Jeanne Newby
2003 – Bob Baker was dubbed the “Father of our King Jack Park.” A road entering King Jack Park from Hall street was named the R.J. Baker Parkway in his honor.
2003 – The new Webb City Middle School opened.
2003 – Construction of the new fire station on Ellis Street begins.
2003 – Webb City Bank was renovated.
2003 – Webb City R-7 Hall of Fame inductees were Larry K. Hayes and Jeremy Rusk.
2003 – Kathryn Patten passed away Dec. 23.
2003 – The Webb City Choir left Dec. 26 to perform in Florida as part of the Epcot Christmas Candlelight Procession. Returned on New Year’s Eve.
2004 – Chance Morgan replaced John Rogers as the new city administrator on Jan. 19.
2004 – There was a grand opening for the Mining Days Community Building (3,200 sq ft.) and Amphitheater (seats 250 with room for 750 on the grass) on Jan. 29. The Webb City Mining Days Committee donated $125,000 toward the community building plus the purchase of the kitchen appliances. Grant money paid for the amphitheater and the rest of the community building.
2004 – Webb City Fire Department moved into its new station at 500 Ellis St.
2004 – Joe Butler, Webb City community director, died in car accident. He was replaced by Joe Cartwright.
2004 – New tennis courts were built in King Jack Park, thanks to the generosity of William and Marion Perry.
2004 – The first Mining Days Celebration to be held at the new Mining Days Community Building and Amphitheater was held in September.
2004 – Dollar General opened in Carterville.
2004 – Dale Shellhorn was inducted into the Webb City R-7 Hall of Fame.
2004 – Business leader and former mayor Bob Baker passed away Dec. 23 at the age of 83.
2005 – Open house was held in February for the Webb City Public Library restoration and expansion.
2005 – Reconstruction of the entrance to King Jack Park began.
2005 – William H. Perry II, founder of Cardinal Scale and community leader, passed away in August at the age of 87.
2005 – The Webb City Mining Days Celebration was combined with Webbstock, the new high school band festival. There were 20 bands in the parade.
2005 – Nic Frising passed away May 25 at age 62. His cartoons and sense of humor are still missed. His final cartoons in the Sentinel warned others not to ignore symptoms of colon cancer.
2005 – The removal of houses began on Madison Street to make room for City Pointe shopping center. Beautiful maple trees that graced Madison Street were also removed.
2005 – New soccer fields in King Jack Park were ready in August for the fall season.
2005 – The southeast entrance to King Jack Park was named Robert J. Baker Parkway in honor of the mayor responsible (initially blamed) for purchasing the land for the park.
2005 – Bob Chancellor was inducted into the Webb City RV-7 Hall of Fame.
2006 – The Webb City High School Cardinal Prided Marching Band marched in the rain during the Tournament of Roses Parade.
2006 – City Pointe shopping center opened. The houses it replaced were moved to lots a block west of Madison Street and a block south of Broadway.
2006 – John Biggs was elected to his first term as mayor.
2006 – The new Kneeling Miner statue and new entrance to King Jack Park were dedicated in September. This new bronze statue, by Constance A. Ernatt, of Wichita, replaced Jack Dawson’s 1976 Kneeling Miner.
2006 – Aylor Park was sold to Larry M. Thomas Construction Co. for $37,500.
2006 – Phil Walsack joined city staff as the new community economic developer, specializing in water and sewer services.
2006 – Kathleen Crane was inducted into the Webb City R-7 Hall of Fame.
2006 – It was the last football season played in front of the old Cardinal Stadium grandstand. The concrete-block structure was demolished to make room for the higher and wider version.
2006 – Carl Francis was hired to succeed Don Richardson as police chief. Interim chief Don Melton stayed on as assistant chief and emergency management director.
2006 – Year of drought.
2007 – Ice storm on Jan. 14.
2007 – Jan. 15 – The roof and west wall of the First Baptist Church collapsed from 3 inches of ice and snow on the roof.
2007 – Former Mayor Bill Lundstrum passed away Jan. 15.
