50 years ago

Aug. 15, 1973

— Trustees of the Barry County Health Unit and County Court Judges met Monday morning with administrators of the South Barry County Hospital and Jim May, of the Regional Medical Program, to plan the future of ambulance service in this area. Don Grant gave the estimated operating budget for an ambulance service based at the South Barry County Hospital. The cost of hiring additional personnel, depreciation and maintenance of two ambulances and equipment would be $29,168.00. The expected revenue from an average of 400 calls per year, at 85% collection potential, would net $13,280.00. The deficit budget for the ambulance service May would be $15,888.00. explained that money is available from the State Division of Health to the Barry County Health Unit, if the Health Unit makes application for funds as a “Special Project” to assist with personnel for the ambulance service. “These funds could not go to purchase. vehicles, only for two personnel, and only years, he added. The agreed Health Unit Trustees to apply for the special project grant, rather than use since any tax levy money, this ambulance service would be serving only half of the county. Further special grant funds could be applied for to assist the Monett hospital. May said, “The state has allowed three vehicles for Barry County–two for Cassville and one for Monett, since Cassville serves the larger area.” He suggested what the Barry County Court might purchase all three vehicles and plan their future budget to cover depreciation and operation of the three vehicles. Need for a program of emergency vehicle services in the county results in passage of new laws in Missouri which specify ambulance and personal qualifications that cannot be reached by private services. Most funeral homes in the county have announced intentions to discontinue the services effective October 1. The county court, health unit and South Barry County Hospital district have entered the program as the only feasible administrators of the much-needed services. The possibility of using personnel jointly by an ambulance service and the hospital unit is also being fully explored.

— Announcement was made this week of the sale of Paul’s Cafe in Cassville by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Young to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dell. Possession of the business in the Sand’s Building here will be effective September 1. The Youngs have been in the business, making the purchase seven years ago from Mrs. Maybelle Mandell. Dell has been associated in the building industry here. Mrs. Dell has resigned as manager of Factory Outlet Shoes. All those involved in the business transaction are natives of this area. Both the Youngs and Dells lived in California for a number of years. Mrs. Dell was associated with the restaurant for a period of time upon returning to this area. Mrs. Dell said further plans for their operation of the cafe will be announced at a later date. The Young family will remain in Cassville.

— The Chamber of Commerce sponsored drive for new Christmas street decorations here went over the $1,000 mark this week, according to J. A. Hull, committee chairman. The C of C office reported 27 contributors have turned in a total of $1,043 in the first week of reporting. Goal for the drive is $9,000 Hull said contributors should send checks to the Chamber of Commerce office or either Cassville bank. The initial reporting list includes the following: J. W. Force $1; Virgil Carter $2, Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Speer, Mrs. R. M., Mr. and Mead. Ray Correl, Bro and Mrs. Kenneth Washburn, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Edmondson, Rev. Russell Davis, L. Huning, J. K. Hency, Mr. And Mrs. Clarence Reed, R. A. Carney, Mr. and Mrs. Don Smithson, $5; Gene Ledgerwood, J. E. Keeling, Eunice Thomas, Mrs. Pauline Dodson, $10. Mr. and Mrs. Dale Rowland $20; Barry County Advertiser, St. Edwards Church and Moore’s Economy, $25, Standard Mutual Association $50, Cassville Democrat and one anonymous donor $100 and Blalack-Koon Chevrolet, OTASCO and Johnston’s Hardware and Variety, $200.

— A proposed Rural Access Road from Golden to the Kings River Public Use Area on Table Rock Lake, is scheduled for rebidding August 31 by the Missouri Highway Department in Jefferson City. Previous bids on the project were over engineer’s estimates. The 3.422-mile project includes grading, constructing culverts and an aggregate base with seal coat surface from Route M at Golden to the recreation area.

40 years ago

Aug. 3, 1983

— Grande Tire Co. Of Cassville has moved to their new location, according to Emil Burnetti, manager. The company’s new 4,000 square foot building is located west of Cassville across old Highway 37 from the Miekley-Cupps Veterinarian Clinic. The firm was formerly located at Second and Main in Cassville.

— Court House Anniversary Open house, in observance of the Barry ‘County Courthouse’s 70th anniversary, will be this Saturday. Constructed in 1913, the present structure was built at a cost of $50,000, replacing a fire destroyed structure, to hold the offices of county government. Commemorating the occasion started in 1911, and recognizing recent remodeling and improvement completions, a reception will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the circuit court brief room. recognition program will be held at 11:45 a.m. according to Rex Stumpff, county clerk. Individual county offices will be staffed during the observance to give county residents the opportunity to view « operations and improvements recently accomplished. Presiding judge Lloyd Dilbeck said the county court had recently completed Improvements costing about $7,000.

— Land Baron Real Estate Co has moved to a new location in Cassville. Offices are now at Ninth and Main, according to Mary Ann James, broker. The firm was formerly officed at Holiday Motel.

— Airman Howard O. Stepp, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard 0. Stepp of Star Route, Shell Knob, has been assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, after completing Air Force basic training. During the six weeks at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. The airman will now receive specialized instruction in the aircraft maintenance field. Daughter His wife, Sherry, is the of Carole Marion of Shell Knob. The airman is a 1978 graduate of Blue Eye high school — Work is scheduled to begin this week. on a City of Cassville program of street improvement, according to Mayor Bill LeCompte. Including work on 27 streets, contract for the project was awarded Evan Hutchens and Son Co. in the amount of $94,641.60. George Ulmer, consulting engineer, said the project would include for following: Fog sealing of previously hot-mix overlay streets: First Street from Main to Highway 37; Third Street from Main to Sunset Heights; Sixth Street from East to West; Seventh Street from East to Main; Eighth Street from East to Main; Ninth Street from East to Townsend; 10th Street from Main to Fair. West 11th Street from Main to city limits; East 13th Street from Mill to city limits; Fair Street from 10th to East 13th; East Street from Highway 248 to 10th; West Street from First to. Seventh and Eighth to Ninth; Townsend from Seventh to Highway 37 and Gravel Street from Highway 37 to Seventh. Recommended for hot mix overlay are: East 14th from Main to Park; County Road from 11th to 14th; West 14th from Main to Presley; West Seventh from Main to Sky; East Seventh from East to Mineral Springs Road; Mill Street from East 13th to 14th; West Seventh from Main to West; West Eighth from Main to West; West Street from Seventh to Eighth and Presley Drive from 11th to 14th. Recommended for finish this year are Rainbow Drive, Old Exeter Road and Sunset Drive. LeCompte also said bridge work on East 11th Street is under consideration by the council providing funds are available.

30 years ago

Aug. 4, 1993

— Two projects in this area, one nearing completion the other just underway, will add to the agri-business picture of BarryCounty.Hammons/ Hall Corporation near Monett and construction of a livestock auction facility near Exeter, could enhance the financial status of agriculture in the area in coming years. Hammons/Hall will turn poultry litter into fertilizer and eventually even cattle feed at a rate of 72,800 tons a year. The plant nearing completion will cost $3 million. The poultry firm is owned by John Q. Hammons, Springfield developer and Viga Hall of Los Angeles, Calif., and native of Monett. Hammons, a native of Fairview, also once taught in the Cassville schools. He is currently Owner of extensive motel, golf Course and resort properties throughout the United States. Becoming one of the largest livestock auction facilities in the area, Exeter’s building, being developed by Bill Younger, a Barry County native that has been in the Willow Springs area in business and farming, is located at the west edge of the town. Younger bought about 30 acres of former grape Vineyard property from Mrs. Tommie Tomblin sometime ago. Red-iron for the project is on the ground and pillars for support trusses are poured. Barry Electric Co-op crews were installing power to the area this week. Reports are the sprawling structure will have 60,000 square feet under a 200×300 roof area. That structure will provide cattle penning under one roof, with other facilities of Barry County Livestock Auction to be contained in separate buildings. The arena building will be 50×75 and a structure 24×120 will include a cafeteria and offices. Younger, who left Barry County in 1972 said the auction company would employ about 16 persons when operations reach final stages. Sales will be on Thursdays for feeder, cow-calf pairs and slaughter animals. No hog sales are contemplated. Special monthly dairy sales and production sales will be available at the auction. With a fall opening targeted, the facility will provide a cafe and many of the most modern auction pavilion facilities. There has not been a livestock auction operating in Cassville for the past several years. A number of facilities exist within a wide circle of the county. Agri-business interest in the pair of operations are enhanced through the number of beef and dairy cattle that place the county at a high standing in Missouri. The 1992 issue of Farm Facts lists Barry County fourth in the state with 39,200 beef cattle and 87,400 numbers in all cattle statistics. All cattle values are placed in the $51 million level for last year. That was down from the $54 million in 1991. There is no remaining evidence of a vineyard being located on the property, with clearing operations completed several weeks ago as weather permitted. Footings and pillars for the building’s steel skeleton are in place. Iron material is also on the ground with the process of starting up with the building to begin at any time. Poultry growing in Barry County, increasing almost monthly since a kick-start six to eight years ago, currently pumps $I billion into the state’s economy, according to recent conservative estimates by the University of Missouri extension service. An estimate 460 poultry producers in a five-county area of southwest Missouri own just under 2000 poultry houses and produce 200 million birds annually. Major processing facilities are operated by George’s Poultry at Butterfield and Tyson Foods in Monett. In all instances, these two firms, combined with Hudson Foods of Rogers, Ark., are major operators in Barry County.

— A new director for the Jenkins school district has been appointed according to administrator Sam Weeks. Board action Tuesday night appointed Denise Prisk to the unexpired term of Dale Craig, who had resigned. The term expires this April.

— As more complete figures have become available, Barry County’s flood damage resulting from July 6 storms will amount to $1.6 million, according to presiding commissioner Lloyd Dilbeck. County disaster officials will set that figure with state and federal agencies. Dilbeck said this week the major damage was in roads and streets in the county. That figure stands at $791,365. Agriculture losses, not including crops, stands at $600,000, according to Heather Lightfoot-Alaimo of the ASCS Office. Cassville damage was increased to $236,212 this week with discovery of heavy damage to another box culvert. A Cassville figure of $129,000 is included in the county road totals, according to Dilbeck. That would leave $107,212 flood damage in other areas in town. Washburn with damage amounts stand at $2,755. No other municipal government submitted damage evaluation figures to the county commission. The ASCS report said flood damage to fields and buildings resulted in debris and washouts. Lightfoot-Alaimo said there were about 500 producers included in that damage figure.

“Crop damage will wait on program implementation “probably the latter part of August,” the ASCS county director said.

She noted some crops, originally estimated as lost, have been at least partially harvested. The office is currently taking applications for fence repair and debris removal from participating farms in the county. Major road district costs in the county will apparently result in actual repairs to bridges and abutment washouts, according to Dilbeck. Of the 26 districts in the county, Il are listed as not making application for flood damage assistance. Andy Treat, county disaster coordinator, who remains in contact with state and federal agencies, still has no determination on how much overall assistance might be forthcoming from government levels.

— Missouri Lottery has made the first transfer of funds to education after voter decisions last year. The funds would be earmarked for that purpose. The July 1 transfer, representing tickets sold in June, $8.4 million.

— Five Barry Countians have received higher degrees from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield. Their completion of summer term work made the degrees possible. They were among 511 degrees granted in the event July 30 at Hammons Student Center. Included in the group were: Jimme D. Roe, Washburn, education specialist; Diane G. Prewitt, Wheaton, Master of Science; John Maddux of Cassville and Sandra L. Holden of Shell Knob, both master of science in education degrees. Patricia Pomeroy, Monett, also received a Master of Science in education.