50 years ago

July 14, 1976

— Council In Annual Flood Control Project Discussion

At least once a year the subject of flood control becomes a major agenda item for the Cassville City Council. Tuesday night was the first such meeting this year. On hand for the session were members of two federal agencies that had been involved in flood problems for the city for a number of years. Mayor Bill LeCompte opened the discussion toward permanent solutions to the problem. Marvin Grandy, Soil Conservation Service conservationist, discussed a long-pending program of flood-control structures in the west area of town. Phil Couch, land improvement contractor who had done considerable work for the city, reminded council that piecemeal improvements were costly and did not provide a permanent remedy to problems. Couch said more comprehensive work was needed to save city finances. Mayor LeCompte said a select committee of citizens was being considered to work with adjoining property owners to determine what part of a Resources, Conservation and Development plan could be achieved. Involved are property easements for holding structures in areas of drainage into the city. Marvin Phipps, county Farmers Home Administration director, reminded the council funds are available for road and flood improvement projects in the area of Sales Barn Road to Highway 37. Included would be widening of the road and a new Gaylen Bridge crossing over Flat Creek. Phipps said $50,000 in FmHA funds and $65,000 in Ozarks financing were still in plans being developed by Alligier-Martin and Associates of Joplin. Mayor LeCompte and city attorney Joe Ellis suggested a meeting with property owners in the area after Aug. 1. Flooding took another turn for the city fathers in a petition bearing 48 signatures from persons in the Ivy Addition and the area between 10th and 11th streets through the town’s midsection. They requested cleaning of drainage ditches and removal of obstructions that would better protect their property. Council reaction was to study solutions to the property owners’ problems. In another action before the council, attended by all four aldermen — Gene Schlichtman, Marlee Edie, Bill Hailey and W.E. Leonard — an ordinance was approved containing four points pertaining to the Cassville Municipal Airport. These included prohibiting vehicle traffic on the landing strip, trespassing on airport property or obstructing landing facilities, littering at the airport and making violations of these regulations misdemeanors. A contract was awarded to Laverne Hilburn for $1,850 to install a new roof on the Community Building being remodeled. It was the low of two bids. Council was notified the city was expecting an audit of its books to be completed in the near future. Red Dodson was authorized to attach water service to a home on Highway 112 outside the city limits. Kenneth Propps and Randy Hilburn were employed as relief patrolmen for the city police force to fill vacancies. Sheriff Vernon Still’s department was cited for providing assistance during the shortage of officers. City Collector Opal Santee was authorized to remove 35 tax bills, ranging from $1.02 to $82, from unpaid lists. They involved deceased persons and incorrect assessments in both real and personal tax departments. Five cutoff water service notices mailed June 30 did not appear at the council meeting as instructed, and water service was ordered discontinued. Problems at the sewage lift station on East Seventh Street were discussed. The mayor noted long-range plans would replace the unit in about two years. An improvement plan suggested by Alligier-Martin and Associates, costing $1,500, was being studied along with another plan. Patrolman Ray Burnette informed council breathalyzer equipment and training on its use were available for the police force at no cost to the city. Full details were to be obtained. Lot mowing orders would be checked by city clerk F.O. Fields in a continued effort to have weeds removed from property within the city limits. Tuesday’s council meeting was a true “open” meeting, as the body moved to the curbside at City Hall because of temperatures inside the city chambers, which were not air-conditioned.

— Purdy Voters Divided On Bond Propositions

Purdy School District voters approved one of two propositions Tuesday that would eventually lead to a campus improvement project. Superintendent Thomas Kurucz said voters approved a $195,000 bond issue, but a transfer of funds from the present school levy was defeated. Proposition One, the bond issue, received a 426-163 favorable vote. Proposition Two, transferring 72 cents from the present $4.62 levy without an increase, failed to gain the necessary majority with 365 in favor and 205 in opposition. Superintendent Kurucz said voters would be asked to return to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 17, to reconsider Proposition Two. He said there was an apparent misunderstanding about the issue. Neither proposition, submitted to construct 10 additional classrooms, two offices, a library and music facilities, would increase the present district tax levy. Passage of both propositions was necessary before the district could continue plans for the construction program.

40 years ago

July 16, 1986

— Final Forest Plan For Mark Twain

The Land and Resource Management Plan for the Mark Twain National Forest has been released to the public. The plan had been in the making for about seven years with public involvement throughout the planning period, starting with identification of issues, concerns and opportunities in the early 1980s. The Forest Plan and its companion Environmental Impact Statement were circulated in draft form for a 90-day public review period beginning in April 1985. A total of 1,330 persons commented, giving 6,032 comments for consideration by the Forest Service. The Final Forest Plan and its Final Environmental Impact Statement reflect changes in response to public comment. Other changes were made as a result of new policies and procedures. Mark Twain Forest Supervisor B. Eric Morse commented, “We have now completed our work on the Forest’s integrated resource management for the next 10 years. The very key to successful management with this plan is the integrated approach used in its application, which combines management of the Forest’s many resources into one integrated course of action. Copies of the Plan, its Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Record of Decision have been sent to many involved and interested parties.” The Forest Plan was to be implemented in early August, 30 days after notification that the Final Environmental Impact Statement had been posted in the Federal Register. Copies of the Forest Plan, Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision could be viewed at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Rolla and at the Mark Twain National Forest Ranger Station in Cassville.

— Schools Proud Of Parents First Teachers

The first year of statewide implementation of the Parents As First Teachers program had come to a close. The program in the Cassville R-IV School District served 23 families during the 1985-86 school year, providing age-appropriate developmental information about their children through monthly home visits. Group meetings provided knowledge about various topics such as discipline, childhood nutrition and language development. Twenty-five children were screened in the areas of language, motor skills, social skills, vision and hearing. Missouri was proud of what had been accomplished through the project during the past year. School districts planned to serve twice as many families during the 1986-87 school year. Cassville schools set Aug. 25 as the beginning of the second year of serving families of children from birth to age 3. The program is voluntary and free of charge. Parents wanting more information or wishing to enroll in the program were asked to contact Linda Marple, parent educator.

— Wheaton New Levy Is Penny Lower

The regular meeting of the Wheaton R-III Board of Education was held July 10. The board held its annual tax hearing, establishing the 1986-87 tax rate of $1.43 after the Proposition C rollback. The new tax rate reflected a 1-cent drop from last year’s levy, according to Superintendent Sheldon Buxton. Under old business, discussion centered on policy dealing with the senior trip. The general feeling at that time was for continuation of the trip with adjustments in policy dealing with its length and timing. Under new business, the superintendent was authorized to release bids for goods and services for the 1986-87 school year. Authorization was also granted to reinstate the contract with the State Highway Department to place crosswalk lines and warning signs on Highway W. Adult supervision was to be provided on a shared basis with the city, as the contract was a three-way agreement among the state, school and community, according to Buxton, and required adult supervision. Final action taken was the employment of Nancy Gillogly as high school English teacher. She was certified in speech and drama, having earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1971. Gillogly had nine years of teaching experience, having most recently taught for the Sarcoxie School District during the 1985-86 school term. The next regular board meeting was scheduled for Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Attending the meeting were board president Jerry McBride, Karen Vinyard, Larry Butler, Lester Prewitt, Dale Forgey, Lindy Lombard, secretary Connie Forgey and Coach Bob Baker.

30 years ago

July 20, 1996

— FBI apprehends “Most Wanted” suspect in Shell Knob chase

A criminal profiled on America’s Most Wanted was apprehended July 3 in Shell Knob. Steven Lloyd Rowe, 23, of Wisconsin, considered a fugitive since January of this year, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Barry County Sheriff’s Department on federal charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. On Jan. 4, 1996, Rowe was sentenced to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for five years on two charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child and interference with custody. The judge executed a suspended sentence, making Rowe a free man. At some point Rowe absconded from probation, and a matter was filed Jan. 18 for a hearing on pending charges. A criminal complaint was filed Feb. 5 against Rowe with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1073. Judge Patricia Gorence signed a federal warrant for his arrest, beginning the official manhunt. According to I.C. Smith, special agent in charge of the Arkansas FBI, it was determined that Rowe had obtained employment at a carpet store in Shell Knob. On July 3, at approximately 8:30 a.m., two FBI agents from Fayetteville and officers from the Barry County Sheriff’s Department went to his place of employment. According to an FBI agent out of Little Rock, Ark., Rowe spotted the men and started running. Rowe attempted to flag down cars, but when no one stopped he began running for a nearby wooded area. After some time Rowe surfaced at a nearby gas station and tried to get into two locked vehicles. When those efforts were unsuccessful, he jumped into a nearby truck that had a 6-year-old child inside and a boat attached to it. He started the truck and began to drive away. The father of the child saw what was happening and jumped into the back of the vehicle and began choking Rowe through the sliding rear window. After this incident, FBI agents, accompanied by the Barry County Sheriff’s Department, seized Rowe and took him into custody. Additional charges were to be filed in Barry County against Rowe. Rowe went before a judge on July 8 to determine the issue of bond. “Based on what I know about this case, I’m not going to set bond at this time,” said Associate Circuit Judge Mike Garrett. Other business handled was the matter of counsel. It was stated that a Little Rock attorney had not yet been retained, so the court approved his application for a public defender. Rowe signed a waiver for extradition to return to Wisconsin to face impending charges. A new hearing was scheduled for Thursday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m., according to Prosecuting Attorney David Cole.

— Barry Electric breaking ground for new building

Officials of Barry Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Cassville, were to be out in force Monday, July 15, at 3 p.m. to break ground on their new building at the north edge of town. Manager Bill Shiveley said the turning of the first dirt on the project would be a public event. Breaking ground would signal the start of the doubling of space for the cooperative, now into its 50th year of service to the communities of Seligman, Washburn, Exeter, Wheaton and Cassville. Virtually all of south Barry County, except portions of Table Rock Lake, are in the Barry Electric service area. Ceremonies were to be held at the north edge of Cassville, adjacent to a new water storage tower. The 10.04 acres were purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Thompson. Almost adjacent is the First Assembly of God Church on Business 37. Costing $1.46 million, the facility will include 15,400 square feet of warehouse and garage area and 7,000 square feet of office space. Outside storage space and a pole yard will eventually be located at the site. After the 10-month construction period and the co-op’s move to the new location, existing office and parking facilities at First and South Main will be available for sale. Shiveley said electric feed facilities at the present pole yard on the banks of Flat Creek and East Eighth Street will eventually determine what disposal is made of that real estate. The new location is currently in the process of annexation into the Cassville city limits. In developing the site, city water and sewer lines will be extended to serve the facility. Members of the board participating in developing the project and expected to take part in the groundbreaking include David Cupps, president; John Marney, vice president; Harold Reece, secretary-treasurer; and members Frank Armstrong, Curtis Thomas, Richard Wierman, Max Hudson, Glen Craig and C.L. Hendrix.