April 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

April 1998

This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in April of 1998.

The McDonald Conservancy announced the hiring of Ronny Cox as Executive Director effective April 20. Cox had been affiliated with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in Rolla for many years. In that position, he had many dealings with The Bevins Trust and the McDonald Conservancy so has been very familiar with their work, mission and direction. Peter Bevins, Managing Director of the Conservancy, was quoted: “On behalf of the McDonald Conservancy I want to extend our warmest welcome our new Executive Director. We never imagined that we could be so fortunate as to acquire the services of this outstanding public servant. Our working relationship, over recent years, has been exemplary, and very valuable in an advisory role as the Conservancy was conceived and founded. To have his expertise available on a daily basis will be extraordinary.” It was learned that Cox found that he qualified for an early retirement program offered by the state at about the same time as the Conservancy directors were considering the possibility of hiring a full time executive director. Cox added he had hoped to get “back into nature” when he eventually retired, and this opportunity was just too good to pass by. He said: “The McDonald Conservancy is one of only a few organizations across the country doing the kinds of things I would really support expanded in the way of public-private undertakings with respect to preserving and maintaining our natural environment. I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to that effort.”

Locals:

Lori Winslow met with Trace Watkins at the Jensen and Watkins office to go over the latest plans for the housing development in the east valley. At this stage, they were still blocking out possible combinations of green spaces and different proposed combinations of sizes of lots that might be incorporated. There were still some questions as to the precise borders of the property they would have available to develop, pending the Conservancy needs, the golf course placements, and access to current and proposed roadways. They were also each still getting to know and understand what each of them wanted to see in the develop, conceptually. Gary had stepped back and allowed the two of them to work on this part of the project. He knew they were each totally devoted to accomplishing it, and he was available to assist in any way he could.

Easter fell on April 12, so the Town of Oak Springs sponsored Easter Egg hunt on Centennial Square was held on Saturday morning, April 11.

Social Notes:

Paul, and his daughter, Heather, Gates hosted a family Easter dinner at their cottage in the east valley at noon on Sunday. Guests were Peter, Sheila and Jeremy Bevins, Scott and Rachel Gates, and Julie Barnes.

Matt and Susan Winslow hosted a family Easter dinner at their home on Sunday following church services. Guests were Karen and Lori Winslow and Raynor Crimmons.

Cop Shop:

Two young men were arrested late Tuesday evening, April 14. They were caught while still inside Bud’s Sinclair Auto Service store, rifling through the tools, following a tip called in my a concerned neighbor. Money from the cash drawer was in the pocket of the jeans of one of the young men. These two were identified as two of three juveniles also arrested in February on break in charges. This time, they were held in jail pending  a Juvenile Court appearance.

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."




Dr. Bill  ;-)

February 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

February 1998

This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in February of 1998.

The following are excerpts from an interview published in the Oak Springs Enterprise by Rachel (Nixon) Gates with Paul Gates, Manager of the Oak Creek Mill and Market, regarding planning efforts by The Bevins Trust, the McDonald Conservancy, and related entities up and down Oak Creek in the near future and in the long range:

“Based on the feedback we constantly receive from both our local and visiting customer base, several projects are now in various stages of development, Paul Gates explained. The Bevins and McDonald interests are also looking “outside the box” at opportunities that may be there that no one has yet recognized by visiting other sites around the country, even around the world, for ideas. The Internet has certainly begun to make this much easier, of course. I’m talking to you here, today, in hopes of giving the community some additional insights into some of things we are working on, recognizing that most of them are still in early stages of planning and development.

“Apportioning land along Oak Creek, owned by The Bevins Trust, through donations to the McDonald Conservancy, is an ongoing project. Roughly, all of the land on either side of Oak Creek, from the National Forest boundary on the north, just south of the county line there, to the south county line, is involved in this process. The challenge is to develop the proper mix of public and private use of that land both for now and into the future. Preservation and maintenance of the ecosystem is an over-riding concern. We hope to eventually have trails on both sides of Oak Creek, accessible to the public, with some, but limited, crossover opportunities.

“My most recent project, Paul Gates continued, is the possibility of putting in a Par-3, nine hole golf course, on the west side of Oak Creek from just above the Mill, down the slope and possibly around the Pond. Integrating this with the proposed Conservancy Trails systems and nearby other private developments is now being worked through with all persons and entities involved. The grant proposals submitted on behalf of the McDonald Conservancy currently being reviewed are a key element in those discussions as well, of course.

“The final major piece of this puzzle appears to be the desire of the families involved to create a residential housing development on original McDonald farm land just to the south of the Pond and Creek, that would also tie in from the west to the Bevins Stables and Trail Ride location, which is also the headquarters of the Bevins Agricultural Operations. These are complex projects, but it feels like we are beginning to see the long-term “light at the end of the tunnel” on this integration of ideas. While much of the detail work must necessarily be done “behind closed doors,” we do want the community to be aware of the outcomes being sought. That is why I’ve been authorized to talk to you about it all, today. I hope this has been useful.”

Locals:

Big Thunder Lodge was advertising weekend specials for couples through the months of February and March.

Oak Springs Food Village ran a series of ads for their new fresh fruits and vegetables department through the month.

Social Notes:

Matt and Susan Winslow returned from a week of vacation that they spent skiing and relaxing at and around the Breckinridge area of Colorado.

The Valentine’s Day Dance at the Oak Springs Country Club was well attended and a good time had by all, according to several reports. The local band, Swingtime, was especially appreciated.

Cop Shop:

Three juveniles were arrested, booked, and remanded to the custody of their parents following discovery of their involvement in a series of recent break-ins and acts of vandalism in the downtown Oak Springs area, along Main Street, police said.

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."




Dr. Bill  ;-)

January 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1998

This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in January of 1998.

At the January meeting of the Oak Springs Historical and Genealogical Society the following new officers were elected:

President: Rhoda Offutt

Vice President & Program Chair: Mona Evans

Secretary: Penny Nixon

Treasurer: Lisa Flanders-Howell

Membership Chair: Sarah Flanders

Immediate Past President: Brian Kirk

Rhoda Offutt reported on sales of the “American Centennial” book that had exceeded expectations, but there were still copies available for those interested. She also encouraged all members to continue to look for old documents about the community and local families in unusual, as well as the usual, places.

[http://www.amazon.com/American-Centennial-Homeplace-Founding-1833-1876-ebook/dp/B00NJFHPVA/

Free with Kindle Unlimited]

The Jensen & Watkins Construction Company held an Open House on Wednesday, January 7th, to celebrate the First Anniversary of the Company. The notice in the paper reminded the community that Gary Jensen had been in residential construction in the community for more than ten years. His nephew, Trace Watkins, had come to Oak Springs to join him, just over a year earlier. It was on this date in 1997 that they had officially opened business as the company we know today, located on the west side of State Highway 37 about 2 miles north of the intersection with State Highway 24. Watkins, in his early 30s, had been in construction work in the Kansas City area for more that ten years, as well. The company specializes in single family residences, duplexes and four-plexes.

Locals:

It was learned that Paul Gates, Manager of The Oak Creek Mill, had presented a proposal to The Bevins Trust to build a Par 3 Golf Course on the slope from just above the Mill down to and around the Mill Pond below the Mill. Each tee would be located above the green and hole below on five of the nine holes proposed. He was said to have presented the plan as a compliment to the 18-hole golf course on the west side of Oak Springs at the Country Club, not as competition. He felt that both local and visiting golfers would support both courses.

Lori Winslow confirmed to our reporter that she had met with Gary Jensen and Trace Watkins at the Jensen & Watkins Construction Company office on north Highway 37 northeast of Oak Springs regarding possibly creating a housing development on Bevins Trust land south and east of the Mill Pond, running parallel to Oak Creek as it exited the Mill Pond. It would be designed to integrate with the proposed Par-3 Golf Course, the kayak/canoe portage and serve as a direct link to the Bevins Stables and Trail Ride facilities from the west. It was known that several Bevins family members had talked of building new homes, and it appeared this development might meet those and other local needs. Winslow also confirmed that she had been involved with a residential housing development group in Los Angeles before her move to Oak Springs. She had enjoyed that work, and believed some of what she had learned there could be incorporated into a development here in the valley.

Social Notes:

Trace Watkins, of the Jensen & Watkins Construction Company, created a bit of stir at the local McDonalds last Thursday when a teenager mistook him for the country music singer, Trace Atkins, and set off quite a ruckus. Watkins was a bit embarrassed by the attention, but admitted to this reporter that it had happened to him before, in Kansas City, in years past. He said he preferred to think of himself as resembling his uncle, Gary Jensen, his business partner. But, he added, he really didn’t have much control over what others thought when they saw him, and, admitted it was flattering.

Cop Shop:

A total of four vehicles abandoned on public roadways in the valley following the January 15 blizzard were ticketed and towed to the police compound area. This occurred only after owners had not retrieved their vehicles themselves in a timely manner.

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."




Dr. Bill  ;-)