50 years ago

Oct. 27, 1976

— Hospital Gift From Auxiliary Room Beginning

Efforts of the South Barry County Hospital Auxiliary have resulted in presentation of a $1,000 gift to the local hospital unit. The gift came forth in the auxiliary meeting last week. Mrs. Betty Johnson, treasurer, made the presentation to Don Grant, administrator. The auxiliary’s intention is for the contribution to be applied to the purchase of an electric bed. Mrs. Signe Vollenweider, auxiliary president, said this “is the first step in our overall project of completely refurbishing a room in the hospital.” In about two years of operation, the auxiliary unit, through fundraisers including bake sales, cookbook sales, airplane rides at the airport dedication and bazaars, has scraped together the funds for this first major financial contribution of their history. In addition to regular business, the auxiliary heard a report on current swine flu clinics by representatives of the Missouri Division of Health. Also reported at the meeting were offspring volunteer efforts for the hospital, also fostered by the auxiliary. Included were hours of volunteer work since March 30 this year: Pink Ladies have 227 hours at the hospital; Candy Stripers have worked 835 hours; and overall the auxiliary has contributed over 800 hours to fundraising and administrative activities. Board of director reports, with each making emphasis on their area of responsibility, included: Helen McKelvy, Pink Ladies; Evangeline Huddleson, workshop; Hazel Edmondson, membership; Ruth Ann Barnes, Candy Stripers; Eva Lee, ways and means; Jeanne Roles, secretary; Margaret Henbest, gift cart; Gerry Hoover, projects; Bunny Carney, publicity; and Dorothy Miles, awards and Pink Lady co-chairman.

— 13,026 Eligible To Vote In Barry County Tuesday

Barry Countians, 13,026 in number, could go to the polls next Tuesday in the general election, according to County Clerk Howard Bounous. That’s the number of registered voters eligible at the October 6 deadline. If statewide estimates of 76% of the voters going to the polls November 2 are correct, this would put the county vote total at 9,900. The percentage of Missourians going to the polls comes from Secretary of State James Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick’s office this week said the state has 2,552,852 registered voters, with 1,950,000 of these expected to mark ballots next week. Bounous noted the increase in registered voters in Barry County was above the 10,800 on the books in April and the 12,000-plus eligible for the August primary. Voters using their right in the primary totaled 6,287 in the U.S. Senate races of both parties, which was just under the 50% figure for those eligible. Absentee voting in Barry County was noted at a brisk pace this week. As of Tuesday, a total of 674 requests had been received. Bounous noted the deadline for applications is 4 p.m. Friday. Deadline for ballot return is 4 p.m. Monday, November 1. Conducting the election will be 124 judges in 26 townships. There will be an additional 62 clerks, one to each two judges, assisting in distribution of ballots and counting. Election officials will be paid $27.30 each for the 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. duties. The day will actually be longer for most, since major counting and tabulation will follow closing of polls. A record voter turnout at the general election has been predicted by Secretary of State Kirkpatrick. Missouri’s chief election official announced there are 2,552,852 Missourians registered to vote and 1,950,000 of them are expected to mark ballots. The previous registration record since Missouri adopted statewide voter registration in 1973 was 2,395,070, set in the August 3 primary. The record turnout in a general election was established in 1960, when 1,934,422 Missourians marked ballots. Kirkpatrick said registration increased by 420,758 since the August 6, 1974, primary election — the first conducted under statewide registration requirements. This is a 20 percent increase in registration since mid-1974, and most of it came within the last six months. “We think Missourians may be saving their largest Bicentennial celebration for November 2,” Kirkpatrick said. He noted 311,753 more Missourians were registered since April 1976, when Kirkpatrick surveyed registration for the municipal, school and special district elections. Census Bureau statistics cited by Kirkpatrick estimate Missouri’s voting-age citizen population at 3,331,000. Young Missourians who have reached voting age since the last presidential election are estimated at 370,000. Secretary Kirkpatrick said his prediction of a record turnout was prompted by several factors. “We’re experiencing one of the largest automatic turnovers of incumbent officials in my memory. One of our U.S. Senators, five of our 10 congresspersons and 40 of 180 state legislators who would have faced re-election this year are not running. That contributes to some exciting contests on November 2,” he said. Kirkpatrick also credited the controversy over two constitutional amendments and a proposition for part of the reason he expects a big turnout. He added that he expects the anticipated closeness of the presidential race to be one more factor encouraging more people to vote. The prediction by Kirkpatrick will hold true if 76 percent of the registered voters mark ballots. This would be nearly 59 percent of the estimated voting-age population.

40 years ago

Oct. 29, 1986

— Rid R-4 Campus Of Stray Dogs

Cassville R-4 board of education took steps Thursday night to rid the campus of dogs, bought three bus units for December delivery, discussed possible change in tax levy and agreed to financing of the transportation units. Superintendent Dan Bailey, in public notices, said, “Any dog sighted on school premises during the school day will be picked up by the Cassville City Police Department.” Board president Don Stockton said it was not determined in the meeting who would bear costs of the program. City ordinances call for stray or troublesome dogs to be captured and held from three to five days. The city operates through Miekley-Cupps Veterinarian Clinic here. Charges are $12.50 per animal for boarding and disposing of same if that becomes necessary. Stockton said two youngsters were bitten on the campus last week. He said the dog involved had not been rabies vaccinated. The dog was being held for observation. In other business, the board accepted a bid from Vernon Bus Sales for three units to be delivered in December. Total cost was $71,000. The board also opened sealed bids on financing the bus units. Presented were Commerce Bank of Barry County at 7.5 percent and Boatmen’s National Bank at 5.8 percent. The board accepted Boatmen’s bid for purchase of units. Discussion by the board also covered a possible tax levy increase. Stockton said the board was not ready to discuss numbers on this issue. He said Bailey would present additional information in future sessions. The special meeting had members Stockton, Tom Cardin, John Anglum, John Sullivan, Dennis Ledgerwood and Steve Buchheit attending.

30 years ago

Oct. 23, 1996

— County officials continue to discuss intersection options

Discussions continued this week between county commissioners and state highway department officials about alternatives that could be employed to make the intersection of Highway 76-86 and Old Exeter Road less dangerous. The county held a hearing on the matter Oct. 1, which revealed strong public concerns about safety at the intersection. At the conclusion of the hearing, county officials pledged to continue pushing for improvements at the crossroads. Presiding Commissioner Cherry Warren said the commission intends to send a formal request to the highway commission concerning possible changes at the intersection. Specifics of the request have not been formulated. Area residents and county office holders said the most desirable action would be for the highway department to widen the road, shave off the top of the hill that blocks the view of the approaching intersection and add a left turn lane at the site. Highway officials said a project of that magnitude could take two or three years and about $500,000 to complete if it was ever approved. In the meantime, commissioners met Thursday with Leland Osburn and Bob Cannon of the Missouri State Highway Department and with Stona Farwell of Flat Creek Road District in regard to alternative actions that could be taken at the intersection. Closing Old Exeter Road to through traffic and creating an alternative route to the highway was discussed. John Starchman, a Flat Creek road district commissioner, said the district was willing to do “something” to make the intersection more safe, but he said he wasn’t sure if closing Old Exeter Road and building a new street was the best solution. “We could move the intersection down a couple of a hundred feet but we don’t have the budget to build that much new road,” Starchman said. He said he and the other road commissioners would continue to study options at the intersection and talk to nearby residents about possible changes in the coming weeks. Warren said the county couldn’t pay for the new road but would act as the “sponsoring agent.” In a related issue, the commission sent a letter to District Engineer Richard Walters with the State Highway Department concerning the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit on Highway 37 at the west edge of Cassville. Warren said the commission had received several requests from citizens in south Barry County about reducing the speed limit near the two traffic lights on Highway 37 outside of Cassville. The pair of stop lights involved are located at the intersection of Old Exeter Road and Highway 37 and at the junction of Highways 37, 76 and 86. The commission is asking the highway department to perform a traffic study for the area along Highway 37 within one-half mile of each stop light. In the letter, Warren writes: “It is difficult for the commission to understand why we have 45-mile-per-hour speed limits through the west edge of Purdy, 37 Highway and the east side of Washburn and east side of Seligman, while the speed limit is 55 miles per hour through Cassville.” In other business this week, the commission met with representatives from G.T.E. telephone operations, Sheriff Ralph Hendrix, Jack Lowe of the sheriff’s department, David Cox with Branco Enterprises and Charley Hannaford of Hannaford Electric in regard to wiring for the phone system in the new Barry County Jail addition. Commissioners asked the phone company to survey needs with the sheriff and report back to the commission. The commission approved a schedule of claims payable in the total amount of $110,988.92. This total included a $67,050 payment to Branco Construction, an $11,035 payment to Capital Prison Systems and a $2,889 payment to Hannaford Electrical. All three disbursements were for work completed on the jail addition. The commission okayed Treasurer Lois Lowe’s request to distribute $93,830.02 to county road districts in CART, MVST and MVFI revenue. Commissioners also directed Lowe to pay $67,518.27 to Snyder Bridge Company from the emergency road and bridge fund for completion of the Woodard Creek bridge in Wheaton Special Road District.

— If I were President…

I would give the poor people a room in my house and give them money. Kala Harris, third grade, Cassville.

Get rid of taxes and make every road paved and give kids more time in the lunchroom and a chance to talk. Adam Brown, third grade, Cassville.

I would study and try to solve the racial problems and gang problems. Scott Fitzpatrick, third grade, Cassville.

Help everybody clean-up the universe. Brittany Linebrink, first grade, Cassville.

Clean up the United States. Julia Madison, first grade, Cassville.

I would rule the land. Jeffery Blankenship, first grade, Cassville.

I would stay home and lay in my bed. Jerry Hopkins, first grade, Wheaton.

I would help everybody. Dalton Cullers, first grade, Wheaton.

Everybody would do what they wanted. Cliffie Robe, first grade, Wheaton.

I would lower the taxes. I would be respected. I would be a good man. I would be a good sport. Tyler Wallace, third grade, Wheaton.

Teach kids about color. Chell Dawn Terry, kindergarten, Cassville.

I would go home because I wouldn’t like it. Tiffany Testerman, kindergarten, Cassville.

I would invite my friends to my birthday party. Melissa Moore, kindergarten, Cassville.

Fly in a big airplane. Jesse Webb, kindergarten, Cassville.

Ride in a big long car. Matthew Webb, kindergarten, Cassville.

I would make people stop killing animals and only kill cows, pigs and turkeys. I would give my money to the poor people. I would put up signs every place that would say “Don’t drink and smoke.” Charity Reid, second grade, Purdy.

I would stop the fights in America. Erica Burns, second grade, Purdy.

Make laws about no smoking, no killing deer and listen to the teacher. I would write stories of Miss Hamm. If there were trouble in Canada I would send guards because I’m the presidential king. Josh Popchoke, second grade, Purdy.

I would read stories. Reabbh Bell, first grade, Wheaton.

I would keep people from polluting the USA. Mandy Thomas, fourth grade, Exeter.

I would go all around the world and give out teddy bears to everybody in the world, give a new law not to be putting trash in the lakes, ocean, rivers, beaches too because it kills the fish in the water and the seaweed and other plants in the world. And the Dallas Cowboys play the Chiefs and watch the Super Bowl because the Dallas Cowboys is my favorite team in the world because I like them. Jaclyne Sweat, fourth grade, Exeter.

I would give day care more money and cut down prices on food. I would put more police on patrol, give homeless people homes, cut down taxes. Dakodah Murray, fourth grade, Exeter.

I would hire all my friends to be workers for me and my secretary and my best friend Lance will be vice president and Dakodah will be my counselor. Jacob Davis, fourth grade, Exeter.

I would help the poor people get food and warm places to live so they won’t die. I would also raise money for the weapons for the war in Bosnia. I would try to do my best to be president. Elizabeth Cooper, fifth grade, Exeter.

Wish we could buy more stuff from the poor so they could buy more stuff from other places. Kyle Bishop, third grade, Cassville.