The Index from Hermitage, Missouri • 1

Exp date4 State Hist Society 7-1-91 corner Hitt and Lowry St Columbia MO 65201 Preston wreck fatal 3A Weatherreservolr report PLUS TAX wmM Conservation 8390 MSL Full 8790 MSL Elevation 84144 MSL Discharge to 2000 cu fit ma HERMITAGE MO 65668 Phone 417 745-6404 Fax 417 745-2222 USPS 261500 Serving Hickory County and the Lake Pomme de Terre Area" THURSDAY JANUARY 31 1991 VOL 106 NO 44 Established 1885 sec or 13000 gal sec Tunnel Outlet Temperature 37 Lake Surface Temperature 36 Water Conditions: Clear Composite of murder suspect released in Darby slaying The investigation into the shooting death of Macks Creek resident Trudy Darby has involved hundreds of leads several possible suspects dozens of informational calls and hundreds of hours of investigative efforts says Hickory County Sheriff Ray Tipton A composite photo of a possible suspect has been released by the Hickory County Sheriffs Department after several Macks Creek area residents said they saw an unidentified man in the Macks Creek area January 19 the day of the kidnapping and murder Mrs Darby 42 was working as a clerk in a convenience store at the intersection of Highways 34 and 73 between Preston and Macks Creek when she noticed a strange man in the parking area of the business about 10 pm She called her son Waylyn who was at her home two miles away and asked him to come to the store as she closed for the evening When her son arrived less than five minutes later she was gone the door was open and her personal items were left at the store Her nude body was discovered in Hickory County two days later in the Little Niangua River in Hickory County An autopsy was conducted January 23 and the pathologist's report showed that she died of two gunshot wounds to the head one just above the right ear and one at the lower back of the head Tipton said the murderer apparently intended for identification of the victim to be as difficult as possible as he took Mrs Tunas High School class ring her mother's ring with four stones her wedding ring and engagement ring as well as her earrings Neither the jewelry nor Mrs clothing has been located Officers have also conducted extensive searches of the Little Niangua access roads for the murder weapon without week Macks Creek area residents had provided detailed descriptions of a man who reportedly sat in his car near the intersection of 34 and 73 highways the afternoon of the abduction and also spent some time Saturday evening in a Macks Creek cafe The people who remembered the man described him as acting strangely and unfriendly These witnesses worked individually with a law enforcement composite artist in preparing a composite photo from facial elements and three of the composites were almost identical Tipton said Tipton said Tuesday he will continue to work with Camden County authorities and with special investigators of the Missouri Highway Patrol to investigate all leads and potential information about the case He says he encourages anyone with any possible information about the man shown in the composite or about the shooting to call his office success Officers have interrogated several possible suspects Tipton said including one in Kansas The officers had received a report that a Camden-ton man had left Camdenton at 1:30 the day of the abduction after breaking off a relationship with a girlfriend The man who reportedly was classified as being suicidal and having emotional problems had reportedly told his girlfriend that she would see his face on television and read about him in the newspapers However whenever officers found him in Kansas they learned that he had received a speeding ticket in Fort Scott Kansas at 9:13 pm on the evening of the 10 pm abduction Several other similar leads have been investigated and the local sheriffs office receives about fifteen calls a day with information about possible suspects Several suspects have been interrogated and one is to undergo a polygraph test later this A man who resembles this composite drawing Is being sought by area investigators after Macks Creek area residents told of seeing him in the area where Trudy Darby was abducted January 19 Classrooms gym proposed by Hermitage School Board only the gymnasium area has to be constructed Tentative plans call for the use of pull-out bleachers to accommodate approximately 600 spectators The board is also considering the use of the existing bleachers on the stage as part of the seating for the new gym if the school addition proposal meets voter approval The roof repair project includes the addition of a seamless rubber membrane covering on the existing flat roof of the west wing of the elementary school The roof has deteriorated severly and leaks in several places the superintendent said McCullough said the board studied the possibilities of remodeling the old gymnasium into classrooms but cost estimates were approximately $10000 for two classrooms at one end of the gym He said remodeling the gym into classrooms would cost more than building new classrooms Keeping the the size of the original classrooms The school has grown 23-30 percent in enrollment in the 18 years since the last classroom addition was approved by the voters McCullough said and now as many as 44 students in two classes are being taught in a classroom area designed originally as one classroom The largest elementary class has 32 students the superintendent said The foyerlobby proposal calls for the construction of a new entry area where the entry area of the original brick school is now located Public access to the building the old gym a concession area and restrooms would be constructed in that center part of the building The proposed high school addition would include an art room between the existing stone building and the industrial artsmusic building plus five classrooms and a media ccnterlibrary area attached to the east side of the industrial arts building and the stone section of the building This project would tie all buildings in the school complex together so students in kindergarten through grade twelve would not have to go outside to go from class to class The additional classrooms would provide a two-fokl benefit for the district McCullough said by providing space for additional courses for the high school and by providing for future rescheduling so that junior high students can be separated from high school students in the high school classes The gymnasium proposal utilizes the existing shower and locker facilities to reduce the gym cost by $200000 McCullough said The gym addition is to be built behind the foyercommons area and attached to the existing shower facilities so that old gymnasium would provide a place for elementary students to have physical education classes at the same time high school students were having cluues in die other gym and would provide a facility for them to play inside during inclement weather Public gatherings meetings school dances and other activities requiring the use of the gym floor would be held in the old gym McCullough said Construction cost estimates for the project are incomplete but are estimated at $103000 for the elementary addition $180000 for the lob-bycommons area $372800 for the high school $403200 for the gymnasium and $59000 for the roof renovation and ramp construction for a total of $1318190 McCullough said the district is in a unique position of being able to afford the construction project with on-(C'ominucd to Page 3A) to be bid as a primary part of the proposal if voters approve it in April The gymnasium proposal will be bid as an alternative project to be con- structed if the bids received on the project can include that part of the construction under the proposed bond issue ceiling If approved by district voters the project calls for the construction of two new elementary classrooms at the north end of the east wing of the elementary school building Two elementary classrooms now used for high school classes would also be made available for elementary classrooms according to Superintendent Dennis McCullough to provide four more elementary classrooms McCullough said the elementary classrooms are needed because the school has divided the elementary classrooms in half to hold classes for three grade levels in classrooms half Plans for a proposal to build an addition to the Hermitage School were approved by the Hermitage School Board of Education Thursday night The issue will be on the April 2 annual school election ballot and will include the construction of seven high school classrooms two elementary classrooms a lobbyfoyer area a gymnasium several ramps for handicapped persons as required by federal regulations and a new roof on one wing of the elementary school The proposal which requires a four-sevenths majority for approval would increase the district's levy from S193 to $283 with sixty cents earmarked for the construction work and thirty cents for operating expenses including expansions of the curriculum The elementary addition the high school addition and the lobbycom-mons area are part of a basic package CrfVlNAitfUH (At-T fro) lima op I I I I I Mr School expansion plans These three shaded areas show "xoposed additions to the Hermitage School The proposal will be on the April 2 annual school election ballot The additions include two elementary classrooms (left) seven high school classrooms (right) and a new entry area and gym (center).