50 years ago

April 14, 1976

— Swear-in, Dogs, ‘Port Dedication, Water, Costs On Council Agenda

Cassville’s city council moved smoothly through a long and sometimes complicated agenda in a regular meeting Tuesday night. Included on Mayor Bill LeCompte’s agenda were discussions of water fluoridation under new state laws, water rate study, airport dedication, loss of well pumping capacity, dog problems, matters of warrants issued for city offenses, start of new Neighborhood Center, annual audit, coming assessment, street light increases, and contract extensions on a wastewater treatment project that is a year or two away. Add several other minor discussions to this list and you have a session that was covered in two and one-half hours by the four-member council, with all members, W. E. Leonard, Bill Hailey, Marlee Edie and Gene Schlichtman, present. First order of business was a canvass of the April 6 election and swearing the incumbent aldermen back to their posts. Clerk F. O. Fields did the honors for Hailey and Leonard. Swinging into their agenda, and covered in the order of appearance, not necessarily by importance, the council covered these subjects: Circulated letter from State Department of Health inquiring if city wanted to fluoridate water under new requirement of Missouri law. State funds might be available, information requested from city which would pave the way for the project. Police report, patrol car driven 3,594 miles during month. One speeding, two driving while intoxicated, one peace disturbance and 47 parking citations. Mayor LeCompte informed council that new chlorination equipment had been installed on three wells presently in service for the water system. A radio switch with the sheriff’s department and addition of a scanner in the patrol car has been completed. Pool improvements are underway, with Miss Karen Wade of Quincy, Ill., accepting manager’s post for this season. New 150,000-gallon water tank is completed, city waiting for inspection by state health authorities before putting into service. Water rate study by auditing firm is to be completed next week. Council looking at possible rate adjustments due to increased pumping costs. Budget meeting set for April 27. Mayor advised council they might need to look for revenue that does not now exist. Airport completion date speculation for May 10 if weather holds. Dedication originally set May 30 changed to June 20 to permit more arrangements for speakers. Concern over Eighth Street well’s loss of 100-gallon-per-minute pumping ability will be further observed. There has been no further loss since being reported at March council meeting. Contracts with Chamber of Commerce and South Barry County Ambulance District as new occupants of Neighborhood Center will be reviewed with the respective organizations. Problem of dogs in neighborhoods, both stray and pets, discussed by council. No action taken, mostly through doubt an effective way to control with finances available. Fields discussed with council problem of citations and warrants issued not resulting in pickup of offenders of city ordinances. Mayor LeCompte reported the Neighborhood Center project, a joint effort of the Barry County Court through a HUD grant and city funding, was underway. An annual audit of city fiscal records begins next week by a Neosho firm. Contracts were signed with County Assessor Glen Nicoll for $400 to complete city property assessments this year and extension of books. City notified by Barry Electric Cooperative of street light costs rising from $594.60 a month present cost to $711.10 under new rates effective with May 1 billing. Council approved maintenance contract for city collector’s office equipment in annual amount of $124. Closing out their meeting, the council renewed and revised contracts with Allgier-Martin and Associates of Joplin for a 1977-78 project of major improvements to wastewater treatment facilities here. Costing $900,000, city funding is in hand for the 10% local costs. The program, started a year ago, would make major line additions to the city and add a treatment facility at the disposal lagoon. Mayor LeCompte explained most of the contract consisted of changes needed by the Environmental Protection Agency covering survey work that would include inspection of all existing lines with TV scans and smoke testing before the pending project is completely designed. Costs in excess of $20,000 would be covered by Step One grants from the EPA. And, as Clerk Fields usually notes in his minutes, “the boys departed on their separate ways.”

40 years ago

April 16, 1986

— Family Era Ending At Eagle Rock Post Office April 30

For a total of 86 years out of the 132-year history of the Eagle Rock post office, a member of the Curry family has been in charge. That era will end Wednesday, April 30, when Willis Curry retires. Curry, whose father and mother both served the rural post office, will be succeeded by Cindy Rogers, a clerk at the Wheaton postal facility. She will serve until a permanent appointment is made by U.S. Postal Service officials. Now serving just under one thousand patrons, the office was first established in 1854 as the Roaring River Post Office. After going through seven postmasters, the office was discontinued in 1864, but reestablished May 16, 1871. After having five postmasters, the office was changed to Eagle Rock in 1886 and remains under that name today. Early postmasters included such area names as Ruble, Weathers, Holmesby, Allen and Farwell. Later-day names included Burris, Munsey, Cornell and again Farwell. From the late 1800s through 1917 the office had eight postmasters, by the names of Farwell, Larecy, Whittington, King, Holman, Ayres and Skelton before Noel Curry, merchant and area leader, took the office from 1917 to 1918. That was the first involvement of the Curry family in the postal facility and involved a move from the original building to the Curry store, located virtually on the banks of Roaring River. The store and post office remained there until the advent of Table Rock Lake, when a new store was constructed on a relocated Highway 86 on the south side of the river. The Whittington family became involved in the office from 1918 through 1922. Alma Stockton was acting postmaster for two years, until 1924. On October 15, 1925, Mrs. Jean Curry, the present postmaster’s mother, became head of the Eagle Rock postal facility. She served in that post 45 and one-half years until her retirement in 1971. Willis Curry, a graduate of the Cassville schools who was a builder and stockman in the Eagle Rock community, assumed the postmastership on April Fool’s Day, 1971. Prior to that time, he had served as leave replacement clerk for his mother for 24 years. Mrs. Curry, currently a resident of Red Rose Inn in Cassville, recalls many memories of the rural community during her time. The office, presently located in its fourth building, a modern brick structure, is served by post office boxes and a rural route that originates in Cassville. The present rural carrier, Martha Merrit, begins a route in the county seat but cases mail on her arrival at Eagle Rock. This mail is further distributed to patrons in the growing Table Rock Lake community. Eagle Rock, located at the headwaters of the reservoir, is no stranger to the recreation business. Today’s marina and public use facilities and a number of motels are simply growth figures of days when Roaring River and White River were prime recreation float, fishing and vacation sites. Curry says his retirement will mean more time available for travel and involvement with his family. Missed will be the activity that went along with being a postmaster of a rural area. Incidentally, he’s still looking for a large-sized eagle to display in the community. The retiring postmaster was among those who made a good try at Eagle Rock’s attempts to secure a bronze figure from a Washington, D.C., hotel establishment sometime ago. Curry says the Barry County community wasn’t successful in this try, “But, we’re still trying, and will have an appropriate eagle one of these days,” said the outgoing postal official. Curry’s appointment more than likely will be a career Postal Service employee. Speculation is that the service will choose a person who is currently in the postal merit system.

— Purdy Board Didn’t Reconsider Dance Issue

Pro-dance people held a rally in the Purdy city park Monday while the R-2 board of education was meeting in the adjacent school facilities. Complete with national news coverage, the rally included a dance under a barbecue shelter and advocates of a change in school policy carrying placards around the campus. However, the board of education did not reconsider their policy on barring dance socials on the school campus. Glen Garread nor placed the issue on the agenda even though it had knowledge of the intended rally. Parent groups have been attempting for months to have the Purdy board reconsider long-standing policy of not permitting dances or proms on the R-2 campus. Normally, such events are held at the Purdy community center, not over 100 yards from the school buildings.

30 years ago

April 10, 1996

— Exeter residents speak out in support of vo-ag teacher

Over 100 students and community members packed the Exeter School cafeteria Monday night in a show of support for Robin Farmer, whose teaching contract was not renewed at the board’s March meeting. A total of 14 people addressed the board concerning Farmer. Their statements of support were greeted by audience applause. Each one who spoke asked board members to reverse their earlier decision and renew the vocational-agricultural instructor’s contract. Supporters also handed the board a petition of support for Farmer, which included 206 signatures. When asked about the board’s initial vote on Farmer’s contract, Superintendent Marvin Spragg told the Cassville Democrat that three board members voted in favor of renewing the contract, three voted against it and one abstained. “It would have taken four votes to hire him back,” Spragg said. He stressed that this year of teaching was Farmer’s last probationary year. If renewed, the contract would have given Farmer tenure. Reasons for ending Farmer’s teaching contract have not been made public. Farmer said he was notified of the board’s decision in a one-sentence letter handed to him by Spragg. Farmer said he asked why his contract was not renewed, and Spragg answered that he could not discuss anything stemming from a closed session meeting. “The decision came as a total surprise,” said Farmer, who has taught at Exeter for four years. “We would have accepted it (the board’s decision) but we wanted to know the reasons why.” Those who spoke on Farmer’s behalf included former students, current students, parents and community members. Brad Porter was the first to address the board. He said he was speaking on behalf of FFA students who had graduated from Exeter. “Mr. Farmer came here my junior year when I had pretty much given up on the ag program here,” Porter said. “He came in and pretty much turned the program around. He’s taken most of the chapter under his wing, molded it and made it the chapter it is today. It’s not one of the biggest chapters in Barry County but it’s one of the most active chapters.” Porter went on to add that under Farmer’s leadership he was able to earn his American Farmer degree, the highest honor bestowed on an FFA member. Parents Laverna Roller, Vicki Senters, Rhonda Usrey, Jane Divine, Brenda Adkins and Kirk Wynns all spoke in favor of Farmer’s re-employment. “The board was elected by the community to make decisions for the community,” said Usrey. “This is one decision the community does not agree with. From day one, Mr. Farmer has done nothing but support these kids. We hope his actions will speak for themselves.” Jeremy Payne, who is a student currently enrolled at Exeter, told the board that he joined FFA when he was a freshman. “From that time on Mr. Farmer’s given me encouragement,” Payne said. “He’s a very wonderful teacher. He’s taken more time with me than any teacher I’ve ever known.” Those gathered at the meeting were told by Board President Leroy Stockton that their statements would be taken under advisement. The board then went into closed session to discuss Farmer’s teaching contract. The session lasted approximately two hours. Spragg said the board took no action and tabled the issue. He said the matter will be discussed in closed session again at the May board meeting. Also in attendance at the meeting were two representatives from the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA), Yvonne McCarty, director of legal services, and Jim Lee, field service coordinator. McCarty said she and Lee were there in support of Farmer. She said that 10 to 15 teachers from the Exeter School District had contacted her office this year, expressing dissatisfaction with decisions made by the school administrators and asking questions regarding personnel issues. “We’re here to make sure his rights are protected,” said McCarty. She added that Farmer has also been in contact with Springfield attorney Paul Wacker regarding this issue. When the board returned to regular session, they handled several business items, which included: Installation of newly elected board members and reorganization of board structure. Leroy Stockton will serve as board president, with Ronnie Thomas as vice president, Allen Howe as secretary, and Jan Anthony as treasurer.