Looking Backward 1.19.2012
25 Years Ago
January 15, 1987
Ron’s Carpets was completely destroyed by fire last Saturday night, and the adjoining O.K. Auction suffered smoke and water damage. The fire started in the back of the carpet store around 9 p.m. and was discovered when smoke began coming through the wall into the adjoining building where a consignment auction was being held. No one was injured in the blaze.
The start of the new year brought snow to the Ozarks, with two almost identical snowfalls occurring on the first two weekends of 1987. By the weekend the Ozarks should be under the influence of very frigid air with the possibility of snow once again.
At least three different buildings on the Ava R-1 campus were vandalized last Saturday night, and while not a great deal was taken from the buildings, the damage was extensive. The incidents, which are believed to be related, are under the investigation of the Ava Police Department.
The Ava eighth grade basketball team took first place in the Willow Springs Tournament last Saturday night, defeating Mtn. Grove, 41-39, in the final seconds of the game. Members of the Ava eighth grade basketball team are Darren Bushong, Brad Jumper, Jim Stafford, Chris Bekas, Aaron Miller, David Davidson, Danny Schneider, Dean Guill, Mike Roberts, Joe Harper, Chris Jacobs, Mike Patterson, and Coach Mark Wendler.
Debbie Mooney, a resident of Ava, has been selected for inclusion in the 1987 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
The Citizens Bank of Ava invites you to attend an Open House at our main bank in honor of Lucille Jenkins, who is retiring. Cake, coffee and punch will be served from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone welcome!
50 Years Ago
January 11, 1962
The extreme cold wave, which arrived in the Ozarks Tuesday, brought about a two-day holiday for Ava R-1 school children. Classes were dismissed for today and tomorrow because of the high rate of absenteeism yesterday. About 30% of the over 1500 students were absent Wednesday, and the weatherman has promised little relief from the cold. Two school buses were unable to get to Ava because of the record cold, apparently due to inability of starting the motors.
From “The Snoop” with Bob Bowles:
“There was a man in our town,
The chumps thought he was wise,
He swore (it was his policy) he’d never advertise.
But then one day he advertised
And thereby hangs a tale;
His ad was set in six-point type
And headed “Sheriff’s Sale.”
One must advertise! And we couldn’t get our message delivered adequately via the post office as their wastebasket is heaped daily with unread advertisements.”
Mrs. Don Sallee was hostess to members of the Thursday Bridge Club Jan. 4, when she entertained at her country home west of Ava. High score prize was awarded to Mrs. Vernon Jackson and the consolation prize went to Mrs. Kenneth Alderman. Three varieties of fancy Greek cookies were served with coffee during the afternoon to the two prize winners and six other members, Mrs. Harlan House, Mrs. Lena McClendon, Mrs. Ralph Glendenning, Mrs. Cleo Cooper, Mrs. Clinton Maloney and the hostess.
Jerry Wood, a young Ava man who recently completed a 34-week mechanic’s course at the U.S. Trade School in Kansas City, has assumed manager ship of the Texaco service station at Davis Corner, located at the junction of Highways 5 and 14, and has expanded the station’s services to automobile mechanical work.
Ted Sallee, who is serving his second term as county collector, announced that he would not be a candidate for re-election to the office.
Clyde Deaver and Lloyd Streight, both of rural Ava, and Boyd Walker of Mansfield were winners of a big bass contest conducted during 1961 by the Corner Store. Deaver received a Pflueger Supreme reel for his 8-pound, 14-ounce bass; Streight was awarded a $24.95 rod for an 8-pound, 8-ounce bass and Walker, with an 8-7 fish, a Zebco reel.
Avalon Theatre – Sunday, Monday – Tammy Tell Me True with Sandra Dee, John Gavin Wonderful, lovable story of a college town. Color. Tues., We., Thurs., –– Marines Let’s Go. Tom Tryon. They go the limit in battle and in fun! Color, 7:30 p.m.
The Know Your Neighbors Club held an all day meeting Wednesday, Jan. 3, in the country home of Mrs. Versal Cox, west of Ava, with ten members and one guest, Barbara Young, attending.
75 Years Ago
January 14, 1937
Fifteen divorces were granted in the two-day session of the January term of circuit court held here Monday and Tuesday.
Ava has experienced its first winter weather of the season the past week, but it has been very mild in comparison with the weather here eleven months ago or as compared with the weather that has prevailed the past week just a few miles north and west of Ava.
Honors for sales in division four of the St. Louis zone for Chevrolet goes this year to Ralph Kerr of the Burdett Chevrolet company here for the fourth consecutive year.
Lloyd Reynolds Jr., who has been employed at the Croslin Grocery for the past year has resigned his position and will leave early next week for Springfield where he will enter Draughons Business College for a commercial course.
Four debaters of Ava High School will go to Seymour tonight for a practice debate with Seymour High School. It will be the first competition of the year for the local debaters. On the team are Ted Gray, James Curry and Misses Wanda Burdett and Audra Hunsaker.
Throughout our country numerous organizations are staging again the annual celebration of Poor Richard’s Day. Its purpose is to honor Benjamin Franklin – journalist, advertiser, scientist, philosopher, author of Poor Richard’s Almanac, statesman and above all, a great American.
All officers of the Ava Chamber of Commerce were re-elected for another year at the annual election held by the organization Thursday night. Re-elected officers are: president, W.I. Barker; vice president, Ray Hailey; secretary J.E. Curry; treasurer, Dr. F.F. Schudy.
The National Reemployment Service has opened its new headquarters for Dent, Douglas, Texas and Wright counties in the basement of the Mtn. Grove post office building. Walter Morris, formerly of Houston, is in charge with Glen Story of Ava acting as his assistant.
January Sale of Coats & Dresses. These are definitely new fashions, ready for coldest winter weather – rich warm fabrics. $16.75 coats, $12.75; $10.75 coats, $8.75. $1.00 dresses, 79¢; $1.98 dresses, $1.59; $2.95 dresses, $2.25. H. L. Harley’s Sons.
RIPPEE –– Callers in the D.S. Wilson home Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Cal Burruss and daughter, Melba Jean; Mr. and Mrs. Roby Wright and two children, Leon and Phyllis; Mrs. Thurlow Stout and son, Arvel Loren; Bertha Woolsey, T.H. Woolsey and Will Woolsey.
MERRITT –– Thunder and lightning accompanied our sleet storm Friday night, making a rather “freak storm” of it.
SWEDEN –– Misses Betty Spurlock, Mary Medlock, Marge Louis and Buelar Louis spent Sunday with Geneva Pettyjohn.
Today is the future. No matter what dreams you may have for tomorrow, if you let this day pass without some effort toward the fulfillment of those dreams, tomorrow will never come.
100 Years Ago
January 18, 1912
Voters in the primary election next August and the election next November will have to wrestle with the longest ballots in Missouri’s history.
New Star In The Flag ––Governor W.J. Mills, Chief Justice W.H. Pope and other officials of New Mexico sent telegrams of congratulation to President Taft for signing the statehood proclamation. Many of the newly-elected county officials will not wait for the day of inauguration of Governor McDonald Jan. 15, but will take their oaths of office and assume their duties under the state.
Even when they have nothing to do, some people can’t seem to do it gracefully.
In the last issue of the Douglas Co. Herald we noticed that the county has made another payment on county indebtedness, decreasing it from $40,000 to $8,000. The Herald says that it does not know how such debt was ever made. We can tell you it was through mis-management or a steal. We congratulate the people of Douglas upon the wiping out of this debt. As we have for many years been contributing to its liquidation. When you hold that jubilee over the payment of this debt that nobody knows how it was incurred we want to be present and rejoice with you.
Bill Spencer, Fordland Journal.
BRYANT BREEZES ––No school at Hicks School last Friday, because of the severe snowstorm the preceding day.
We notice by the Mtn. Grove Journal that the Ozark Cold Storage Co. of that progressive little city has voted to extend their plant, and to extend $15,000.00 in new buildings and equipments. The officers of the company are H.E. Staff, president; J.A. Chase, treasurer; and C.B. Walker, secretary and manager.
The pension bills, which are now before the House and Senate, are making very little headway.
The Missouri, Arkansas and Gulf Railway has executed a mortgage to the St. Louis Union Trust Company, as trustee, to secure an issue of $1,500,000 of 5 percent gold bonds for the completion of the company’s “Ozark Short Line,” from Rolla to Bakersfield, Mo. Work has begun on the first eight miles of the line, which will traverse Phelps, Dent, Texas, Howell, and Ozark counties. The line will pass through one of the richest farming sections of the Ozark county, not heretofore touched by railroad. The line when completed will be 125 miles long. This section is now reached by stagecoach.
The Ozark Dam –– Gen. Manager Maxson of the Ozark Dam has been hampered a good deal by the weather but still is doing a good deal to get the work well started. The tramway is being built and the other work got ready for the machinery, which will be floated down as soon as weather will permit. The Railroad Co. switched 4 car loads of their machinery on the River Switch Tuesday and it will be loaded on to the barges as soon as the storm is over. Branson Sentinel
From the 1961, Jan. 11, edition of the Douglas County Herald:
Around The Home, By Gloria Kuhn, Area Home Agent
Are you tired, jittery, run down at the heels? Has 1961 left you feeling over worked and under repaid? Then resolve today that in 1962 you and the members of your family will develop the habit of eating a good breakfast. A good breakfast will help prevent that ten-o’clock slump and that irritable feeling. The body must have protein. These complete protein foods are meat, poultry, eggs, milk and cheese and are rich in vitamins and minerals as well as protein.
Eggs may be scrambled over water, in a double boiler. They will be more tender and just as flavorful as when fried.
Double boiler scrambled eggs:
4 eggs
1/3 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
3 tablespoons milk
Beat the eggs, add milk, salt and pepper. Pour into top of double boiler. Cook until set, stirring frequently. Serves 3 or 4. Calories for 3 servings: 119 calories. Calories for 4 servings: 90 calories.
