A large crowd gathered Wednesday morning to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony and festivities for the soon-to-be constructed $3.75 million visitor's center at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery.
Speakers at the event included Dave Hendrix, hatchery manager, Neosho Mayor Jeff Werneke, Harry Rogers, president of the Friends of the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, Rowan Gould, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt.
The ceremony concluded with the moving of the dirt by 30 individuals who helped bring the visitor's center to a reality for the fish hatchery in Neosho.
U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and Blunt, who worked together to secure the initial $1 million in planning funds, were critical to the start of the project, Hendrix told the crowd.
Complete coverage of the event will be featured in Thursday's print edition of the Neosho Daily News. Check back with the Web site Thursday for a photo slideshow from the event.
