50 years ago

Sept. 1, 1976

— EPA Grant Finances More Study On Sewer Project

A sewage treatment program for the City of Cassville that is about two years away and will cost approximately three-quarters of a million dollars, got additional plan financing recently from the Environmental Protection Agency. Funding in the amount of $18,000, the program will continue to be planned by Alligier-Martin and Associates of Joplin. Congressman Gene Taylor notified city government Friday of the grant funds. Mayor Bill LeCompte noted previous awards amounting to $1,500 for the project had been received by the city. Taylor said EPA notified his office the funds will be used in the preparation of a facilities plan for a waste treatment plant. That process has been underway for about two years by the A-M firm. Presumed the funds would provide financing for additional engineering study and design of the proposed facility, now estimated to cost the city $800,000. That was the last price quoted in preliminary estimates nearly a year ago. In addition to the sewer treatment facility, which would be in addition to the present lagoon, line extensions and lift station updating would be included in the project. Fortunately, if prices don’t increase too rapidly, the City has funds available to pay the estimated 10% cost to local government. State and federal grants are expected to pick up the tab on remaining costs. Mayor LeCompte noted city voters last year approved a $250,000 bond issue, which included $80,000 for the pending program. In the bond program, remaining funds were used for a new water well, storage tank and line extensions in the south part of town and to serve FASCO Industries Cassville plant. City officials estimate the project will not be implemented until 1977 or 1978 depending on the planning and engineering progress. Included are facilities to conform to state requirements in waste water disposal. From all indications, new trunk lines would be installed in the area of the lagoon and a treatment plant installed to handle sewage prior to being discharged in the present lake. Planned in the project in addition to the new features would be inspection, probably by the use of television cameras, of present lines. The engineering firm previously told city fathers here that considerable leakage is possible in some areas.

— School Population Increase With 4,855 Opening Count

Barry County school population has an increase compared to last year according to enrollment reports from the six high school and two rural districts. At the start of classes for the 1975-76 school year there were 4,806 enrolled in classes. This year opening bells attracted 4,855 students for the 1976-77 academic year. The up and down of school populations is further compared to the 4,814 figure reported by districts during the 1974 school year start. In most cases, school superintendents reported slight increases possible as students report late upon completion of summer jobs after the Labor Day weekend. Overall county enrollment figures have 1,777 in high school and 3,078 in elementary and junior high combinations. Growth in student numbers were reported by Exeter, Purdy, Cassville, Southwest and Shell Knob districts. A round-up of the high school district enrollments included the following: CASSVILLE — Superintendent Ronald Evans says the Cassville campus has 35 more students at the opening compared to the same period last year. In classes are 1,310, compared to 1,275 at the start of last year. Breakdowns have 498 enrolled in Kindergarten through fifth grade, reported Mrs. Eunice Thomas, principal. Principal Don Trotter said 507 were enrolled in high school. Principal Paul Watson had 305 listed on the books of middle school. Last year Cassville had 470 in K-5, 308 in sixth through eighth and 497 in four high school classes. This year, high school enrollment figures have 99 seniors, 162 juniors, 119 sophomores and 127 freshmen. SOUTHWEST OF WASHBURN — Southwest has an increase of three students comparing opening day enrollments of this year and last, according to Superintendent Johnnie Fite. This year the figure stands at 667. Last school year opening figures were 664. For the current year starting Monday, Southwest has 342 in Kindergarten through sixth grade and 325 in seventh through seniors. Fite noted the district has 58 in kindergarten classes. and eighth grades. PURDY — Superintendent Thomas Kurucz reported the Purdy district in the category of growing, with enrollment figures up 10 from last year. The current figure is 540 compared to 530 at the start of classes last year. Breakdowns for the Purdy enrollment has 243 in k-six and 297 in seven through 12. WHEATON — The Wheaton district is down 12 students from opening reports last year says Superintendent Joe Chambers. This year the western most district in the county has 363 students, compared to 375 last school year. Wheaton’s pupil numbers are divided with 160 in eight through 12 and 203 reporting for classes in Kindergarten through seven. EXETER — Exeter district pupils, first starting in the county, are increasing said Superintendent John Black. The first day enrollment last year was 273, but a week ago Monday the starting number was 278. Superintendent Black listed 186 in Kindergarten through eight and 92 in high school. MONETT — With a 1975-76 enrollment of 1,496 as the biggest in district in the county, Monett this year reports a 1,475 figure through Dr. Ralph Scott, superintendent. For the second year, this represents a slight decrease in enrollment for the Monett system. Dr. Scott said the drop this year was 21 students. Monett enrollment has 711 in elementary, 253 in junior high and 511 senior high students. Rounding out the school enrollment census, Barry County has two remaining rural school districts holding classes, Jenkins and Shell Knob. A third, Golden, is considered a closed district by the State Department of Education and is beginning transport to Cassville this year. Jenkins, through Principal Jim Williams, reported 72 students this year. The breakdown is nine in the first, 10 each in second and third, six in fourth, 11 in fifth, six in the sixth and 10 each in seventh and eighth. The biggest growth percentage was in the county’s remaining rural district, Shell Knob. Principal Dick Revis reported a 150 pupil total at the start of classes Monday, compared to 108 last year. Revis had a pupil breakdown as follows: Kindergarten 13, first 22, second 12, third 13, fourth 12, fifth 16, sixth 20, seventh 18 and eighth 25. Of the two remaining rural districts, Shell Knob transports high school students to Cassville. Jenkins is about split between transporting to Cassville and Aurora.

40 years ago

Sept. 3, 1986

— State Park Again Gains, Leads Holiday Attendance

Continuing a trend noticed over July 4, Roaring River State Park was probably the only tourist attraction in this section of the state to show an increase in visitors. Table Rock Lake figures were down, according to preliminary estimates of the Army Corps of Engineers. Corps officials said the lake public use facilities were at about 85 percent occupancy, in early figures Tuesday. A later report Wednesday said actual attendance figures from park attendants had the reservoir visitor numbers down about six percent. By comparison, Roaring River State Park had campers in overflow areas, with camping unit numbers for August up two percent, according to Bill Ash, assistant superintendent. Park visitor numbers, an estimate on traffic counters, were down slightly for the weekend, a trend that followed August. But, in the numbers that count, fishing tags, Roaring River had a 237 increase for the three day holiday, reported Charles Curry, hatchery superintendent. Last year the holiday attracted 2,643 anglers, this year 2,080 were streamside during the three days. In the same department, Curry said this week, “We’re going to break Roaring River’s tag sales record this year.” The hatchery superintendent was talking about the 106,924 tags sold five years ago. The 1981 record year was running under 90,000 at this time of the year. As of Monday night, the park had sold 90,440 tags since the March opening. That’s about 2,500 ahead of the pace during the record setting year. With sights set on breaking the record, park officials said only real problems between now and the October 31 closing could stop a new record being established. Park concessionaire Jack Nickols also could have set a new record in number of meals served during the Labor Day weekend. He said the number of meals through the restaurant was up about one-third for the holiday, compared to last year. Accommodations in the park and on Highway 112 were full. Fosterling’s report on area public use attendance had a couple nearly holding their own over the weekend, while others dropped. Included, with use area, 1986 figures first and compared to 1985 second included: Campbell Point 7,048 and 7,200; Big M 4,868 and 3,976; Eagle Rock 10,340 and 10,112; Viney 2,132 and 1,840; and Viola 3,568 and 4,472. Missouri Water Patrol personnel noted no major accidents on the reservoir during the holiday. Patrolman Steve Crain admitted there were some “fender benders, but nothing serious.” Crain and Steve Payne of Shell Knob patrolled the lake during the heavy traffic time and noted boat traffic about normal for this time of the year. Water Patrol officials in Jefferson City said Table Rock experienced the heaviest boat traffic of the holiday compared to other reservoirs in the state. Cool temperatures and light showers at some points of the holidays could have reduced visitor numbers some. Overall, recreation officials in the area said the holiday could have been better so far as business was concerned, but they felt the decreases were not as great as experienced elsewhere.

30 years ago

Aug. 28, 1996

— School enrollment holds steady after years of growth 

The trend toward increasing enrollment at county schools appears to have stabilized with the opening of the 1996-97 school year. Total student enrollment in Barry County stands at 6,288, as compared to 6,182 for the 1995-96 school year. According to back-to-school enrollment numbers provided by each of the seven districts in Barry County, Southwest R-V School District was the only district that showed a marked increase in students. Officials from each district stressed that enrollment numbers fluctuate at the beginning of every school year. They said student counts would stabilize after the Labor Day weekend. Southwest — Superintendent Jim Roe said the district grew at a rate of 14 percent, from 798 students in 1995-96 to 911 students this fall. Elementary experienced the greatest jump in numbers, increasing student rolls from 447 last year to 536 this year. Seventh through 12th grades have 375 students enrolled, an increase of 24 students over last year. Cassville — Cassville R-IV School District, the largest in the county, has 1,981 students enrolled for the new school year. That number reflects a 16-student increase over last year’s enrollment total of 1,965. This fall, there are 910 children enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grades, 475 students in sixth through eighth grades and 596 students in high school. High school and elementary show small increases in the number of students enrolled, while middle school reflects a small decline in student numbers. During the 1995-96 school year, there were 902 students enrolled in elementary, 461 students in middle school and 602 students in high school. Exeter — Exeter R-VI School District has recorded an increase in the number of students it will be serving during the 1996-97 school year. This year there are 325 students, 15 more than last year’s student total of 310. School officials said there are 235 students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grades and 90 in high school. Purdy — The number of students enrolled at Purdy R-II School District is virtually the same as it was last year. School administrators report there are 338 students in kindergarten through sixth grades and 258 in grades seven through 12 for a total enrollment figure of 596. That number is two students higher than last year’s total enrollment of 594. The high school picked up 20 more students this year, while elementary enrollment decreased by 18. Wheaton — Wheaton R-III School District reports a decrease in student enrollment from 453 during the 1995-96 year to 436 students this fall. Back-to-school enrollment figures show there are 230 students attending class in grades kindergarten through sixth and 206 in grades seven through 12. Shell Knob — Principal Bill Hadlow reported that enrollment at the lake area district decreased this year by eight students. There are currently 230 enrolled in classes for the 1996-97 school year as compared to a 238-student enrollment last year. Monett — Enrollment is down at Monett R-I School District for the first time since 1987. The district’s first day enrollment stood at 1,792 students compared to 1,824 last year.

— Water samples in county found “unsatisfactory” 

Nearly half of the water samples tested by the Barry County Health Department this summer were found to be “unsatisfactory,” according to Gary Boone, environmental sanitarian. During the reporting period of June 1 through Aug. 13, there were 68 non-official water samples tested by the local health department. Of that total, 47 percent were found “unsatisfactory” due to the presence of coliform bacteria in the water. Results showed six samples with E Coli present. Any county resident who receives water from a private supply can have their water tested by the health department. Sample bottles can be picked up at the Cassville office any day of the week. Samples can be collected at home and returned to the health department on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. A fee of $10 per sample will be charged. A test for nitrate nitrogen can also be conducted for an additional $5. If water samples test “unsatisfactory,” members of the health department staff will offer technical advice and follow-up sampling to ensure that water is safe to drink.

—County receives emergency funds to rebuild bridge 

Barry County commissioners received notification on Aug. 22 that emergency funding had been approved to rebuild the bridge over Flat Creek at Stubblefield Crossing. In April, high velocity winds blew a massive oak tree onto the bridge, knocking it down into the creek. The cost to replace the bridge had been estimated at around $300,000. The announcement about the availability of emergency funds came from Keith Brown, District 7 liaison engineer with the State Highway Department. Brown met with the commission last week to discuss county bridge projects. Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren said the county hopes to get project details worked out so that the Stubblefield Crossing bridge could be built next spring. In other business last week, the commission: Approved payment of $11,469 from the emergency road and bridge fund to Kent Pope Construction Co. for Shoal Creek Bridge in the Wheaton Special Road District; Met with Randy Bartel and Jim Litchy, architects, and David Cox and Mark Kirkham, Branco Construction Co. representatives, in regard to construction of the new jail addition; Approved a request to purchase a radio for Assistant Coroner Eddie Davison; Directed Treasurer Lois Lowe to disburse $375 to the Missouri Prosecuting Attorney and Circuit Attorneys Retirement System; and to distribute $84,968.27 in CART, MVST and MVFI funds to county road districts.