Barry County

Through the years, March 6
50 YEARS AGO: DONORS PORTRAIT AT ROARING RIVER — Members of the family of the late Dr. T. M. Sayman presented an oil painting to Roaring River State Park Saturday. The late Dr. Sayman gave the initial park acreage to the State of Missouri in 1928. Attending the presentation ceremony from the left are: Norman Chaney, park concessionaire; Joe R. Ellis, Missouri park board member; James Woods, park superintendent; lady Peter Smithers, Dr. Sayman’s daughter; and Major and Mrs. C. Dennison Lane, he’s the late donor’s
Hwy. 86, Route F to be resurfaced
Drivers can expect lane closures and occasional traffic delays on Missouri Route 86 in in Taney, Stone and Barry counties and Route F in Barry County for a resurfacing project beginning Monday. The Missouri Department of Transportation said Route 86 will receive a new asphalt driving surface, edge line rumble strips, shoulder repairs, guardrail and road markings in various locations.
House bill takes aim at ‘cesspool’ of meatpacking sludge
Between Vallerie Steele, her seven siblings and their children, there’s always a birthday or anniversary to celebrate on the family’s southwest Missouri farm. The summer months are typically a parade of pool parties and barbecues.
News briefs, March 6
SWMO ReStore and Builds will host a Prom Dress Extravaganza on March 19 at the business, located at 201 E. 7th St.
Sheila Harris: Bill may loosen groundwater regulations
Southwest Missouri residents, the quality of our groundwater is under attack. Please consider showing up for a hearing for Missouri Senate Bill 981 in Jefferson City tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, March 5, at 8:30 a.m.
Trout stocked in Roaring River
The Roaring River Hatchery has stocked 6,000 trout for the 2,000 anglers expected to converge on Roaring River State Park Friday. Now overseeing his third Opening Day, Roaring River Hatchery Manager Brad Farwell said on Monday the river is fully stocked.
Smokestack toppled
The Old Possum House at East and 9th streets saw its longstanding smokestack fall to the ground last week. The structure, which was the original electric power to Cassville and the C&W Railroad in the 1800s. It has since been home to businesses Maggie’s Place, the Alley Bar, Memories and Caroline’s, but had fallen into disrepair. Special Enterprises, an excavation business based in Cape Fair, bid $68,800 to the city for its demolition. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Kyle Troutman: The Troutman I am
For the 11th year, this week I set the earliest alarm of my life. I got up at 5 a.m. on March 1, 2014, to attend my first Opening Day at Roaring River State Park. Outside of overcoming my sleepiness, as I was not much of a morning person in those days, I was excited to cover an event I was told was a local tradition, something you can’t miss if you want to know anything about Barry County.
Ann Houston: Perennials – more bang for your buck
Annuals vs Perennials Annuals last only one season generally, however, in some climates they will bloom year-round. Perennials return every year and cost less because you don’t have to buy them again.

Through the Years, Feb. 28
40 YEARS AGO: MORE LIKE A WINTER WONDERLAND — Roaring River State Park’s opening last week presented this sight... more like a winter wonderland...than a trout opening. Fishermen were obviously not out in numbers as they might have been had power outages and heavy snow not visited the area. Dressed for the low temperatures, most of the usuals were there, with some newcomers who just couldn’t resist the March 1 call.