50 years ago

Oct. 17, 1973

— HOSPITAL REMAINS OPEN; HOPE SERVICES INCREASING

The South Barry County Hospital board of directors, in a Thursday meeting, have gone on record as continuing the operation of the Cassville facility, at least for the present time. “Directors felt the increased interest of the community in the facilities merits continuation,” according to Don Grant, administrator. Hospital officials also pointed toward the possibility of obtaining additional staff members that will provide surgery services. Dr. A. A. Ancheta, a medical doctor from Springfield, has in conferences with officials and staff members concerning the possibility of a Thursday schedule here for surgical patients. The officials said this possibility, plus emergency calls, are being investigated and hopefully will be established in the near future. Dr. Ancheta performed the first major surgery in the hospital in approximately two years last Friday. The appendectomy was an emergency on a youthful Independence, Missouri boy who was here with his parents. David McGee, listed 11, in hospital records as a patient, became sick while here and was scheduled for surgery Saturday when a Friday evening emergency existed. Assisted by Dr. W. G. Barnes and Johnson, the Dr. Gerald Springfield physician came here for the operation. Other hospital staffers, including nurses, Dell Holman, Gwyn Adams and Connie Hayworth, assisted. Boosting the continuation hospital’s after a notice previously that the unit would close November 1, is the upswing of patients. Mrs. Joyce Vaughan, assistant administrator says the unit served 7.4 patient average in September. That statistic has jumped to a daily average of 13 patients in the period October 1-15. Full capacity, 18 patients, was registered two days this month. Mrs. Vaughan says hospital records also show 19 emergencies have been received by the hospital in the October 1-15 period. Five of these were in one day, October 10. Another possibility on expansion of hospital facilities and services is staff talk with the board of directors concerning establishment of intensive care and recovery facilities at the unit. Staffing is considered adequate for this addition of services. Mrs. Vaughan also noted this week that the hospital district board election set for November 6 had been postponed indefinitely on an option from the office of the Missouri Attorney General. This was done to permit registration of voters in the district prior to the ballot. Incumbent director Dr. Charles Hallett had filed as the lone candidate for re-election with the deadline this Wednesday. Officials speculate a reopening of candidate filing will. be necessary when the election is called after voter registration. Spokesmen for both the hospital board and staff said this week the picture of continued services at the unit for the district was “extremely brighter” at this time than it was 30 days ago. One said, *now instead of worrying about patient loads, we can proceed with plans for advancing services to this area.” Grant told the Board he was very enthused over the entire areas concern in the hospital. He also mentioned that as a result of contacts being made, a very outstanding surgeon from Springfield is considering doing elective surgery at South Barry County Hospital on Thursdays. Emergency surgery would be handled at Cassville also unless the surgeon was not available and in that case emergency surgery would be transferred to Springfield.

— ELEMENTARY PLAN FOR BUILDING AT SCHOOL APPROVED

In a regular Monday meeting night, the Cassville board of education selected an elementary building expansion design for future development, as major agenda move. The design would include space for primary grades, music, art and social the service area for handicapped. Superintendent James Ford said the board plans a continued study as developments come. No funding or bond proposals were released with the plan information. Another area of expansion was discussed in the need for additional bleachers for the CHS football stadium. Considerable concern has been expressed over the lack of seating during the current football season. Capacity crowds have been in attendance at the Wildcat’s three home games during the current in underrated season.

40 years ago

Oct. 12, 1983

— COUNTRY COTTAGE OPENING

Country Cottage, owned by Mr. and Mrs. David Burns at Fourth and West Streets in Cassville, officially opens this Thursday. The gifts, antiques and collectables business was formerly located in Roanoke, Va. Mr. and Mr. Burns moved the business here when he accepted the post of superintendent of the Exeter schools.

— Cassville Now Has Warning System Citizens of Cassville who have subscribed to Cable TV now receive information regarding tornadoes or other emergencies existing in the local area. This has been made possible this week by the installation of special equipment, tied into the Cable TV system. It is called an Emergency Alert Warning System and is now ready for operation, based at the police department in Cassville. City officials can give the dispatcher orders to “break in’ on all channels of cable TV programming and issue a voice announcement regarding the existing emergency. The system is scheduled to be tested each Saturday noon at 12:00 o’clock during station breaks. However, should a real emergency arise, the dispatcher can «break in? and broadcast any emergency message at any time, 24 hours a day and repeat as often as necessary for the safety of the community. We needed some kind of early alert system here in Cassville, said Mayor Bill LeCompte. Working with City Vision, Inc., we were able to have our alert system built into their system. In fact, this is a joint effort between the city of Cassville and City Vision,” he continued. We will be using the system to broadcast emergencies only…it could be a tornado sighting or any other local emergency. Since both Cassville and Exeter receive their Cable TV programming from the same earth station, both will benefit by receiving the same emergency messages. With Approximately two thirds of the homes in the Cassville-Exeter area sub- scribed to Cable TV, this new means of communications should prove to be effective in promoting safety on a local level. We are indeed happy for the opportunity to share with the communities in this worthwhile effort,” commented Mrs. Ruth I. Kolpin, president of City Vision, Inc.

30 years ago

Oct. 6, 1993

— PATROL COPTER GOES DOWN AT AIRPORT

A Missouri Highway Patrol helicopter from Troop D in Springfield, crashed on the Cassville airport about 9:30 a.m. this (Wednesday) morning. The pilot and one passenger were apparently not seriously injured. Officers at the scene said the helicopter was in the process of becoming involved in further drug searches in this area when it crashed on the east end of the runway. Residents near the airport reported hearing the helicopter make an approach and started sounding “funny.” The craft smashed to the ground shortly thereafter. From their homes, residents saw one of the men run from the craft as rotor blades were still pounding the ground. Cassville fire department took three units to the crash scene and applied foam to the helicopter and gasoline spill on the runway. Cox South units of South Barry County Ambulance District were at the scene to provide minor treatment to the two men. Officers of a multi-agency group were at the airport waiting for the helicopter’s arrival to participate in marijuana searches in this area.

— ONE BULL STAMPEDE ATTRACTED COWBOYS

Law enforcement officers, private citizens, and postal workers all turned cowboy in Cassville last Wednesday when a 2,000 pound Limousin bull that was being weighed at a local feed business broke out of the trailer and made a tour of town. The bull, belonging to Blake Whitley, was in town to go across the scales at George Ray – Sons Feed Co. Obviously not pleased with the situation, the one-ton animal broke down the gate of the trailer and took off through residential areas of town. A small posse of horsemen was summoned but didn’t help much in the effort. When an early need for vehicles was evident, city deliveryman Dennis Fischer of the post office used his vehicle to head-off the animal, all in the interest of “public safety.” After the animal went through an electric fence at the city park baseball complex, pursuers headed him west, hoping they would be able to keep him off the public square, a task they were able to accomplish. After moving Ferdan to the western edge of Cassville, he was, finally urged across Highway 37 as police cars were used to caution traffic on the busy route. By the way, as we understand it, other names were used in reference to the animal during his travel through Cassville. Safely across the highway, the bull fell under some real cowboy handling. It was about this time he got near the Ed Ray farm where stock dogs and some horsemanship from the landowner, put the animal in a corral and under control.