50 years ago

March 3, 1976

— Exeter Passes 90¢ School Tax Hike By 79%

Voters in the Exeter district Tuesday gave overwhelming support to their school by approving a 90-cent tax levy increase by 79 percent, according to Superintendent John Black. Divided into two issues, the bond hikes required a two-thirds majority. Black said the board of education and all school personnel sincerely appreciated the turnout of voters and their response to needed improvements on the physical plant on the campus. The additional funds will provide construction of a new 2,200-square-foot building mostly as a multi-purpose facility that can be used for classrooms, meeting places, a library and a host of other school needs. This facility will cost about $70,000 of the total $80,000 bond issue. The remaining $10,000 will be used to update and repair existing campus buildings. Financing the improvements will be a 23-cent levy increase for debt service and 67 cents for regular operations. The issues received identical votes, 287 in favor and 76 against. Black said the board would meet Thursday with bonding company and architectural representatives to get further plans in the works. The facility is scheduled for use by next September. Roger Frangkiser of Shell Knob is the project architect. Exeter’s levy will increase to $4.69 with the addition of the bond issue on tax statements next year.

— Springfield Second For Stage Band

The CHS stage band, directed by John Knight, successfully competed against bands from throughout the state to win the Class 2-A second place trophy at the SMSU Jazz Festival at Springfield Saturday. The judges awarded Cassville’s performance a “I” rating for the contest and chose Greg Roark, Doug Hart and Holly Edmondson as outstanding soloists. Knight commented that he was proud of the members of the Cassville Jazz Ensemble for the fine job they did for their school and community. “It is quite a distinction to win a trophy at this contest. However, I believe that the most important result is that the more than 1,500 young men and women who participated in this event displayed an outstanding musical maturity and discipline that must be evident in the making of fine music.” Members of the stage band are Cathy Hollingsworth, Judy Smithson, Marilyn Stringer, Holly Edmondson, Jeff VanZandt, Alan Cannady, Greg Roark, Danny Seely, Denise Malarkey, Jerry Beuterbaugh, Stuart Borders, Brian Hunt, Jil Stephens, Doug Hart, Mike Fitzpatrick, John Cowherd, David Buntin, Jamie Bowers, Rhonda St. John, Joe Linnenbrink, Steve Vaughan, Danny Priest and Phil Voorhees. This Saturday the CHS Stage Band will go to Pittsburg, Kansas for a clinic.

40 years ago

March 5, 1986

— No Record, But Eventful Opening At Roaring River

There were no new records at Roaring River State Park for the March 1 opening, unless it might have been in the spectator department. The Saturday opening didn’t attract a record number of fishermen, falling just 325 short, but that’s a strong second place. That put 3,179 fishermen along the Roaring River put-and-take stream from 6:30 a.m. Saturday until closing time at 6:00 p.m. The standing record for opening day is 3,504 set in 1981. The 1985 opening number was 2,316. Even though the fisherperson number didn’t set a new record, anglers were still in the traditional elbow-to-elbow mode when the opening signal came. For the upper area of the stream the opening came about five minutes early. Secretary of State Roy Blunt, doing the honors of firing the opening gun, did so at the urging of Conservation Agent Charles Marrs at about 6:25 a.m. Five minutes later the sirens sounded sending the word to those who were out of earshot of the gun. As traditional as anything were the opening morning temperatures, registered at 18 degrees by Skip Doak, assistant hatchery superintendent. Those 2,580 anglers who were streamside at the opening found themselves spending considerable time freeing the rod guides of ice. Once the sun got over the hills surrounding Roaring River hollow, temperatures got into the 60s and anglers started shedding heavy clothing. Spectators in the park were estimated in the 10,000 range before the day was over. “You couldn’t believe the traffic,” said superintendent Boyd Holcomb. Cassville Chamber of Commerce members served around 50 gallons of coffee in their trips up and down the stream in the pre-opening hours. “We started at 4:30 a.m.,” said Louise Fisher, “and haven’t stopped getting the warming refreshment out to the visitors.” Park ranger Charles Weathers said the 1986 opening was an uneventful event in his department. Outside the traffic directing problems, “we had very little trouble, just some youngsters Friday night doing a lot of driving around.” Holcomb said there were over 200 camping units in the park for the opening. Before noon opening day, there had been 21 lunker badges presented by the sponsoring Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the C of C awarded trophy prizes for outstanding catches. Getting these awards were: Men’s division, Ron Terry, Nevada, for a 10.8 lunker. He was using two-pound test line, requiring about 30 minutes to land the fish. Women’s division, Tammy Miller of Cassville, 1.9. It was her third year to take the award. Youth division, Jason Doss of Monett, 4.0. It was the first Roaring River opening for the Monett third grader. The opening festivities were continuing somewhat Sunday morning when by 9:00 a.m. there were just over 1,200 anglers at streamside. The figure was expected to go over 1,500 before the day was out. One angler known in this area, J.D. Smith of Pierce City, was highly successful. He had a 9.8 in his cooler. Smith said, “I thought I was hung up on the bottom until I felt the line move, then I knew it was a lunker.” It was his first fish of this size as a veteran of Roaring River since 1941, said the Cassville native and retired superintendent of schools in Lawrence County. Merle Rogers, park naturalist, said he had a run of more than usual visitors at the nature center. Most usually for opening people are interested in fishing, but with good weather this year they wanted to visit other park features, he commented. Jack Nickols, concessionaire at the park, said his department ran smoothly during the opening. He noted that for the most part people were content with slower-than-usual service at the park store, restaurant and other services due to the big crowds. Anglers, completely enjoying the crowded conditions “because that’s what you expect for opening,” took turns at barrel fires at streamside to warm their hands or toes. Hatchery superintendent Charles Curry said his crews stocked about 10,000 trout in the stream prior to Saturday. Hatchery staff efforts were obviously being well received with lots of average limits visible both Saturday and Sunday.

— Withheld Checks Prompts Words Between Officials

There were harsh words passing between some county officials Friday involving failure to issue paychecks for sheriff’s department deputies. Prosecuting Attorney John Lewright said this week that he had indeed threatened to file charges against Treasurer Gene Fare if the latter had not issued all paychecks on February 28. Presiding Commissioner Lloyd Dilbeck acknowledged the problem. Dilbeck said the county commission had issued the checks, knowing the funds were in the bank to cover them. For some unknown reason, Fare had withheld checks written to the deputy force and locked them in his office. When it was discovered checks for the deputies were not in the office for distribution, Sheriff Jim Hopkins contacted county officials for an explanation. Dilbeck said he told officials the administrative court had issued the payments but he would check to make sure funds were available to cover them, which he did. In the meantime, Fare had left the courthouse to attend a meeting in Monett. Sheriff’s officers contacted the Monett police force to deliver a message to the treasurer that he was wanted in the county seat. Fare returned, was informed of the prosecuting attorney’s intentions and, upon learning Lewright and Dilbeck had determined funds were in the bank to cover the checks, went to his office to get the warrants and issued them to deputies. Lewright’s lone comment following the incident was, “I would have certainly filed charges if the treasurer had not performed his duties.” Fare, an opponent to county sales tax in two election decisions, had previously maintained the county had ample funds to conduct business without passing an additional tax. Friday he apparently took a different attitude in not issuing checks because funds were not available to cover them. Some of the activity through the courthouse was covered by television cameras. Sound reports were in one newscast, with conversations omitted in later broadcasts. Dilbeck said later, “It is the county commission’s job to issue checks for payment of salaries and bills. We do so, under these difficult times, on the basis of what funds are available. The court would not have issued the checks had we thought the money was not in the bank. Why the treasurer took the action, I do not know.” Checks issued were the final ones for one-half the deputy staff of Sheriff Hopkins. His department had been hardest hit in cutbacks ordered by county government.

— FBLA Students Rank In District Events

Twenty-five Future Business Leaders of America returned from the District 5 skills contest at Aurora February 26 with an impressive number of ratings. Top five ratings were received in fourteen of the seventeen events entered. Placing in the top two and eligible to participate in state contests in April in Jefferson City are: Kevin Black, first, and Tracy Thomas, second, in business law; Bobbie Reed, first, entrepreneurship one; Sheri Lowe, second, business English two; Kristie Davis, second, economics; Keith Abramovitz, first, business math one; and Evelle Hasler, first, stenographer two. Others placing in events were: Perlinda Pettigrew, fifth, clerk-typist two; Michael Evans, third, and Kevin Black, fourth, entrepreneurship one; SueZanne VanTwuyver, fourth, accounting two; Kim Norris, fifth, accounting one; Bobbie Reed, third, business English one; Christina Peters, third, economics; Brenna Manley, fourth, office procedures; Max Schroeder, third, business math one; Karen Watson, third, and Mary Jane Schlichtman, fifth, business math two; Bette Miller, fifth, word processing, machine transcription; and Brenna Manley, fourth, stenographer one. District five consists of eight schools in this area: Southwest, Purdy, Cassville, Monett, Aurora, Verona, Crane and Marionville.

30 years ago

Feb. 28, 1996

— Catch the action at Roaring River

March weather is always unpredictable but you can count on one thing — the arrival of trout season. When the gun is fired on the 68th annual opening day this Friday, anglers will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder ready to cast into the trout-filled waters of Roaring River. Fishermen from near and far will be welcomed to the park by a faithful crew of Cassville Chamber of Commerce members who will be serving hot coffee along the river banks beginning at 5 a.m. The opening gun will be fired at 6:30 a.m. by Secretary of State Rebecca Cook, a return to tradition. One new addition to the March 1 festivities will be the opportunity for fishermen to have their photos taken with their big catch of the day. The chamber will be taking souvenir Polaroid pictures of fishermen who weigh-in lunker trout. The pictures will be given to the anglers as an opening day keepsake. Hatchery Manager Jerry Dean said the stream will be stocked and ready for anglers by Friday. He is predicting that this year’s opener will attract more than 2,500 fishermen, all vying for one of the 7,500 trout estimated to be in the stream. Weather forecasts are calling for a chance of rain, snow and ice on Friday with temperatures ranging from a high of 38 degrees to a low of 17. Dean said the river is quite a bit below normal and fairly clear. Pete Landstad, park superintendent, said the park is ready for visitors. He reports that all campsites are now open. Landstad said visitor numbers on opening day could range from 12,000 to 20,000. The park will continue its tradition of honoring an individual who is significant in the park’s history. This year, James Woods of Cassville, an avid trout fisherman and outdoorsman, will receive the first trout tag of the 1996 season. Woods’ involvement with the park dates back to the 1930s when he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which helped construct the hatchery at Roaring River. Woods has served as secretary/treasurer of CCC Co. 1713 for 40 years.

— Hospital board discusses cost of expansion project

South Barry County Hospital board members met Tuesday in regular session to discuss construction costs of its expansion project currently underway. According to a monthly report, the hospital plans to spend approximately $2,470,381 at this time to complete the construction project, which will add 22,000 square feet to the current facility. Based on a state-approved certificate of need, the hospital is only allowed to spend 10 percent over the original projected cost of $2,202,125. Debbie Stubbs, chief executive officer, reported to the board that unless the hospital went to the state and asked for a cost overrun, construction costs would have to be capped at $2,532,338. Stubbs added that the hospital only had $61,957 left to cover unforeseen budget changes. Following the financial overview, the board discussed pending change orders and approved items totaling about $19,000, including a change in exterior paint colors and installation of two sump pumps in the elevator pits. The consensus of the board was that cost overruns would have to be kept to a minimum. Stubbs and Board President Don Cupps agreed that the hospital did not want to have to go to the state with a request to spend more money.