50 years ago

Oct. 20, 1976

— Chamber Hosts MU-KC Students Of Medicine

In sponsoring a reception for 12 medical students from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and four faculty member sponsors, the Cassville Chamber of Commerce treated the group to a dinner at Roaring River Restaurant last Wednesday night. Accompanying the group were Drs. Bill Beard, Bill Strickland, Ron Sellner and Virginia Calkins. Students in the group included: Coleen Walz, Mary Coltharp, W. L. Harrison, Joe Goldenberg, Jeff Wright, Dennis Greer, Howard Schwartz, Margie Rice, Mark Easten, Steve Orr, Coch Cantrell and Bob McCown. Representing the local community were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Preddy, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ward, Mr. and Mrs. David Sater, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Taggart, Mr. and Mrs. Don Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Don Grant, Dr. and Mrs. W. G. Barnes, Dr. J. Clark Flanery, Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Johnson, Dr. and Mrs. Donald Parkison, Dr. Mary Merideth and Senator and Mrs. Emory Melton. Students were afforded the opportunity to question local residents concerning opportunities and situations involving rural community practice.

— Dog Bite And Wreck Damages Bring Suits

Bites from a watchdog at a Monett salvage yard resulted in two legal actions being filed in Barry County Circuit Court this week. According to records of the court, the cases include: Mary Saunders alleges the death of her husband, Dayton Saunders, on March 7, 1976, resulted from bites incurred on February 24, 1976, at the Ed Jones Salvage in Monett. She seeks a $25,000 judgment in the legal action. Rob Roberts also has filed charges in connection with injuries he alleged he received from the dog biting him on May 17, 1976. He asks a total of $3,500 in damages. Named in the two legal actions is Burl Thomas Jr., as doing business through the Jones firm. Reports are the dog is kept in the salvage firm to prohibit intruders entering the compound. In another damage action, Kathleen Brand and Ellsworth Brand have filed action against Norma Jean Harris for injuries reportedly received on April 5, 1976, in an auto accident on Highway 37 and Route HH in Barry County. Total damage amount is $28,495.

40 years ago

Oct. 22, 1986

— School Board Discusses Park; Opens Bus Bids

Meeting in regular session Thursday evening, the Cassville school board amended the agenda to include discussion of the park area. After the discussion, the board requested the superintendent to put up signs to discourage loitering and request the city to patrol that area on a regular basis and announced that additional lighting is also to be installed. Bids for buses were opened, and it was agreed to table discussion of purchasing or leasing buses until the special meeting October 23. This action was taken on a motion by Anglum and seconded by Buchheit. Financial statements were reviewed. Motion by Cardin, seconded by Buchheit, to approve bills in the amount of $160,786.47. Administrative reports were presented by the three building principals. Some items discussed were a “Partners in Education” program to be implemented in the elementary school as well as a “Read-A-Thon” sponsored by World Book Encyclopedia in which the elementary and middle school will both participate. Mark Smith was present to present a review of the Regional Education Conference he attended at Republic on September 24. Smith gave a good overview of the meeting as well as suggestions for school/community involvement. Chapter 11 purchases as presented by the computer committee at a prior meeting were approved by the board. Prices were reviewed for installation of cabinets to complete the renovation of the science room and business department. The board approved the purchase of these items in order to complete the renovation project. Larry Quinalty reported that as yet no word had been received on the acceptance or rejection of the Impact Aid Application. Principals reported on CORE competencies and key skills and the plans they are making to implement teaching these required skills. Goal statements for the Superintendent Evaluation Program were presented to each member. Members are to list any goals they think should be met in the 1986-87 school year. An invitation from the Shell Knob board of education to attend one of their meetings was discussed. The board will look at a possible date in January or February. An In-Service Workshop in regards to CORE competencies in social studies and math has been scheduled for December from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m., with Warren Solomon and Bill Bolter to hold the workshops. A special meeting date was set for Thursday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. Discussion was held as to whether a board policy should be written regarding tuition reimbursement for teachers. The board directed Superintendent Bailey to submit a written policy for approval. Members present included Don Stockton, president; Tom Cardin, John Anglum, John Sullivan, Steve Buchheit and Dennis Ledgerwood. Others attending the meeting were Dan Bailey, superintendent; Wanda Paul, board secretary; principals Marple, Brower and Dunnam; Sandy Cullers, Rebecca Hudson, Ann Angle, Larry Quinalty and Mark Smith.

— Farm Credit Service Closes Cassville Office

Farm Credit Services office in Cassville will be closed permanently effective November 1, according to news releases issued this week from the district office. The Mount Vernon office will serve Barry County along with Dade and Lawrence counties. Persons wanting information or service from the Mount Vernon office who are not in the Mount Vernon phone exchange will have an 800 telephone number made available to them. Larry Gann, manager of the Cassville office, will join the staff at Mount Vernon. Other staffers there will include branch manager Larry Moennig and Greg Brown. Reduction in number of offices and better utilization of staff, phone system, electronic mail, computers and on-farm loan servicing are steps being taken by Farm Credit Services Southwest Missouri to bring operating costs in line. The depressed agriculture economy has placed tremendous pressure on the system, which lends money only to farmers and other agriculture interests. President/General Manager Bill Beckley has announced that 19 full-time offices and 11 contact points in the 31-county service territory will be reduced to eight branch offices. Employees will be reduced from 73 to 51. “It is estimated that a savings of over $500,000 a year will be realized,” says Beckley. The FCS of Southwest Missouri is part of the sixth district cooperative Farm Credit System (St. Louis District), which includes Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri. The district in turn is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System that carries one-third of the nation’s agriculture debt.

30 years ago

Oct. 16, 1996

— “The Show” will go on this weekend in Cassville; Local talent will perform hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s

Pony tails, poodle skirts and penny loafers. Leather jackets and letterman sweaters. Ducktails. Sock hops. The beginning of rock and roll. Step back in time this weekend to the golden age of the 1950s and ‘60s by attending “The Show” this weekend. The annual musical extravaganza, sponsored by the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce, features local talent performing songs by artists such as the Penguins, Chuck Berry, Patsy Cline and Nat King Cole. This year’s performances will be offered on Friday night at 10 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Cassville Middle School gym. General admission tickets are $2 each and may be purchased at area businesses. Tickets for reserved seats are available for $4 at the chamber office. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Greg Beck, who is directing “The Show,” said this year’s production includes 24 songs. Out of the 24, 23 were top 10 hits during their era. Out of the 23, 18 topped the charts as number one. Some of the hits you might expect to hear could include “Blueberry Hill,” “Earth Angel” and “Mr. Sandman.” Cast members are: Paula Henson, Ken House, Don Bowen, Kelli Mann, Debbie Ellis, Della Stouder, Bob Cantwell, Sammy Flores, Steve Arnold, Rick Burton, Jo Beth Harris, Tom Cardin, Arlene Burton, Samantha Reed, Shirley Fletcher, Josh Hynes, Wayne Hendrix, Ty Heinrichs, Jerry Marple, Danny Smith, Rick Pifer, Amanda Campbell, Tiffany Crain, Sara Henderson, Jenny Hornberger, Janelle Starchman, Christy Arnold, Blake Whitley and Jack Farrow. A kids choir will also perform under the direction of Judie Starchman. Choir members are: George Ulmer, Chris Landstad, Mat Reed, Adam Hanson, Cody Booth, Eric Ulmer, Matt Perry, Sarah Mills, Staci Stockton, Samantha Sater, Holly Cole, Danielle LeCompte, Amanda Ennis, Jamie Richmiller, Scott McClure, Uriah Sullivan, Sarah Hilburn and Jessica Norman. Band members are: Carol House, piano and keyboards; Jack Reed, lead guitar; Steve Erwin, rhythm guitar; Bruce Nickle, bass guitar; Rocky Mills, trumpet; Jim Craig, trombone; Jo Ellen Fielding, percussion and flute; and Greg Beck, drums.

— Wildcats rank as one of leaders in district

The Cassville Wildcats, standing second in Big 8 conference standings behind co-leaders Aurora and Monett, also hold some significant spots in district statistics. The Wildcats are at 3-2 in the league, Aurora and Monett at perfect 4-0 standings. East Newton is 3-3 in the league immediately behind the Wildcats. Seneca is 1-2, Carl Junction 0-3 and Mt. Vernon 0-3 to round out league standings. Individual honors for the district, not including Friday night’s games, have Ryan Boyle in 23rd with 23 points scored. His touchdowns Friday against Mt. Vernon will undoubtedly boost him in this department. Jacob Artherton is 27th with 42 points. Boyle is also a district rushing leader, standing in spot number 22, with 77 carries for 474 yards, an average of 94.8 per game. He is 15th in pass receiving, catching 11 in five games for 154 yards, an average of 14 yards per game. Artherton is 16th in kickoff returns, recording five for 92 yards, an average of 18.4 yards per effort. Boyle is among several district players with two receptions after mid-season. Lineman John Case is among several district players with three fumble recoveries to his credit this season. In total offense, Cassville is 26th, grinding out 977 yards on the ground, 356 in the air for a total of 1,333. That’s an average of 266.6 yards per game for the five games covered in the report period. The charges of coach Joel Wells rank 18th in defense, permitting a total of 954 yards, an average of 246.4 per game.

— Cassville C of C elects officers and presents beautification awards

Officers were elected and new board directors were announced Tuesday at the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting. New board members are: Jon Horner, Commerce Bank; Charli Jo Ledgerwood, Nokes Realty; Michael LeCompte, LeCompte’s Lumber; and Rhonda Stockton, FASCO. They replace outgoing board members Kathy White, Dennis Ledgerwood, Amy Wells and Reece Lancaster. Next year’s chamber president will be Jennie Herrin. She will be assisted in leadership by Bob Bishop, vice president, and Horner, treasurer. Mike Schlichtman, who served as treasurer last year, was asked to fill the vice president’s post but declined due to previous commitments. He will remain as a member of the chamber board. The new officers and board members will take office on Jan. 1, 1997. Winners of the chamber’s business beautification awards were recognized at the meeting. Those receiving awards were: Barbara Phillips and Misty Ray, representing the Edison Co.; Gary Kipers, representing Taco Bell; Ouisik Dokko, owner of The Oriental House; Dan Bailey, representing Cassville Schools; and Don Cupps and Keith Daniels, representing South Barry County Hospital. In other business, the chamber discussed plans for “The Show,” which will be presented this weekend in three performances. President Kathy White also announced plans for a cruise-in on Saturday, Oct. 19, which should draw vintage cars to the square. Radio broadcasts will also be held. The chamber tabled a decision on changing its dues structure until the November meeting. The board heard a brief report from Tom Koehler, chairman of the chamber’s Dogwood Car Show committee. He asked the board of directors to look into ways to promote the car show and Spring Trout Derby, either separately or together. White delegated the project to Herrin.