50 years ago

Dec. 24, 1975

— Nursing home application goal for March 1, 1976

Applications through regulatory agencies should be ready by March 1 for new nursing home facilities in Cassville, according to Les Chapman of Cassville Nursing Center. The Chapman family is seeking a “finding of need” from regional and state agencies, with endorsements from local groups progressing well. Approval authority comes from the Lakes Country Comprehensive Planning Council, followed by the Missouri Comprehensive Health Planning Council. Chapman, through Ozark Autumn Manor Inc., proposes construction of a 120-patient facility at the current site on County Farm Road, built in two phases of 60 patients each and including all related nursing operations. Chapman said the corporation’s existing five acres would be adequate, and preparations for financing, plans, administration and ownership are underway. Once approvals are secured, construction could begin immediately. The present nursing center has 30 patients and a long waiting list, and community response supporting the need has been strong.

— Jaycees form, name chapter officers here

Officers for a newly chartered Junior Chamber of Commerce in Cassville have been named, with John Bartkoski serving as president. The organization has 21 charter members and is affiliated through the Monett chapter. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 6, with regular meetings scheduled the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Officers include Johnny Stringer, first vice president; Dr. Chip Kammerlohr, second vice president; Raymond Fisher, secretary; and Vaughan Smith, treasurer. Board members include Allen Sparks, Harold Brock, Rex Stumpff and Harold Smith. The group plans to focus on youth projects, including Little League baseball.

— Banks loan farmers over billion dollars

Operating and real estate loans to Missouri farmers exceeded $1 billion at year-end 1974, according to the Missouri State Bankers Association. Missouri bankers held $711.1 million in production loans and $320.1 million in farm mortgage loans, accounting for 70 percent of loans in those categories. Nationwide, farm operating loans totaled $18.2 billion, with real estate farm loans at $5.9 billion. Farmers’ equity reached $438.4 billion, while farm expenses rose to $73.4 billion and net farm income declined to $27.7 billion. The number of farms fell to 2.83 million nationwide. Missouri bankers reported increased use of improved lending programs to meet the growing capital needs of farmers, with 90 percent of banks extending credit to farm operators.

40 years ago

Dec. 25, 1985

— Wheaton Plant to reopen early 1986

Reopening of the poultry processing plant in Wheaton is expected shortly after the first of the year, according to new ownership, Petit Jean Poultry of Danville, Ark. The plant, purchased from 4-R Poultry, has been closed for several months and is expected to reopen about Jan. 6 if added equipment arrives on time. About 200 people will be employed when full operations resume, with approximately 90 hires anticipated this week, according to plant manager A.L. Stapleton. Both day and night shifts are planned at the facility, which will be titled North Arkansas Poultry–Wheaton Division Plant. The original establishment of the facility was through the Barry County Industrial Development Authority, which issued revenue bonds for site and equipment purchases.

— MU looking into rural crystal ball

The University of Missouri–Columbia has offered suggestions for revitalizing the state’s rural economy over the next 10 years through presentations on “Rural Missouri 1995: Challenges and Issues” held last week in Mount Vernon. Roger Mitchell, dean of the university’s College of Agriculture, said additional meetings will be scheduled statewide to gather input from agriculture interests. One farmer attending the area session said the program had merit but did not go far enough in addressing immediate farm bankruptcies. The project aims to assess current rural conditions and spark reinvigoration efforts based on surveys from 18 community meetings and input from state and local leaders. The report cited declining rural economic life following the prosperity of the 1970s and identified factors affecting the next decade, including declining farm populations, increased travel for work and shopping, aging rural populations, shrinking tax bases, rising relative costs of rural living, and shifts in land use back to forage production. Mitchell noted that most employment growth comes from businesses with 20 employees or fewer and emphasized opportunities in forage-based beef production, expanded alfalfa cultivation, rural entrepreneurship and at-home businesses. The university’s “Best of Missouri Hands” catalog, scheduled for early 1986, was cited as an example of at-home product development.

30 years ago

Dec. 20, 1995

— Public will decide future of 911 service in Barry County

In addition to a jail expansion and upcoming budget discussions, the Barry County Commission has announced plans to take on another project. On Thursday, commissioners met with a G.T.E. representative to discuss an Enhanced 911 system for the county. David Newell presented the commission with initial figures for installing the emergency system. According to Newell, a 15 percent users fee, assessed on a customer’s basic monthly phone rates, would generate about $16,000 per month. The average household would be charged about 80 cents per month. That amount would pay for the cost to install and maintain the system, according to Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren. The commission’s first step is to try to get area fire departments and ambulance services to agree on what areas they would serve. Once the county is divided into territories, factual discussions about the system could proceed more quickly, Warren said. Andy Treat, the county’s Emergency Management Agency director, will facilitate discussions between emergency personnel. Once territories are determined, the commission will schedule public hearings to discuss a 911 system. The first meeting will be held in February, and others will continue through March, with meetings scheduled in various parts of the county. “If people show an interest, then we’ll put the issue on the April ballot,” Warren said. The commissioners plan to appoint an advisory committee in January. According to Newell, GTE has 8,224 access lines in the southern portion of the county. Alltel has 2,405 lines in the Purdy and Wheaton areas, and Southwestern Bell has 166 lines in the county’s northwest corner.

— Winter storms offer relief to dry areas

Southern portions of Missouri that have been hit by an extended dry period this fall can look for relief from winter storms, according to a University of Missouri climatologist. Central and southwestern Missouri have been the driest areas of the state, recording only about 60 percent of the normal monthly rainfall total during November, according to Wayne Decker, weather consultant for the University Extension Commercial Agriculture Program. “Storm tracks during winter and early spring move across these areas of the state more frequently than in the northern counties,” Decker said. Dry weather in October and November has depleted soil moisture reserves in southern portions of the state, with 80 percent of soils in southwest Missouri having very short soil water supplies. The dry weather allowed crop harvest to proceed rapidly but slowed emergence of winter wheat in southwestern counties. Pasture conditions are relatively poor in most areas of the state, and hay is being fed to cattle on pasture statewide. Soil moisture in the dry areas should be restored by winter storms, Decker said.

— County commission locks in agreement for jail expansion 

A building project that would double capacity at the Barry County Jail could begin late next summer following action taken Monday by Barry County commissioners. The commission signed an agreement with Archetype Design Group Inc. of Leawood, Kan., for architectural services at a fee of 8 percent of the project cost. Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren said Archetype will begin work immediately modifying the original design and preparing bid documents, with the project expected to be ready for bids within 60 to 75 days. Construction could begin in late summer or early fall. The basic design provides for a 4,000-square-foot addition to the existing jail facility at an estimated cost of $400,000, allowing the county to house approximately 16 additional prisoners. Current jail capacity is 16 prisoners. The modular design allows future expansion of up to 32 more cells. “This project should get us the jail standards we need to have,” Warren said. The commission plans to pay cash for the project and will determine whether to cover the full cost in 1996 or carry part into 1997 after year-end surplus figures are finalized. Plans call for eight new jail cells, four on the street level and four on a mezzanine directly above, with each cell measuring approximately 85 square feet and equipped with stainless steel fixtures, steel bunk beds, and wall-mounted furniture opening into a dayroom. The project also includes a lobby area, holding cell, booking room, storage areas, central control room, administrative offices and a 577-square-foot enclosed recreation yard open to the sky but shielded from neighboring properties. Architect Jim Lichty said the centralized control room will provide full electronic control and visibility of all cells, allowing the jail to operate with fewer personnel. The existing jail will be slightly remodeled, with its six cells likely designated for female prisoners. In other action, the commission approved Treasurer Lois Lowe’s request to disburse $19,289.56 to the Missouri County Employees’ Retirement Fund for November 1995, approved distribution of $23,752.04 to Crane Creek Special Road District, authorized distribution of $207,886.96 in Financial Institution Tax funds, instructed issuance of $6,868.50 from the Emergency Road and Bridge Fund to Hall Signs Inc., and approved the appointment of James O. Clements of Shell Knob as district road commissioner for the Viola Special Road District.