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Looking Backward 12.26.2013

25 Years Ago

December 22, 1988

 

The home decoration contest was judged by a panel of out-of-town judges last week with results as follows: Religious category – 1st, Thelma Posey; 2nd, Harry Williams; and 3rd, Virginia Burnett.   Fantasy category – 1st, Thelma Posey (only entry).

GTE’s advanced new telecom­munications system at Ava has been successfully placed in service and the unit is now processing local and long distance calls for area telephone users.

Ava’s new wastewater treatment plant is under construction in two different operations on the “city farm” property at the southwest edge of the city.

Joy McCall Voyles graduated cum laude from Southwest Mis­souri State University during fall commencement held Dec 16 at Hammons Student Center.

Mr. and Mrs. Austin Osborn will celebrate their 50th wedding anni­versary Dec. 24. Austin Osborn and Orlean Huffman were married Christmas Eve, 1938 by the Justice of the Peace at the Ava courthouse.

Ava seventh grade math students placed second in their competition at the School of the Ozarks contest on Dec. 6. They are Michael Blakey, Chelsea Hall, Peggy Porter, and Christian Diede.

City of Ava employee Ronnie Williams drove the 1929 Chevrolet fire truck in the Ava parade on Dec. 3.  The Ava City Council has taken action to restore the classic which was Ava’s first motorized fire truck.

Eight life members in VFW Post 5993, Ava, all with the last name Turner, and all related, gathered at the American Legion Hall here Sunday.  They are: Gail D. Turner, Vietnam; W. Melvin Turner, World War I; Trellis Turner, Korea; Loren Turner, Lewis Turner, R.L. Turner, Leslie Turner, and Orville M. Turner, all veterans of World War II.

 

50 Years Ago

December 19, 1963

 

A helicopter was flown here from St. Louis last Thursday by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in an effort to get about an inch of accumulated ice off the long dis­tance lines.  It was hoped that the air blast from the propeller, as the helicopter hovered over the lines, would knock loose the ice. The experiment, however, was unsuc­cessful in the 15-degree weather.  Fortunately, very little ice accu­mulated on streets during last week’s ice storm, but trees were heavily burdened and caused elec­tric power failure in many parts of Ava when breaking limbs fell across, and snapped, wires.

Another free movie for holiday shoppers and their families will be presented Saturday morning at the Avalon Theatre in Ava.  The movie is being sponsored by retail mer­chants to provide entertainment for children while their parents are shopping, but persons of all ages are invited to attend.

A 34-pound coyote (or wolf, as described by some) was shot by Boyd Barnum of Route 3, Ava, recently.  The animal was one of the largest of its kind observed in this area. Barnum was in a field near his home on Beaver Creek above Tigris, when he heard neigh­bors’ dogs running the animal. He was carrying a 30-30 rifle and shot the beast in the head from a distance of about 40 yards.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vinson celebrated their 25th wedding anni­versary at a surprise party Sunday afternoon, Dec. 8, in their home at 401 Northwest 12th Ave.

Pfc. John Rippee, who has been based with the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas, arrived in Ava Friday afternoon and is spending a holiday leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maney Rippee.

In some cases happiness consists merely of forgetting the past and ignoring the future.

Miss Janet Gentry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Gentry of Ava, celebrated her 11th birthday at a birthday party given Monday night, Dec. 16, in the family home at 812 East Washington Avenue.  Attending the party were Misses Jean Ann Curry, Cathy Nall, Suzetta Turley, Yvonne Collins, and Lana and Fama Stillings; Larry Haynes, Larry Graham, Reggie Victor, Arliss Stillings, Mr. and Mrs. Gentry and their older daugh­ter, Miss Brenda Gentry.

Christmas Special to all my friends and customers, special on all my permanents, $4.98 and up, Christmas vacation only Dec. 21 – Dec. 28. Mr. Bill’s Beauty Salon, phone MU3-4512.

RED BANK –– Mr. and Mrs. Bretney Sims and daughters are staying with Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Huffman while they are remodeling their home in Ava.

U.S. FORCES, GERMANY (A HTNC) –– Jerry L. Garrison, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Garri­son, Route 2, Ava, Mo., was promoted to specialist four in late November while assigned to the 181st Transportation Battalion in Germany.

 

75 Years Ago

December 22, 1938

 

First 1939 hunting and fishing license issued in Douglas County went to Noel Alsup, prominent farmer and former county clerk, now living on a farm on Fox Creek in the east end of the county.  Mr. Alsup believes he has an unbroken record for having obtained the first hunting and fishing license issued in this county every year for the past sixteen years.

A desire for cowboy outfits probably has resulted in serious trouble for three youths of the ex­treme east end of Douglas County, it was revealed by local officers today.  According to the story the youths were caught in the act of butchering five head of sheep.  Officers said the youths apparently were only after the sheep pelts, which they planned to use to make chaps, saddle blankets and other cowboy regalia.  The youths were charged with the theft of five sheep belonging to a neighbor.

It’s funny why so many men who cannot keep their own small affairs in order, not even within the confines of their own house grounds, yet they know exactly how our government and all other governments should be conducted.

Surely it “warms the cockles of the heart” to reflect upon the de­termination of our people to see to it that the underfed and cold get a comforting meal on Christmas day, if nothing more.

These cars must move, prices good until January 1, 1939, A. L. Viles, Thornfield, Mo.  1932 Model B Tudor, in good condition, $140; 1930 Model A Coupe, just worked over, new tires, $98; 1934 Chevro­let Tudor, just rebored, new paint, practically new tires, $250; 1933 Chevrolet Coupe, $176; and Plym­outh Fordor Sedan, $165.  We trade for livestock, sell for cash and also sell on easy payment plan.

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ousley and son, Wayne, who recently returned to Ava after spending sev­eral months in Boca, California, have leased an apartment in the Clarence Spurlock home. The Ousley’s moved into their new location Saturday afternoon.

Dance! With Howard Pettit and his Royal Commanders Orchestra Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, Ava, “Swing and Sway Until Christmas Day”, admission, 75¢ per couple.

SMACKOUT –– Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Williams moved to their farm near Hartville Wednesday of last week.

BRYANT –– Raymond Haynes and family have moved on the A.J. Dodson farm.

MT. TABOR –– Christmas shoppers were so numerous in Ava Saturday that you could scarcely get around on the square. Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Jenkins, Mrs. Arthur Sanders and daughter, Coretta, and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lakey were among the shoppers in Ava Satur­day afternoon.

ROBERTSON –– Mrs. Earnie Jenkins, Mrs. J.G. Jenkins and son and daughter, Quincy and Kate, attended the pie supper at Vera Cruz. Earnie Jenkins is teacher. Proceeds amounted to $42.75 and went to assist in paying the hospital bill for Howard Lakey who recently was operated on for appendicitis.

 

100 Years Ago

January 1, 1914

 

Current Is Turned On –– Mayor and Mrs. H.S. Wilson accompanied by Misses Opal Robinett and Lena Wilson, Messrs Chester Vincent, Earl Hitchcock, George Allen and Verna Wilson spent the day at Lake Crystal last Saturday. They were joined at the Lake by Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Pettit and a splendid picnic lunch was spread in the new pow­erhouse. Everything being in readi­ness at midnight, Miss Lena Wilson had the honor to press the button that sent the electric current over the wires in Ava.

Ballard Finley and Miss Rena Holt were married at the residence of the brides’ mother in west part of town, late Tuesday evening by Rev. S.P. Smith, pastor of the Baptist Church.

We have heard something of the downward turn in farm produce and stock, and a slight “slump” in stocks and bonds, mills in some parts have been shut down or par­tially so, but we have not yet heard of the price of “food stuff” taking a tumble. The Democrats promised to reduce the cost of living. How about it?

PANSY ITEMS –– We had a white Christmas that was reported to have been the seventh in twenty-five years.

According to Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the Congressional Committee of the National Women’s Suffrage Association in Washington, Democrats will lack the support of the women in favor of this movement throughout the country. Miss Paul says that Presi­dent Wilson has alienated the equal suffragists of America by refusal to take up their cause, and she be­lieves the women should “turn the millions of votes of women” and their influence with male votes against the Democratic party in the next election, unless that party changes its mind on the question of suffrage.

LARISSA ITEMS –– Hurrah! Douglas Co. has a shining capital. Ava is up to date. The electric light plant is working beautifully.

STONY POINT –– Mr. Mason has just finished a well at Gusty Burke’s and one at Wes Hiser’s, and is now set and drilling for Dee Burke.

Jesse King of near Bryant was in Ava the first of the week. He says his silo, which he built last fall, is worth the money it cost, and that his cows are showing the effect of the silo feeding. He says it cost him something like $65 and will pay for itself this year.

 

125 Years Ago

December 27, 1888

 

A quiet Christmas, and a rainy day.

Ladies of Ava have arranged for a big time tonight –– can’t name it.

Quite an exhibition of Demo­cratic symptoms for a local option county in our city on Christmas.

John Potter, formerly of this county, is reported to have been engaged in another shooting scrape recently in Arkansas.

Springfielders are having a fight over the location of their new gov­ernment building.

Messrs. Boone and Mishler, marble dealers of Gainesville, have been delivering a fine lot of their work in this vicinity during the past week, consisting of monuments and other grave decorations, reported the finest ever delivered in the county.

Gov. Morehouse has granted Bill Walker and Wiley Mathews, the Knobbers that were to have been executed on the 28th, a respite to the 15th of January next. John Mathews, another of the same, having recently been sentenced to be executed on that day.

Our Geo. B. Waters and family, Squire Roberts and family, and Mrs. J.H. Payne, partook of fatted turkey with Squire Thomas, of Walls Township, on Christmas.

Jas. E. Bunyard passed through town today enroute to Springfield. Jim says cattle are not so je-hovely brisk in the market.

Mosey Hopper says he and Charley Spurlock each have a two-year-old that can down any in the township of the same age.

K.C, Ft. S. & Memphis R’y…  South Bound, No. 8, leaves Mansfield, 8:48 p.m.;  No. 3, leaves Mansfield, 6:15 a.m.;  North Bound, No. 2, leaves Mansfield, 6:45 A.m.; and No. 4, leaves Mansfield, 9:49 p.m.

A party of our young folks, the Misses Ota and Mary Curnutt, Belle Reynolds and Effa Bulger and Messrs. A.B. Head, John Miller, Frank Curnutt and George Campbell attended church in the country last Sunday, after which they repaired to the residence of Bro. Hailey, where they report a pleasant time and good dinner.

The Finest Yet.  We refer to the Russell & Morgan Printing Com­pany’s calendar for 1889.  The cal­endar consists of twelve sheet (one for each month) of coated board, size 12 x 7 ½ inches, printed in nine to twelve colors, and gold from engraved metal plates costing over $2,000.  Each page is entirely different from the others, and all are new and original designs illus­trating the origin and use of playing cards, etc.  Sample copies will be mailed to any address upon receipt of twenty-five cents.