Looking Backward 2.23.2012
25 Years Ago
February 19, 1987
Miss Becky French and Jeff Alcorn were crowned queen and king of the Ava High School Hoopcoming last Friday night. Attendants are Bobby Oliver and Melissa Waters, and Julie Markin and Jason Norman.
Joe Johnson and David Melton, along with another unidentified friend, took advantage of the combination of icy roads and no school to enjoy some sledding activities Monday morning. With more snow falling Monday night and Tuesday, schools remained closed through Wednesday.
A new privately owned, FmHA funded apartment complex is under construction in east Ava and should be ready for occupancy by June. Jack Ward, a partner in the St. Louis based Brookview Associates, was in Ava Tuesday and explained the apartment layout which is located on the former Sell farm just off Highway 14 east of the Ava business district.
Kevin Glenn, Ava High School’s Class 3A All-State offensive tackle, signed a letter of intent last week to attend Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, and play football for the Missouri Southern Lions.
Douglas Roberts celebrated his 6th birthday by inviting Brandon Reed and Brett Sterling for an overnight bunking party.
MURRAY –– A birthday offering was given by Albert Johnson.
SKYLINE –– Mike, Kim and Shandi Kelley visited in Norwood Sunday afternoon.
STAR –– Wesley McFarlin is visiting in Moline, Ill.
Mrs. Wilma Horn and co-hostess Mrs. Debbie Wray entertained for the Build Enterprise youth at the First General Baptist Church. The hostesses served pizza and soft drinks to Cathy Davis, Jeanne Horn, Lori Givans, Carleen Coombs, Kelly Adkisson, John Auiler, James Sparks, Ron Wallace and Jeff Strong.
50 Years Ago
February 15, 1962
Preliminary work on construction of the Rawlings factory addition got under way early this week following execution of a contract last Friday with the Jack Sutherland Construction Company of Mountain Grove. The addition calls for a space of 34,000 square feet and is to join the present structure on the west. This addition to the Rawlings’ plant will bring the total floor space to 90,000 square feet.
An Ava attorney, James E. Curry, has been appointed chairman of a three-man commission to hear federal condemnation cases involving land in the Table Rock reservoir and transmission line easement cases. Curry was appointed to the commission by the late Federal Judge Jasper Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Robertson observed their 59th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 11 at an afternoon open house held in their home on Marvin Street from 2 until 4 o’clock. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were married in Douglas County on Feb. 11, 1904, and have lived in the Ava community for many years.
ROMANCE –– Six months of the nine month term of school is gone. Our teacher, Mrs. Wilma Cobb is busier than most.
Are you tired of hearing your husband complain about the food bills (after he’s stuffed himself with second-helpings)? Don’t run home to mother: just turn to Don’s Super Market for the happy solution. At Don’s Super Market . . . even husbands smile to see the lower cost. Tide giant box, 59¢; Shurfine green beans, 7 cans $1.00; biscuits, 6 cans 39¢; 1-lb. bacon, 49¢; pork & beans, 10 cans, $1.00
RED BANK –– Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Lethco visited Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Quentin Lethco.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Potter, both born and raised in the vicinity of Ava, observed their 50th wedding anniversary Wednesday, Jan. 31. They were married on horseback in front of Joe Cobb’s blacksmith shop on Jan. 31, 1912, with Justice of the Peace Joe Cobb officiating.
Mrs. Burl Davis recently sold her home located at the corner of Madison Street and Garfield Avenue to Mr. and Mrs. Otto Nelson and daughter, Janice of Ava, and last week she and her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Souder, purchased a home in Springfield. The Springfield property, located at 2224 East Stanford in the Oakwood Park addition, in the southeast part of the city, is a four-bedroom ranch type home.
Toni Ann Jenkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Jenkins, celebrated her fifth birthday Tuesday, Feb. 13, at an afternoon party given in the family home west of Ava. Present to help Toni Ann celebrate the special even were Angela and Remie Beard, Brenda Huffman, Tammy McGill, Susie Dye, Denise Moore, Gaytha Sue and Jerome Dale Lathrop, Daleen and Alan Moore, Karla Jenkins, Kirk Clinkingbeard, Jeffrey Alderman and Joe Klineline of Ava, and Bobbette Carter and Vickie Heckendorn of Mansfield.
Weldon Sanders of Ava, a member of an Army engineer reserve battalion in Springfield, began a six-month assignment of active duty with the Army Friday, Feb. 9, at Fort Leonard Wood.
75 Years Ago
February 18, 1937
Tests of innate ability in music have been given all Ava school students between the third and tenth grades the past week. The tests are designed to indicate the musical ability of the student and to indicate also the type of musical endeavor the student should follow. A few students made perfect scores of 100 on the test, and others made grades in the upper nineties. Tests were given by Floyd Curnutt, grade school music supervisor, and Roy Tharp, high school music supervisor. Students who made 100 are Virginia Lawson and Audra Hunsaker, seniors; Bernie Lewis, sophomore; John Phelps, eighth grade; Mary Jane Chrestensen, seventh grade; and Betty Jane Tillman, fifth grade.
GENTRYVILLE ITEMS –– Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dobbs moved to Gentryville last week.
SWEDEN –– Miss Zola Ray of Girdner was an over night guest Friday in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Spurlock and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pitts were in Bolivar Wednesday of last week and assisted Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pitts in moving to Ava last Thursday afternoon. The Pitts family has bought the Fred Glauss cheese factory at the intersection of Highways 5 and 14, north of town, and will open the Ozarks Memorial Company at this location. Joe has returned to Ava to take charge of this business.
Misses Mae Fugate, Rozema Sell and Opal Shores, teachers of the first three grades in the Ava schools, attended a teachers meeting in Springfield Saturday.
Members of the Home Economics classes and their teacher, Miss Helen Manley, visited last week in the beauty salon of Miss Florence Fletcher. The girls were given demonstrations in the several phases of beauty culture.
Mrs. Celia Spurlock, of Gainesville, arrived in Ava Thursday and will make her home with her daughter Mrs. Jack Blair and Mr. Blair. Mrs. Spurlock has made her home in Gainesville for the past several months.
Several people of Ava were in Branson Saturday and attended the basketball tournament in which the Ava High School team was entered. The group included Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Shipman and son Bob, Mrs. C.V. Clinkingbeard and sons, Eugene and Lyle; Mrs. E.R. Norman and son, Jimmie; Wilson McClendon, Basil Adams, Ray Kemp, Leslie Crumley, Harry Rose, Forrest McHolland and Floyd Curnutt.
SMACKOUT –– Mr. and Mrs. Para Kasning spent Sunday in the home of Mrs. Kasning’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Roach.
Frank Waters, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Waters of Mt. Zion, suffered a severe cut on his upper lip Wednesday noon while watching a number of school children play a game of shinny. Young Waters was standing on the school ground when classmates began the game. The tin can used in the shinny game flew towards Waters and struck his upper lip, cutting it just below the nose. The child was brought to Ava and was treated by Dr. J. D. Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson was forced to take several stitches to close the laceration.
100 Years Ago
February 22, 1912
Activity on the building tract of the big dam across the White River has been resumed and 100 men are busy preparing the river channel for the gigantic reservoir that is to be constructed. A proposition that the dam will be made fifty feet higher than was first contemplated is under consideration and if carried out will give far more power than was provided by the original dimensions of the dam. One of the numerous barges operated to handle material for the construction is now in daily use between Branson and the site of the dam carrying all kinds of material to the constructive work.
The heaviest snow of the season fell last Tuesday and Wednesday. It was about 18 inches on the level, and in some places where there were drifts it was 2-3 feet deep. This is the heaviest snowfall in the history of the county of which we have any record or recollection. It was accompanied by heavy thunder most all day Tuesday.
We received no mail in Ava yesterday on account of the snow-storm. We understand all trains on the Frisco were tied up for several hours.
The Peerless Pantry Co. of Kansas City, Mo., has men here introducing this pantry to the people of this county, and wants every one to see it. One of the men will call at your home and will be glad to have you examine the Pantry, whether you wish to buy or not as it will be time well spent. This article is metal, and finished with white enamel on the inside, making it perfectly sanitary. It has a place for almost all your groceries.
Clarence Brown and Laura Clinkingbeard were married Feb. 20th, 1912, at the home of Lawrence Davis, Judge Davis officiating.
BRYANT ITEMS –– The event of the season was a Leap Year party given at the home of Mr. M.L. Andrews, the 27th. Those present were Flora McCrite, Hannah Lefler, Ruth Davis, Hattie Williams, Fay Williams, Jesse Shinpaugh, Willie Pope, Willie Amos, Rob McCrite, John McCrite and Louie Miller.
BRUSHY KNOB ITEMS –– Marion Coats and family are moving back from Norwood and will occupy the Celia Hitchcock place.
DRURY ITEMS –– Bill Oneal and Sarah Redman were married at the home of the bride last Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock. We wish them a long and happy life.
PANSY –– Sheep killing seems to be the order of the day in this vicinity and we think the fox hunters had better get busy hunting wolves.
STONY POINT –– We are informed that Mr. Andy Millsap has sold his farm to a Neb. Man. Consideration $4,000.00.
