50 years ago

Oct. 1, 1975

— Airport Ready Next Spring After Ground Breaking

Ground breaking for Cassville’s new municipal airport was completed Monday afternoon, and construction work began Tuesday morning. Contractors on the project old those assembled for the ceremonial process it would he next spring before the Facility would be completed. Costing an estimated $400,000, the project is on a 90-acre site just northwest of the Cassville city limits. Access and adjoins Highway 37. Federal Aviation Administration grants for the project amounted to $262,728. The remainder of funding came from the city of Cassville and grants from the State of Missouri. The Cassville Chamber of Commerce, instrumental in promoting the facility, was in charge of Monday’s ceremony. President Bob Mitchell was master-of-ceremonies. Introductions of those involved in the project included Mayor Bill LeCompte, who said, ‘progressiveness of the citizens in providing tax dollars made the project possible.” Also recognized were councilmen Gene Schlichtman, Bill Hailey, Marlee Edie and W. E. Leonard. Members of the C of C aviation committee, Max Fields and Eldon Johnson, co-chairman, Carter Koon, Dr. Bill Barnes, Leon Sanders and Glen Garrett were also recognized. Fields told the audience, “Everyone’s co-operation and help makes the project possible.” Representing the 52 stockholders in CASCO Corp., who raised $20,000 local funds for the project, were Fields, Sanders, Schlichtman and Edie. Bill Wiley, president of the Cassville Industrial Development Corporation, was also present. Land owners recognized for their cooperation included: Mr. and Mrs. Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Heston, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Pinnell, and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Gibbons. Also present to give a brief description of the actual location of facilities on the property was George Ulmer, representing Miller-Newell and Associates, project en-gineers. Ken Hamilton of Hamilton-Patten Construction Co., Mt. Vernon, participated in the shovel wielding. The firm holds a $173,899.50 construction contract. Also at the scene was Jim Norman of Shell Knob, excavating sub-contractor. Norman and Hamilton agreed the completion date would probably be next spring. The contract calls for 180 working days. An open winter could make for an early date. Included in the project is a 3,000 ft. landing surface, 60 feet wide, running in an east-west direction. Taxi-ways, turn around, fencing and seeding are included. Additional facilities, such as aircraft hangers, will be developed later by the City of Cassville and craft owners. In brief remarks to the small crowd, Mitchell said it had been about 40 years since Cassville’s first airport bond issue was defeated by no more than three votes. The first proposal was a project of the late Dr. George Newman, then mayor of Cassville.

— Fall Color Peak Three Weeks Away 

In the Barry County Ozarks, Mother Nature is showing her first blush of autumn, in preparation for the Flaming Fall Review. Putting their heads together this week, Jim Roles, ranger of the Cassville district of Mark Twain National Forest and Merl Miller, a staffer, put the peak color date at October 19. Both are quick to point toward the possibility of a good color display being as much as 10 days earlier than the peak. Color is arriving now in early turning species such as sumac and Virginia Creeper. Dogwood and sassafras are starting to turn. Gum trees are joining those who are among the more sightly. Barry County should be in an enviable position for the fall color show of 1975. While surrounding areas were experiencing drought conditions this summer, showers visited here frequently enough that foliage is especially heavy in both National Forest and private sectors of the woodlands. Judging by past experience, the peak of color usually arrives the third week of October, but as Roles pointed out, communication with the trees for an exact date is often difficult. Mother Nature, possibly embarrassed because she knows she will soon be without her leafy clothing…..just doesn’t tell anyone an exact date.

40 years ago

Oct. 2, 1985

— Seat Belt Law Now In Effect 

The Missouri Highway Patrol will begin issuing “tickets” September 28 to violators of Missouri’s new seat belt law. But the “tickets” will be warnings only, because the law forbids any stronger enforcement for almost two years. The warning tickets are part of the Highway Patrol’s educational program to convince Missouri drivers to begin buckling up well in advance of the time when they’ll have to pay $10 fines if they don’t. Nathan B. Walker, director of highway safety, said his office was promoting educational sessions in schools and public meetings. The state is distributing information to be used in these meetings and is also circulating a device called a ‘Safety Belt Convincer.” The Highway Patrol will lead the effort to make sure the public is aware that Missouri become one of 14 states with a law requiring drivers and all front-seat passengers to wear seat belts. Special tickets have been printed, said Lt. Ralph Biele of the Highway Patrol. The ticket has a tear-off portion that the patrolman will keep for purposes of recognizing who was given the ticket.

— County unemployment low

Barry County unemployment figures continued below the state and national average for August, reports the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The Barry County figure was 5.2 percent, compared to 6.2/ in the state. Adjoining county figures, Newton 6.0, Lawrence 6.5, McDonald 8.5 and Stone 5.6. The Barry County figure is the same for the previous month and for the same month last year.

30 years ago

Sept. 27, 1995

— New Septic Tank Rules Spark County Discussion

Barry County Commissioners and Health Department officials met last week to discuss a possible county waste water treatment ordinance. New regulations set forth in Senate Bill 446 have amended the current construction codes for septic tanks. Under the state law, county commissions can chose to adopt new statewide standards for septic tanks or they can pass an ordinance of their own with stricter standards. County health officials would like to see the commission adopt a county ordinance. County commissioners are still weighing their options. “We’re not opposed to protecting the water supply in the county,” said Cherry Warren, presiding commissioner. “We need to know more before we decide to pass a county ordinance.” Part of the information gathering process will include a public hearing, scheduled for Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the county courtroom. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend the hearing and to express their opinions on septic tank rules and regulations. According to the health department, numerous inquiries have been received from waste water treatment system installers and private citizens about changes in sewage treatment laws. SB 446 stated that the new construction rules and regulations took effect on Sept. 1. But Gary Boone, the county’s environmental sanitarian, said the present guide for the construction of septic tank and soil absorption systems will continue to be used until January 1996. New state construction standards will be issued in November, and state permits will be issued beginning in January 1996. The state law sets minimum standards that must be followed when installing or repairing an onsite sewage system that treats less than 3,000 gallons a day. A permit from the health department is required prior to construction or major repair. The permit fees must not exceed $90. Boone said the county is currently issuing permits for $60. He added that this amount could increase by $30 if state guidelines rather than county guidelines are adopted. Violations are punishable by fines ranging from $200 to $5,000. Out of the 21 counties in southwest Missouri, eight have adopted county ordinances and 11 have ordinances currently under review. Boone said Barry and McDonald Counties are the only two in the area that have not yet drafted a county ordinance. Representatives of the health department said they believed there were several advantages to: adopting a county ordinance rather than accepting state guidelines.

The list of advantages presented to the commission included the following:

1. Direct access to the inspector for the homeowner and installer.

2. Training could be provided for county soil conditions rather than general state conditions.

3. Control of the entire program is with county officials.

4. Variances granted by local sanitarian.

5. Money stays in county.

6. The ordinance can be amended to reflect changing conditions in the county.

7. Better water quality and increased property value.

8. The public will hold the county responsible for failure of a septic system no matter who approves and inspects the system.

Those attending the Sept. 21 meeting included: Pat Tichenor, county health administrator; Don Parsons, Ralph Davis and Glen Craig, health board directors; Boone; Daryl Brock, Stone County Health Department; Warren; Dayton Mackey, northern commissioner; Red Edens, southern com-missioner; and Gary Youngblood, county clerk.

— Tucker’s On The Lake Has New Location

With a target opening date of Oct. 16, Mike and Debbie Mertins are preparing their restaurant at a new location. Tucker’s Inn will be located two and a half miles south of the Central Crossing Bridge in Shell Knob. The new restaurant will serve the same food that Tucker’s On The Lake has always offered. A full lounge area and tea room will be added. Restaurant hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Tea Room will be open 10 am. to 4 p.m. Ron Inglebrook will continue to offer nightly keyboard and vocal entertainment. The Mertins said they have designed the new decor with “plush” in mind. They hope to create an atmosphere that enhances diverse food selections. Debbie said that much of the remodeling will be done by Tucker’s friends and patrons on a voluntary basis.

— Foreign Students At CHS Find The U. S. “Marvelous”

Language and cultural barriers have once again been bridged as Cassville High School welcomes two exchange students. Mao Tien has travelled from Chong Quin, China, to live with Pat Oeser in Shell Knob. She is visiting Cassville on a 10-month program. Robert Zabrocki arrived in Cassville from Vorst, a suburb of Dusseldorf, to attend CHS on a three-month program. His host parents are Bruce and Karan Nickle. Zabrocki speaks English well and has made a quick adjustment. The 16-year-old, who always wanted to visit the U.S., thinks “that America is the most marvelous country of the world with a fantastic nature.” His father, a chemist, has visited the States many times, telling his son the USA is “nearly undescribeable.” Tien also likes it here, but her adjustment has been more difficult since she speaks little English. Gayle Fields, CHS counselor, spoke to an admissions counselor at Drury College in Springfield, asking for someone who could help Tien. The counselor told Fields to work with Dr. Xien Liu, a Drury English professor, who speaks fluent Chinese. Tien is happy and comfortable with her host mother, Oeser, and the friends she has made. Many of her classmates help with her assignments and explain instruc-tions. She rides to school every day with Melanie Lock, daughter of Bill and Joella Lock, and has become Melanie’s close friend. Sharing and relating customs and traditions is an important reason Tien wanted to visit America. She also wants to improve her English, master modern technology and science, and “observe and appreciate the customs in America.” Family is important to both Zabrocki and Tien. Zabrocki comes from a strict Roman Catholic family. He has one sister, Doris, who is 18. The two siblings get along very well, “so we’re more effective against our parents,” Zabrocki jokes. Tien describes her relationship with her family as “very good, a little different.” She lives with her father, a section chief, her mother, a clerk, and an older sister, Ying. Although the language makes classes somewhat difficult for Tien, she finds school at CHS much easier, as does Zabrocki. In Germany, students attend school from 8 a.m. until 1:20 p.m. Junior and seniors must return from 3 to p.m. There are no extracurricular activities, no athletics, and no classes such as band or music. “Cassville High School is very free,” Tien said. “My school is very strict.” Both Tien and Zabrocki a enjoying their stay in Cassville and like America. “People are more friendly here,” Zabrocki said. “If I stayed here for a longer time, I think would very much feel at home.”