On the Edges

Nixa

Event attracts 20,000

The annual pyrotechnics festival in Nixa drew a record crowd this year. Held July 4 and co-sponsored by the city of Nixa, Nixa Small Business Alliance, Nixa Rural Fire Protection District and the Nixa Assembly of God, this year's event was dubbed the "Sky High Fourth of July." According to Larry Perney, executive director of the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce, an estimated 20,000 people came for the food, booths and most of all, the fireworks.

"It was phenomenal," Perney said. "We only had about 4,000 people last year."

Approximately 17 other local businesses and organizations helped sponsor the Independence Day celebration, which raised almost $1,000 from concessions and booth rental fees. Those funds, Perney said, will be put back into the event next year.

"It looks like we will do this again next year," he added. "But the location is to be determined."

This year's event was held at the city of Nixa's McCauley Park, an undeveloped 37-acre tract. Next year, it will be developed and unsuitable for the pyrotechnic event, Perney said.

The fireworks were set up and fired off by Nixa Fire Protection District personnel. According to Lt. Rance Duffy, approximately $10,000 was invested for this year's colorful explosives.

"We only had $5,000 last year," Duffy said. "This year we set of 1,350 shots, not including the ground display show."

Chamber pushes for bond

The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce is making a big push for the passage of a $4.1 million general obligation bond issue on the Aug. 8 ballot to fund the development of the McCauley Park area, according to Larry Perney, executive director.

"This is really important for the area's overall economic development," Perney said. "Right now people are going to Springfield for things like parks and swimming pools."

In upcoming mailing to its memebers, the chamber is including the ballot language and why voters should support the issue in upcoming mailings to members.

Nixa City Clerk Coralee Patrick said if the issue passes, the funds will be used to construct a community center, outdoor aquatic park and landscape the undeveloped 37-acre tract. The bonds will not call for a tax increase and can be paid off with sales tax revenue.

"We have lots of money to make the bond payments," Patrick said. "But we needed a financing vehicle."

By using a general obligation bond instead of going through the Public Building Corporation, Patrick estimated the city will save $410,000 in interest costs.

Day care loses funding

The Nixa R-2 School District shut down its day care facility this week, citing a budget that was in the red by $80,000 as the main reason, said Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, district superintendent.

The facility did not receive grant funding this year as was expected, Kleinsmith said, and revenue did not meet projections.

"We were losing $80,000 annually," Kleinsmith said. "The revenue projection for 1999-2000 were $235,000 but in reality it was only $84,000. It was affecting our bottom line"

Estimated expenditures for 1999-2000 was $223,000 and only came out to be $164,000, he added.

The Eagle's Nest Day Care began operations three years ago to serve teenage parents who wanted to complete their high school educations. Shortly after opening its doors, it also began taking care of the children of Nixa school district faculty and eventually expanded to the general public. The language of the original grant proposal, awarded through the state Department of Secondary and Elementary Education, called for the day care to be self-sustaining after three years.

Kleinsmith stressed that the original mission of the day care remains.

"We are going to take care of any high school student with children," he said. "We are working with the local Head Start program." The district is currently looking into either leasing or selling the facility, Kleinsmith said.

Ozark

Chamber hosts a.m. event

"Good Morning Ozark," an Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce event, will be held at 7 a.m. July 27 at the Shoney's in Ozark. The featured speaker will be Al Gonzales, code enforcement officer for the city of Ozark. He will speak on the need for infrared cameras for the Ozark Fire Department.

The cost for the event is $7 per person. For more information call Sue Larimer at the Ozark chamber, 581-6139.

Phone directory in works

Residents and business owners in the Ozark and Nixa areas may receive a visit from Jim Jones or Claudia Stephens of Cascade Telecom Development Inc., according to an announcement in the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce newsletter. The business seeks to publish an exclusive telephone directory for the two Christian County cities.

"Although the GTE phone book is adequate, a smaller Ozark/Nixa-only phone book would be a great asset to this area," Chamber Executive Director Sue Larimer said in the newsletter. "Here at the chamber we receive many requests for phone books of this size and we could mail these for a small amount. We do not mail the GTE phone books due to the cost of the postage."