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Neosho, Mo. —
A proposed expansion of an egg-producer sparked controversy in 2005.
On Feb. 18, 2005, Moark LLC announced plans to construct a new $10 million egg-production facility in Neosho. Moark planned to construct three state-of-the-art laying houses, an egg-processing facility and a completely enclosed manure shed at its Neosho facility.
Dan Hudgens, manager of the company’s midwestern division at the time, said the addition would add 50 new jobs in Neosho.
The announcement led to the formation of a citizen’s group opposed to the plan.
The Department of Natural Resources granted the construction and operating permits in November, but members of the opposition group filed an appeal, and hearings were slated for early January 2006.
The decision was not overturned, the construction took place as planned, and resulted in the elimination of the odor issue in the future.
Other stories made headlines in 2005.
Neosho firefighter killed in line of duty
Timmy Shane Hardy, an 11-year veteran of the Neosho Fire Department, lost his life on Nov. 7, 2005, while trying to reach a fire that had broken out in one of the feed bins at Ragland Mills Inc., located just west of Neosho on Hammer Road.
Fire Chief Greg Hickman said Hardy, an engineer with the department, lost his life as he became entrapped on a conveyor belt he was riding to the top of a grain elevator.
Hundreds of firefighters, family and friends came out to pay tribute to Hardy during funeral services a few days later.
Hardy left behind a wife, two children and four step-children.
“Tim was devoted to every aspect of his life and he will be truly missed by family and friends,” Chris Hardy, the firefighter’s brother, said. “His passing is a tremendous loss to his family and the community. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.”
Noel couple drowns
A Noel couple, Buford and Janice Anderson, was reported missing on Jan. 4, 2005, after they failed to show up for a doctor’s appointment. The office contacted their son, who located their Mercury Cougar in a branch about 200 yards from their driveway. A door on the car was open, but the couple was not inside. Officials believed the couple tried to cross high water across the driveway and was swept away by floodwaters.
The disappearance touched off a lengthy search and rescue effort by several different fire departments and law enforcement agencies in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas. Searchers looked on foot, on horseback, from ATVs and by helicopter for the pair.
A proposed expansion of an egg-producer sparked controversy in 2005.
On Feb. 18, 2005, Moark LLC announced plans to construct a new $10 million egg-production facility in Neosho. Moark planned to construct three state-of-the-art laying houses, an egg-processing facility and a completely enclosed manure shed at its Neosho facility.
Dan Hudgens, manager of the company’s midwestern division at the time, said the addition would add 50 new jobs in Neosho.
The announcement led to the formation of a citizen’s group opposed to the plan.
The Department of Natural Resources granted the construction and operating permits in November, but members of the opposition group filed an appeal, and hearings were slated for early January 2006.
The decision was not overturned, the construction took place as planned, and resulted in the elimination of the odor issue in the future.
Other stories made headlines in 2005.
Neosho firefighter killed in line of duty
Timmy Shane Hardy, an 11-year veteran of the Neosho Fire Department, lost his life on Nov. 7, 2005, while trying to reach a fire that had broken out in one of the feed bins at Ragland Mills Inc., located just west of Neosho on Hammer Road.
Fire Chief Greg Hickman said Hardy, an engineer with the department, lost his life as he became entrapped on a conveyor belt he was riding to the top of a grain elevator.
Hundreds of firefighters, family and friends came out to pay tribute to Hardy during funeral services a few days later.
Hardy left behind a wife, two children and four step-children.
“Tim was devoted to every aspect of his life and he will be truly missed by family and friends,” Chris Hardy, the firefighter’s brother, said. “His passing is a tremendous loss to his family and the community. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.”
Noel couple drowns
A Noel couple, Buford and Janice Anderson, was reported missing on Jan. 4, 2005, after they failed to show up for a doctor’s appointment. The office contacted their son, who located their Mercury Cougar in a branch about 200 yards from their driveway. A door on the car was open, but the couple was not inside. Officials believed the couple tried to cross high water across the driveway and was swept away by floodwaters.
The disappearance touched off a lengthy search and rescue effort by several different fire departments and law enforcement agencies in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas. Searchers looked on foot, on horseback, from ATVs and by helicopter for the pair.
A couple of weeks later, Mrs. Anderson’s body was found washed up on the shore of a cove near No. 10 Bridge in Delaware County, Okla. Mr. Anderson’s body was found a few days later in Elk River near the Missouri / Oklahoma state line.
Blunt sworn in as governor
Ushering in a new era of government, Matt Blunt was sworn in as the 54th governor of Missouri during ceremonies Jan. 10 in Jefferson City.
“Over the next four years, we will be bold,” said Blunt. “We will be willing to experiment. We will not fear failure. We will bear setbacks with resolve and press forward with determined innovation.
We will attack problems with the deliberation that accompanies this great responsibility and with the energy necessary to build a better Missouri.”
Witnessing the historic inauguration were area representatives Kevin Wilson and Marilyn Ruestman, both Republicans, and Sen. Gary Nodler, a Republican from Joplin.
“I was very impressed with his address,” said Wilson. “He ushered in a new era in the state of Missouri and it is important for us to carry out that mandate.”
Nodler called Gov. Blunt’s message a challenge, but not necessarily from the new governor, but from the people from the state of Missouri during the last election.
“The people did not send an aimless message,” said Nodler. “This is a clarion call and one that we have to act upon. Our call is to restore the power to the people.”
“Government is not the author of progress, nor the first source of wisdom, nor the creator of our freedom, nor the wellspring of the values of faith, family and freedom that make America the greatest nation on earth,” said Blunt.
“Government is the people’s tool. It should be the servant, not the master.”
Ruestman agrees that Blunt’s message was a call to action by the Legislature.
“He really did usher in a new era,” said Ruestman. “I believe he is calling for a more efficient government, one that will provide better economic prosperity for not only our business community, but for all Missourians.”
R-5 board accepts Mitchell’s resignation
In early January, the Neosho R-5 Board of Education accepted a letter of resignation and retirement from Dr. Mark Mitchell, superintendent of schools.
Mitchell served for 31 years in education, including 19 in administration. He had been superintendent of Neosho schools since 2000. Later that month, the school board agreed to hire Dr. Richard Page as superintendent. Page was the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and had been with the district for five years after serving a year as superintendent of the Sarcoxie School District.
In February, the board agreed to hire Charles Brazeale of Golden City as the assistant superintendent of business and finance, the position held by Page.
Red Cross office closes
After 87 years of service, the Newton County Chapter of the American Red Cross closed its doors in mid-February 2005, and merged with Joplin’s Southwest Missouri chapter.
Janet Scholl, executive director of the Newton County chapter, said the merger came about because of budgetary constraints, as the Neosho Area United Community Fund fell short of its $150,000 goal. Scholl’s last day on the job was Feb. 28, 2005.
Meerwald pleads guilty
A Noel man pleaded guilty in March to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of an elderly rural Neosho man and his 7-year-old granddaughter.
Edward Meerwald was sentenced to 14 years in prison, seven years for each charge. The sentences will run consecutively.
Meerwald was accused of being drunk when the car he was driving went off of Missouri Highway 86 on July 30, 2004, striking 69-year-old James Dodson and his 7-year-old granddaughter, Jessica Mann, as the two were walking back from the mailbox. Dodson was pronounced dead at the scene. Miss Mann died at 10:15 p.m. that night.
Meerwald later appealed the conviction, but lost that appeal.
The tragic incident led to the creation of “Jessica’s Law,” sponsored by state Sen. Gary Nodler, which made stiffer penalties for drunk driving. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Matt Blunt in July.
Election
Matthew Persinger was elected to the Neosho City Council in April 2005, defeating incumbent Bill Carlsten by 47 votes in the April election, 787 to 740.
Voters also approved a ¼ cent sales tax increase with funds going toward the improvement, maintenance and operation of the Municipal Auditorium and the Senior Citizen’s Center, with 1,090 voters approving the measure and 653 voting against it. According to the proposal, 3/16 of the tax goes to the Municipal Auditorium, while 1/16th goes toward the senior center.
But voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposition to add fluoride to the city’s water supply, with 1,223 voting against it and 509 casting ballots in favor of the proposal.
Hog heaven: Choppers For Children holds first event on Square
The roar of motorcycles could be heard going down the streets of Neosho, eventually ending up on the Historic Downtown Square on April 30 as the first Choppers for Children (C4C) event was held.
“It was a good thing for the city of Neosho,” said several of the thousands of spectators, vendors and bikers during the event.
“We had a great turnout, great fun, great food, vendors and bands and the people enjoyed it,” said Scott Watson, who founded Choppers For Children with his wife, Kathy. C4C is an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) and other charities which help children in need.
The cost of the event was $10 (with children age 12 and under free) admitted onto the square to watch the various events and listen to the music. Spectators were given a wrist band to show that they have paid.
“All of the proceeds from the gate sales went to CMN,” said Watson.
Fish hatchery vandalized
Two Neosho men were arrested and charged in late May with vandalizing the Neosho National Fish Hatchery. Adam D. Bridgewater and Jose E. Arias, both 18, were charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage.
The pair were accused of breaking a 500-gallon aquarium and removing several rainbow trout on display inside of it.
Trial set for pair in 2001 slaying
A trial date was set in late July for two Tulsa, Okla., gang members suspected of killing a northern Newton County woman in 2001 as her two young children watched.
Donald Overton and Brian McDaniel faced murder charges in connection with the July 3, 2001, shooting death of Kendace “Sissy” DeCarlo. She was found dead just inside the front door of her home at 3532 S. Joplin Ave.
Overton’s trial was slated to begin in August, but was declared a mistrial as Judge Kevin Lee Selby determined several of the jurors had prior knowledge of the case. McDaniel’s trial was set to begin in September.
Carver Discovery Center groundbreaking
Ground was broken on Aug. 11, 2005, for a new 18,000-square-foot discovery center at George Washington Carver National Monument. Branco Enterprises of Neosho was awarded the bid for the center. U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt secured about $5.3 million in federal funding for the project.
Hurricane Katrina
Area volunteers headed to Houston and other Gulf Coast areas to assist in the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, including seven members of the American Red Cross. The massive hurricane slammed into New Orleans and other areas in the Gulf on Aug. 29, 2005, causing extensive flooding and loss of life and stranding thousands of people. Five area cities — Neosho, Joplin, Carthage, Webb City and Carl Junction — banded together to form Project C2C (City to City), a relief program to help hurricane victims. Forty-five families relocated with family and friends in Neosho and the surrounding area in the aftermath of the storm, while Crowder College said they would accept students affected by the disaster.
Multiple murder suspect arrested
A rural Pineville resident, Levi King, was arrested Sept. 30, 2005, near the U.S. / Mexico border near El Paso, Texas, on murder charges. King was a suspect in the Sept. 29 slayings of retired McDonald County restaurant owner Orlie McCool, 70, and McCool’s daughter-in-law, Dawn Burr McCool, 47. He was also a suspect in the murders of three members of a rural Texas family.
King was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Sept. 30, 2005, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who noticed a red 1995 Dodge Dakota truck driving erratically and stopped the vehicle.
A search of the pickup at the time of King’s arrest revealed four loaded weapons, several with rounds in the chambers. Three of those guns were taken from Scott King’s home, including a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol, while another gun, a .38 handgun, was taken from the McCool’s home. Other weapons found included an AK-47 and a Russian 6 mm sniper rifle.
McDonald County Prosecutor Steve Geeding sought the death penalty in the case. In July 2003, King was sentenced to 14 years in prison for arson, stealing and burglary charges in connection with a break-in and torching of a Pineville home on Jan. 8 of that year. After serving two years of that sentence, King was granted parole and moved to a halfway house in St. Louis. However, he failed to return to the halfway house Sept. 23, but McDonald County authorities were not notified of his absence.
