50 years ago

Aug. 13, 1975

— CHAPMANS NEW OWNERS CASSVILLE NURSING CENTER

A Kansas family, associated in nursing home operations since 1966, has purchased the Cassville Nursing Home, and assumed operation. Mr. and Mrs. Les Chapman, of Yates Center, purchased the 38-bed facility from Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rouse, who have moved to Norwood. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman plan improvements to the property and staff additions for the County Farm Road facility. Mrs. Lena Bennett of Cassville, a registered nurse, will head the nursing staff. Chapman is a licensed home administrator in the state of Kansas and is in the process of obtaining certification in Missouri. He and Mrs. Chapman are both Emergency Medical Technicians. The Chapman family includes a 17-year-old daughter at home and a four-year-old son. Family operations in Kansas have included building nursing home facilities while in the contracting business and later operation of the homes.

— CHAIN-O-LAKES NEW VILLAGE IN BARRY COUNTY

The newest incorporated area in Barry County, a Table Rock Lake development near Eagle Rock, is in the process of organizing trustees and making improvement plans. Village status was granted recently by the County Court to Chain-O-Lakes Number Two, a development on the shores of Table Rock from near Highway 86 to the Roaring River arm of the reservoir. Lots in the development, 230 in number, are all sold. There are about 75 permanent residents of the facility. Granting of Village status by the county court will pave the way for several possible expansions of service. Governing the operation of the village will be five trustees, Ira Stewart, Otis Compton, Ralph Harbison, Dee Cunningham and Orby Fitzwater. They will meet probably later this week for organization and election of officers. Funds on hand by the village will be turned over to the trustees for road improvements and other projects under the newly acquired status. At present the village is served by four wells, one of which is state approved. Compton said this week the three other wells are tested periodically and have never proved any problem to residents. Included in village facilities is a community swimming pool and 4,000 gallon water storage tank. Fire protection for the community is provided by the Eagle Rock Rural Department. At the same time the court granted village status to Chain-O-Lakes, it also approved closing of certain roads in another lake development, Stringer’s sub-division as requested by Mr. and Mrs. Jack James. A similar request from R A. Tatum for closing streets in Butterfield has been opposed by Bill Howerton before the court. A decision is scheduled on the tabled action at the court next Monday.

—BARRY COUNTIANS MAKE GOOD SHOWING AT FAIR

Barry Countians did their share of ribbon and award winning at the Ozark Empire Fair recently. Included in the results: Robert McDougle of Purdy took reserve champion honors in Holstein judging with a dry, aged cow. John Cowherd of Purdy had the winning junior yearling. The Cowherd farm also won second and third in junior set of sire competition. In dry cows, five and over judging, McDougle was first and Rhonda Purdom of Purdy was third. Kendall Baker of Wheaton was seventh in FFA divisions for dairy cow judging. Also in FFA and 4-H judging, Randy Cowherd of Purdy had the grand champion cow. John Cowherd had the junior yearling winner and McDougle the reserve grand champion. In final judging of Holsteins in the youth division, Miss Purdom was a winner in dry, aged judging, Cowherd in three year old and the Cowherd farm was presented senior and grand champion awards.

40 years ago

Aug. 14, 1985

— BRIDGE RATING IN COUNTY TO BE EXPENSIVE

Barry County government could need some real head scratching next year when it comes to figuring the source of money that will be needed. The county could have an additional expense next year in connection with the 109 bridges on county roads. Presiding Judge Lloyd Dilbeck said this week he and county engineer consultant George Ulmer, were in meetings last week in Joplin during which a new inspection program of bridge conditions was announced. Dilbeck said there were about 190 structures in the county that would come under the new requirements by the federal government. Dilbeck said the program called for the federal government to require inspection of all bridges and rating each for load limits. The administrative judge said the estimated cost was $500 per structure. Only qualified engineering firms would be permitted to do the inspection. The judge said county governments were encouraged to get a plan of action on bridge situations in to the state of Missouri by October 15. The inspections would post load limits on bridges. Not counted in the program are low water crossings which are numerous in Barry County. Dilbeck said the program probably would have far reaching effect, since school busses, feed trucks, fire trucks and other vehicles would be permitted to travel only those stream crossings that were rated for their weight. He said considerable re-routing could result in the county. As the added expense is in the future, Dilbeck said the county was also anticipating cut-backs and eventual elimination of Federal Revenue Sharing dollars for county government. The amount, up to $100,000 in some years, has been provided strictly for law enforcement as partial funding of the Barry County sheriffs department.

30 years ago

Aug. 9, 1995

— BIDS RECEIVED FOR CONCESSION CONTRACT AT ROARING RIVER

According to a state official, four bids have been received for the concessionaire contract at Roaring River State Park. Bids were due Aug. 1. Tom Oliva, Missouri State Parks business manager, said those bidding included: current concessionaire Jack Nickols; Jerry Cramer and JoAnn Koehler of Shell Knob; Delaware North Corp. of Buffalo, N.Y.; and Larry Gillette of Springfield. Delaware North is a company that runs concessions at Yosemite National Park. Oliva said those bidding will be interviewed Aug. 18 by a five-person panel in Jefferson City. Evaluators include two people from the Division of State Parks, two people from other divisions within the Department of Natural Resources and a professor from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Each bidder will be evaluated based on four different criteria that are weighed equally. The panel will look at: percent of gross sales returned to the state; a proposed business plan for operation; the financial ability of the individual to operate the business; and experience, expertise and reliability. Following interviews, a recommendation will be sent to David A. Shorr, director of DNR. The 10-year contract will be awarded in early September, according to Oliva. “We are looking for the person with the best depth and ability,” Oliva said. Over 35 information packets were sent out and two pre-bid meetings were held, attracting seven potential bidders. Of those seven, only four bid on the contract. The contract for concessions at Roaring River includes lodging, dining and related services. Nickols has served as concessionaire for the past 13 years.

— WADE’S COACHES DIRECTORY MARKS 35 YEARS IN PRINT

Clell Wade Coaches Directory marked its 35th anniversary Monday, Aug. 7, with a presentation to co-publishers, Clell Wade and Carolyn Cook, by Clell’s eldest son, Keith. Keith said he wanted to show appreciation to his parents, Clell and Alicia Wade, and to Carolyn Cook, wife of the late Ed Cook. He spoke of how extremely proud he and his siblings are of their father and what he has accomplished with the Coaches Directory. The Wades and Mrs. Cook were presented framed prints depicting the directories over the last 35 years. Twenty-five people attended the presentation. The directory began publication in Missouri in 1960. The Cassville-based company now publishes 35 directories covering the United States, the District of Columbia and ten Canadian provinces. The U.S. directories list more than 25,000 schools and 490,000 coaches. As a coach and teacher, Clell saw a need for a publication that would provide athletic directors and coaches with a complete statewide listing of interscholastic programs. In 1959, Clell and partner Ed Cook from Aurora, began preparations to publish the first annual Missouri State Coaches Directory. The original 1960 directory varies little from today’s edition. It publishes information on every high school and college athletic program in the U. S. and Canada. The focus is interscholastic athletics. Associated activities like cheerleading and band are included because of their importance to academic growth, Clell said. Coaches Directory is truly a family business. The four Wade children have been involved in every aspect of production from the time they could read. Alicia Wade had the job of keeping track of the books and the children. By 1984, the single directory had developed into an international multi-directory and book publication business. Clell moved the business from his home to a building at the corner of Main Street and Seventh Street. New services were added, and additional staff had to be hired. In response, Clell initiated a company policy that provided for the hiring of the developmentally handicapped. The idea was so successful, that after 10 years, a third of the office staff is comprised of these productive workers. Clell Wade Coaches Directory is planning for a bright future in Cassville. They are expanding the scope of their services by introducing junior high school and middle school programs while working on ways to improve the quality of each directory. Despite their success, Clell, his family and staff have never lost sight of the original vision: to provide an accurate and complete publication.