history

Local ‘Rosie’ honored for service
During a Friday reception by the Silver Leaf Benefit Club, local “Rosie the Riveter,” Hilda Howell, right, shared stories of working after school in a Firestone facility in southern California, where she helped manufacture fuel cells for bombers during World War II. Howell was one of 27 women (aged 96-107) who traveled to Washington, D.C. in April, to accept a Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of “Rosie the Riveter.” The collective name “Rosie the Riveter” was given to the millions of women who filled industrial manufacturing positions during WWII to keep aviation, munition and other supply chains running. Ms. Howell traveled to Washington, D.C. with her daughter, Gwen Kelly, left. She was the only Rosie from Missouri who was able to attend

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — a perennial choice
“America wept tonight, not alone for its dead young President, but for itself,” the journalist James Reston wrote in a special to The New York Times, which, on Saturday, November 23, 1963, bore the haunting headline “Kennedy is Killed by Sniper.”

Through the Years, July 31
30 YEARS AGO: RIDERS DO THE PENNING — These three teams were among the E-Z Rider group providing pre-rodeo entertainment for the crowd Thursday through Saturday last week. The riding club also put together a Saturday parade for the event.

Dakoda Pettigrew: The hateful embrace
The temperature in the Old Senate Chamber reached a sweltering 90 degrees — but within Charles Sumner raged a fire hotter than any that could be accurately recorded. On May 19, 1856, the avowed abolitionist senator from Massachusetts rose to deliver a 112page speech on “The Crime Against Kansas.” As with Lincoln, the Kansas-Nebraska Act stirred a flame of defiance within Sumner.

Jeremiah Buntin: ‘Black Gold’ of the Ozarks
Many Ozarkers have the shared memory of picking-up black walnuts in the fall harvest each year, along with stained hands as souvenirs. The black walnut tree has been providing extra income for folks in the area for generations.

Through the Years, July 24
July 31, 1974 — BARRY COUNTY BANK JOINING BANCSHARES For the second time in 60 days, a Cassville bank has announced plans of affiliation with a multibank holding company. Barry County Bank, chartered in January of 1887, announced signing an affiliation agreement with Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

Through the Years, July 17
40 YEARS AGO: DIVERS IN PARK SPRING — Divers from the Kansas City area are pictured here as they emerge from one in deep into the Roaring River State Park spring over the weekend. The three-some, Dave Porter and Ken Brown of Overland Park, Kansas, and Stan Swim of Granview made previously undiscovered finds in the spring. Merle Rogers, park naturalist, said the 59 degree temperature of the water apparently didn’t disturb the divers.

Through the Years, July 10
30 YEARS AGO: FIREWORKS SHOW FINALE — So bright was the Shell Knob fireworks finale, film didn’t separate the display, but obviously provided a lighting of the Central Crossing Bridge over Table Rock at right. Special firings of the Shell Knob C of C program boats ands spectators along the way who yelled, honked horns and flashed lights as their method of approving the show.

Through the Years, July 3
40 YEARS AGO: THEY’RE OFF AND RUNNING---There were obviously some crash landings in this group of older persons participating in a sack race at the Cassville July 4 observance. Divisions of all ages competed for silverdollar prizes offered by the American Legion. Crowds made their pick of contestants and cheered the choice in each event. Lige Frost was master of ceremonies for the event.

Dakoda Pettigrew: American Insights — The right to resist
Born at Cape Cod and educated at Harvard, the Reverend Samuel West was a patriot. But above all, he was a devoted servant of God who sought to live in accordance with God’s Word.