chosen out of 17 clubs represented at the car show.