By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Construction of a visitors center at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery is on track to be done by July 2010.
“It’s going wonderful,” said David Hendrix, hatchery manager.
The hatchery broke ground on the 9,500-square-foot center in July, eyeing one year for work to be done.
Hendrix said the foundation for the new center has been laid, and work on the frame has started.
The project stalled after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service three times solicited bids for a visitors center, and each time the bids outstripped the original $2.8 million budget. In some cases, the bids exceeded the budget by more than $1 million.
Earlier this year, federal officials said they would allocate $1.7 million in additional funds for the project, bringing the total budget to $4.5 million. Crossland Construction Co. was awarded the contract to build the center.
Features of the new center include a book and souvenir shop, an exhibit hall with displays on the history of the hatchery, a display of artifacts, a large aquarium, a training room with a wet lab, and video-viewing equipment. Office space is planned for the second floor. A new parking lot will be built in the northwest corner of the property, along with a wetlands.
The center is being built in a Victorian style to invoke its past.
“The history is the important thing,” said Kay Hively, who co-wrote a book about the hatchery that recently was released.
The book, penned by Hively and local historian Larry James, tracks the hatchery’s history from its creation in 1888 to the groundbreaking ceremony earlier this year for the new center.
Hively said the story of the hatchery is one of an institution that started on a “tangled mass of undeveloped land,” survived budget cuts and turmoil, and became the oldest center of its kind in the country.
“It is as much a part of Neosho as a street or a building in town,” she said.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Neosho hatchery visitors center on track
- Local News
-
-
Local voter turnouts for nonbinding primary lighter than predictions
The fact that Missouri’s presidential preference primary would not count for much was not lost on local voters, at least judging from voter turnouts reported Tuesday by election officials in the region.
-
Rick Santorum favored in Southwest Missouri
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum trounced Mitt Romney in Southwest Missouri as well as statewide in Republican balloting Tuesday in the state’s presidential preference primary.
- Primary Results: Area Ballots
-
Baxter Springs panel places $8 million bond issue on ballot
The Baxter Springs Board of Education has approved placing an $8 million bond issue on a May 8 election ballot, said Superintendent Dennis Burke.
The vote on Monday was 7-0 in favor, Burke said. -
Mike Pound: Icy water of Shoal Creek awaits plungers
I admire people who are able to sky-dive. Well, I admire people who are able to sky-dive in a “they are crazy” kind of way. The thing I admire about people who are crazy enough to sky-dive is that at some point they actually have to make the decision to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
-
Voters in Neosho mention faith when making choices
Voters in Neosho mentioned faith as reasons to vote for a particular candidate in today’s presidential preference election.
-
Voter: Important to support chosen candidate
Fresh from casting his vote for Rick Santorum at the Joplin Museum Complex polling place, Steve Hull, 50, of Joplin, said it’s important for people to vote from their hearts for the candidate they think best represents them as a person. That’s why he chose Santorum, he said.
-
Conservative voter: Romney winning because of split between Gingrich, Santorum
Jennie McKenna, of Joplin, voted for Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, calling him the best candidate on Tuesday’s presidential preference ballot.
-
Missouri takes “robo-signing” mortgages to court
The state of Missouri has filed criminal charges against a shuttered Georgia company accused of using fake signatures on phony foreclosure documents.
-
Mo. House endorses voter photo ID requirement
The Missouri House on Tuesday endorsed a new attempt by the Legislature requiring people to show photo identification at the polls while voters across the state were casting ballots in a presidential primary.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Triple Win: Santorum Takes MN, MO, CO
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Romney Congratulates Santorum, Focuses on Obama
Paul Says Results Help Him Rack Up Delegates
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
