50 years ago

May 12, 1976

— Exeter Sewer Contractor Stops At Halfway Point

Work has stopped on collection lines for Exeter’s new sewage system according to Mayor Junior Mattingly. Mattingly, along with Farmers Home Administration county supervisor Marvin Phipps, confirmed this week that particular phase of the project was stopped at about the halfway point. Mattingly and Phipps said they understood Capwell Construction Co. of Springdale, Ark., had folded on the project and is in the process of turning work over to their bonding company. Capwell, who won the job in bid letting at a $295,613.75 figure, is bonded by American Fidelity Fire Insurance Co. of Woodbury, N.Y. Phipps said his office, the supervising agency on the project due to government grants, was in the process of contacting a Joplin engineering firm who has been overseeing the project. Mayor Mattingly and Councilman John Rendall told the Democrat last week the Capwell collapse did not affect the treatment plant phase of the project. Ghann Construction Co. of Ozark holds this $486,120.50 contract and is proceeding as scheduled. Exeter city officials, their legal representative Mike Baker of Springfield, Phipps and the engineering company agreed the city was in no jeopardy because of the company’s inability to complete the project. The bonding company will be responsible for having the remaining half of the line installation completed. Phipps said Capwell began their part of the project on January 14. They were to have finished in 180 days, with a July 19 date set. City officials said they were well pleased with Capwell’s work and that the company had been highly cooperative in every phase of the work. Their equipment was pulled from the Exeter location last week. At the worst, Exeter officials are expecting some minor delay in completion of the program. They all speculate it will take some time for the bonding company, FmHA and engineers to get together and name a new contractor. Officials involved in the project said Capwell was involved in similar projects in Arkansas and had pulled equipment from these locations as well as Exeter. Overall company financial problems apparently brought on the stoppage of work. Phipps and Mattingly said all agencies involved would be working to get the project back in progress. The Exeter community has been waiting a number of years for the sewer program to serve an estimated 500 residents.

— Seven Qualify In State Track Competition

Seven CHS athletes, five boys and two girls, qualified for state competition in district events last week. Respective coaches Bruce Graber and Becky Henningson said boys will run this Friday and Saturday in Rolla while girls’ events will be held Friday in Lebanon. Boy runners earned their spots in the district at SMSU. Included were two first places, John Cowherd at 2:03 in the half mile and Steve Vaughan at 23.4 in the 220 yard dash. Vaughan also finished third in the quarter mile and 100 yard dash. Greg Simpkins was second in the 100 at 10.2. Rounding out the CHS participants in the state will be two high jumpers, Mike Morris who was fourth and Greg Roark was fifth, both at a height of six feet. The Wildcat effort earned fourth place in team standings with a total of 47 points. Girl tracksters took third in overall points of 28 in district events Saturday. Included were three first places by Georgi Redden. She copped top awards in the 100, 11.7; 220, 26.2 and long jump, 16½ feet. The other state qualifier was Dianna Duncan, second in the shot. Other CHS reps on the field included Pam Faulkner, who just missed advancement to the state with her third place finishes in the mile, 6:02 and quarter, 66.7. Coaches of the respective squads say their participants have a good opportunity to return state laurels to the CHS campus. Miss Redden was a participant last year. She and graduated Larry Lauderdale, now attending college in Miami, Okla., brought back state medals in their events last season.

40 years ago

May 14, 1986

— City Bridge, Streets, Audit Headed Council Session

Lengthy discussions on a 1986 street program, choice of consulting engineers for the East 13th Street bridge over Flat Creek and auditing firm, dominated the Cassville city council session Monday night. With all members present, the board of aldermen stayed longer than normal in recent months. Street considerations, which included proposals of 12 hot mix overlay projects and 32 applications of chip and seal from consulting engineer George Ulmer, sparked comments from residents of Oak Hill Drive in the northwest part of town. With spokesman Herbert Foree leading the comments, six residents informed city council they were unhappy with past work on their street and expected better performance in the future. In fact, they preferred hot mix applications to their street. Ulmer told the group he contended the sub-grade of the street was not adequate for this type street. Council left the entire street matter to a future meeting, mainly due to the determination of dollar amounts they will have available. Normally, about $200,000 in street work has been accomplished yearly from sales tax receipts. Council members Bob Mizer, Bill Shiveley, Sue Brattin and Gary Fields concurred with Mayor Rolland Meador of extra sessions this month for budget considerations. May 21 and May 27 were set for reconvened meetings. Audit services for the city’s annual financial review will be performed this year by Decker and Harley, certified public accountants of Springfield. The firm was successful bidder of five proposals. Cost would run no less than $2,000 or no more than $2,800. Council chose a Kansas City firm, Harrington-Cortelyou Engineers, to prepare details of a 13th Street bridge replacement project. The firm, which initially suggested removal of the structure as consultants of the Missouri Highway Department, will prepare detailed information at a later date. Clerk Jo Ledgerwood said the firm would make water and traffic studies before making a recommendation of bridge size and cost to the city. The city clerk also said council intentions are to take bids July 7 on future insurance coverage for Cassville. Present policies expire August 17. Premium annually runs $21,500 this year, expected to increase substantially next year. Mrs. Ledgerwood was instructed by council to attend a Parks and Recreation Grant session in Jefferson City on May 28. Cassville has a $60,000 project before the Outdoor Recreation Council. She will represent the city at the session that seeks $30,000 division funds for a 50-50 project of park improvement and expansion. Also in the real estate department, Southwestern Bell Telephone has been contacted concerning 3.96 acres atop the old school house hill where transmission towers are located. City would take property as a gift and convert same to picnic, park or possible sledding area, removing responsibility of company maintaining and mowing. City approval made Jean Beatie operator of the municipal swimming pool. Lifeguards will be Jodi Gilkerson, Scott Stephens, Gary Price and Kimberly Fulton for the Memorial Day weekend opening. Bills payable in the session included $18,687.47. Cassville, going into sanctioned Little League competition for the summer youth program, approved by-laws. Council agreed to mutual aid fire department agreement that will be prepared by city attorney Don Cupderman. Alderman Shiveley was appointed by Mayor Meador to assist with preparation of emergency management plan for Cassville. Barry County Health Unit was permitted sewer credit for water leak at the property last month. No deduction permitted on water costs.

— Band successful at event/coming programs

The Cassville middle school honor band participated in the School of the Ozarks Band Festival, Friday. After performing for the judges, the band was cliniced by each of the three judges for a short time. This enabled each judge to cite both positive and negative aspects of the performance. This practice is unique to area festivals and has proved to be very helpful to all participants. The honor band brought home first division honors, receiving straight I’s from the judges. This is the second straight I festival appearance by this band this year. End of the year events in the band department will feature the two spring concerts and commencement, middle school bands spring concert, Monday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.; high school bands spring concert, Thursday, May 15, 8:00 p.m.; and CHS commencement exercises, Friday, May 23.

30 years ago

May 6, 1996

— County jail bids came in $169,000 over projected cost

Bids on a project that would double the capacity of Barry County Jail were opened by county commissioners last Thursday. The lowest bids received were approximately $169,000 over budget when architectural fees were added. The commission had earmarked approximately $500,000 in county funds to cover the 4,000-square-foot jail expansion project. Bids received from general contractors were: Branco Construction of Neosho, $371,000; Powers Construction of Joplin, $385,000; Dalton-Killinger of Joplin, $399,869; Edgewater Construction of Eureka Springs, Ark., $404,600; and G and G Construction of Carthage, $431,000. The project also included three additional bid packages for detention modules, detention equipment and furnishings, and security electronics. Bids received for these were: Capital Prison Systems, Inc. of Dundalk, Md., $45,655 for security electronics; and Fibrebond Corporation of Minden, La., $118,500 for detention modules and $34,200 for equipment and furnishings. “We intend to stay close to budgeted figures,” said Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren. “We need to look at how we can get the project down to what we have funds to pay for.” He added that the commission may have to choose a different design. Modular cell construction is easy to add on to but may be more costly than traditional construction, Warren said. The commissioners now are faced with two options. They can accept the low bidders and go over-budget, or they can change the design of the project and re-bid it. A determination will be made after the commission meets with their architect from Archetype Design. In other business this past week, the commission: signed a lease extension agreement for rental storage space from Bruce and Karan Nickle. The agreement will run through February 1997 at a cost of $150 per month; directed Treasurer Lois Lowe to issue $293.23 and $93 from the DARE fund to R & T Specialty, Inc., for graduation supplies and DARE awards; approved a schedule of claims payable in the total amount of $40,695.24; signed a lease with Johns and Berget Properties for the business office located at 714 West Street in Cassville at a cost of $125 per month. The office will be used by probation personnel.

— Area family triumphs over tragedy

A gentle breeze blows and slightly tousles the hair of the two young boys playing in the yard. At first glance one would think that these children were typical kids, without a care in the world, but perhaps a second look should be indulged. The boys are Douglas and Allen Fisher, two everyday heroes who are dealing with more challenges in their young lives than most adults will ever face. Allen, who will turn 3 on May 30, is living proof that obstacles can be overcome. With love and support from family and friends, and the help of God, he is dealing with burns that cover 46 percent of his body, caused by a fire earlier this year. His battle isn’t going away, but neither is the Fisher family’s determination to persevere. Mike, Chasity, Douglas and Allen are all fighters who have faced tough odds and made the best of what life dealt them. Allen undergoes one-hour therapy sessions three times a week in Monett and twice-a-day sessions at home with his family. So far, he has had three skin grafts performed and one release surgery on a former graft underneath his left arm. He currently wears a bodysuit 22 hours a day, a regime he will follow for the first year of his recovery. On the average day, Allen gets up, participates in therapy at home, goes to the babysitter’s, and on certain days travels to the therapist for more therapy. In the evening, he takes a bath, undergoes massage therapy and heads off to bed. It is recommended for Allen’s condition that he moves around as much as possible, which keeps the skin from tightening. “It’s a hard, long, drawn-out process,” Chasity said. “Having a burnt child becomes your life, that’s all you feel like you have. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s very hard, very stressful. It does get easier. You hear from a lot of people that it gets harder as time goes on, but to me I feel like it’s gotten easier, once you’re home in a normal setting.” Factors that have aided the Fisher family’s recovery have been their strong faith in God and the community. Chasity said that she feels their religion has played a very big role in pulling the family through such a crisis. She said they couldn’t have made it without faith in God. She also speaks highly of the community. “I think the majority of the community has been excellent,” she said. “We feel we’ve had everyone behind us. The show of support was amazing, through everything and anything.” Support for this family came, not only emotionally, but financially too. Local people, as well as those from out of the area, came to their assistance at a crucial time. Additional financial help came from the Shriners. Jimmy Parker, a Mason, got the idea to help Allen and his family, and Skip White, who is a Shriner, completed all the paperwork. With the help of the Shell Knob and Springfield Shriners, Allen was accepted to the Shriners Burn Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. While at this hospital, the Shriners pay for all of Allen’s expenses. Periodically, Allen visits his physician, Dr. Greenhaul, in Cincinnati. When the doctor feels satisfied with Allen’s progress, he will only have to visit once every six months. Adaptation is one of the things that Allen has struggled with. “At first he had a hard time, he didn’t want to look at himself,” Chasity said. “But now he knows this is how he is, how he will always be. It won’t be as bad as it is now, once it gets to its full point, which is usually eight months to a year.” Douglas, 4, has helped his younger brother recover by rubbing lotion on him and keeping him active. One can see that he is glad to have Allen back. The Fisher family is helping Springfield attain a burn foundation, and Allen will be used as its first poster child. They are also trying to help set up a weekend camp for burn victims and their families. This foundation will help burn victims financially and will aid them in contacting other people who lived through similar situations. The word, “similar,” is quite important when speaking of a burn victim. It is essential for them to feel comfortable and to know that there is someone who can relate to what they are going through. “Everyday life for us is easier,” Chasity said. “Once we got back in the routine of going to the babysitter, it seemed like everything was okay. They (Douglas and Allen) do better when they go to the babysitter than they do if they stay here because it’s what they’re used to.” This family of everyday heroes is an example of how love and determination go hand in hand. The Fishers continue to face the challenges of each new day with courage, faith and a lot of love.