Looking Backward 5.1.2014
25 Years Ago
April 27, 1989
Ava Mayor Bud Norman signed a proclamation this week declaring May 1-5 University Extension Week in Ava.
David Wilcox, Springfield, was the first to cross the finish line here Saturday to complete the Mercy Hospital half-marathon run from Mansfield to Ava.
NOTICE –– The City of Ava has installed new radar units on all patrol cars. These are dash mounted Highway Patrol type. These units are not, repeat not, intended to bring in extra revenue.
Randy Heriford of Ava was presented with a trophy clock this week in recognition of his high game of 289 that he bowled at Ava Bowl on Jan. 3. Making the presentation is Ed Baker, owner of Ava Bowl. Heriford rolled 10 straight strikes, then picked up his spare in the near perfect game. Lonnie Call had the previous high game at Ava Bowl, with 287.
Johnna Sawyer, a sophomore from Ava, is a member of the Southwest Missouri State University ladies golf team this spring.
Ava athletes turned in some good individual times at the SMSU Relays April 20 and at the Willow Springs Relays on April 25. Scott Sallee set another AHS school record in the 3200 meter run, breaking his own record the second time this year.
DRURY –– Higher than normal temperatures and less than normal amounts of rainfall are causing quite a lot of concern here in the Ozarks, but we are hopeful of getting moisture soon.
GENTRYVILLE –– The men are doing some turkey hunting. Dean Scherer was one of the lucky hunters. He got a 22 lb. turkey early Monday morning.
50 Years Ago
April 23, 1964
An extremely important step in the future progress of Ava was taken this week with the appointment of City Planning Commission. Eight of the nine members were appointed by Mayor Fred Lethco, Sr., and approved by council. Named to the commission were C.V. Clinkingbeard, Ben M. Callaway, Everett L. Hesterlee, Carl Henley, Robert Kottmeier, James Curry, Ramey Smith and Max Decker. A ninth member is yet to be named.
The highest ranking students of the Ava High School graduating class of 1964 are Miss Deanna Painter and Miss Janice Robertson, it was announced this week by Principal Max Decker. The other eight students comprising the scholastic honor roll for the class of 163 members are: Miss Mary Kay Harnden, Miss Gloria Jones, Miss Heather House, Miss Judy Johnson, Miss Norma Shortt, James Pueppke, Miss Brenda Jones, and Miss Vada Huffaker.
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Dry of Squires announce the birth of a son Monday, April 15, at Burge-Protestant Hospital in Springfield, The baby weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces and he has been named Terry Stephen. The Drys have three other sons, Eddie, 1 ½ years old, Randy, 12, and Danny 14, and a daughter, Carolyn Sue, 17.
A birthday dinner was served Sunday, April 12, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Kilburn in Ava to honor Mrs. Kilburn who would be observing her 80th birthday on April 14. Mrs. Necie Kennedy had also celebrated her birthday at the Kilburn home on Sunday, March 29, when Mr. and Mrs. Kilburn entertained with a combined Easter Sunday dinner and a birth dinner.
Miss Gerry Elliott, 14-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Elliott of Ava, was taken to Burge-Protestant Hospital in Springfield at 6 o’clock Monday evening, in a Clinkingbeard ambulance, after she suffered a chest injury when kicked by her horse. The accident occurred on a downtown street in Ava. Attending physicians have reported that her condition is “quite satisfactory” but she is to remain hospitalized for a few days.
Robert Harnden, who has been employed with Boeing Aircraft Company in Kent, Wash., for almost a year, has returned to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Harnden and daughters of Route 1, Ava. Mr. Harnden arrived in Ava on Wednesday last week.
Jannette Marie Ludwig, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ludwig, celebrated her 5th birthday Friday, April 10. Jann and 14 of her playmates enjoyed an afternoon of games and refreshments.
A surprise birthday party was given by Marguerite Rebekah’s Lodge on Tuesday night following the lodge meeting honoring their noble grand, Mrs. Ruby Emerson. The party was planned by Mrs. Beulah Luna, the lodge program leader.
75 Years Ago
April 26, 1939
Three St. Joseph, Missouri boys who Saturday afternoon held up and robbed a filling station here, had brief careers as stick-up men. Robbery of the Marion F. Yandell filling station a mile north of town led the three boys to the shadow of the Douglas County Jail. The three pleaded guilty to the robbery and Tuesday were taken by Sheriff Lincoln Barnes and Deputy Sheriff Lester Eslick to the penitentiary in Jefferson City. Tuesday morning Judge Robert L. Gideon in a special term of circuit court here assessed the minimum sentence of twelve years imprisonment on each of the three youths.
The formal announcement of the opening of the Kerr Motor Company and the Williamson-Duff One-Stop Service Station is in today’s paper. These new Ava business enterprises, which are to occupy the Harry Martin building, are to open for business Saturday, April 29, according to the announcement. Ralph Kerr, for many years a salesman for the Burdett Chevrolet Company, was this week named distributor for the Dodge-Plymouth cars in this district, and will operate his agency in the new building.
Saturday a new café opened in Ava under the management of Mrs. Willie James. This new café is located in the block north of the public square just north of the W & H Garage. Mrs. James has formerly been in the café business I Ava. She will continue to serve the weekly luncheon for the Ava Lions Club.
The ten high ranking students in the senior class as announced Tuesday are Ruby House, valedictorian; Mabel Mitchell, salutatorian; Opal Hibbard, Franklin Lichty, Allie Price, Ed Buckley, Wayne Jefferson, Ross Burke, Georgia Plumb and Lois Hodges. Miss Una Ellison, senior sponsor, announces a graduating class of eighty-two students.
The six high ranking students from the eighth grade were selected Friday. They are Delbert Roberts, valedictorian; Wanda Elliott, salutatorian; Glena Dell Cooper, Betty Jo Haskins, Robert Love and Harold Johnson. Mrs. Florence Garrison, Ava eighth grade teacher, expects approximately thirty pupils to graduate from her class this year.
And today the whole civilized world is waiting for Hitler’s answer to President Roosevelt’s plea for peace.
The old Peoples Bank building on the southwest corner of the square will be occupied next week after being remodeled. The building, which until a few weeks ago, was occupied by the Country Club Inn, has been partitioned off into two rooms. The east side of the building will be occupied by Russell Robertson, barber, and Dan Bushman’s shoe shop. The west side of the building will be occupied by a café to operated by Jess Ross, who recently sold his café in the Kyle Service Station.
100 Years Ago
May 7, 1914
Ava is on a little boom, and some good substantial improvements are being made, mostly in the way of sidewalks and streets at the present time. The street running north from the Opera House is being worked this week and put in good shape. There is also a plan to make a sidewalk from the Dr. Norman corner to Dr. Gentry’s lot and to the square.
Giving the Farm Girl Her Chance –– The movement in Missouri to raise a fund in every county to be loaned to ambitious farm boys, who want to attend the state college of agriculture, but cannot because of scant pocketbooks has been noted in previous issues of this publication. Now, because of the interest of a Missouri banker, the project may be extended to include farm girls.
A little kerosene will do a great deal of good in the poultry house. It will check lice and mites, and is a good remedy for throat troubles, as well.
FOR SALE –– One bureau $2.00, one cook stove and heater, $1.00; one stand table $1.00, one double barrel shot gun 12-gauge $5.00; one standard talking machine cost $25 and 36 records 50 cents each, will take $12.00. These can be seen at S. F. Ingrams.
SILVERTON CHAT –– We wish to compliment Ava on the addition of an ice plant. Already in our imagination we are feasting on ice cream, sherbets, other iced delicacies and frozen desserts made possible by a home supply of ice.
Workmen employed by Elmer Fernstrum, a local contractor, have some real “snake stories” to tell you if you are interested. The men have been quarrying stone from the bluff north of town, and near what is known as the “cold spring.” They report the slaughter of about fifty snakes mostly of the kind commonly known as “copper heads.” Most of the snakes are also said to be large fellows for the kind and the killing of five or more at a time is said to be very common. At any rate the snakes seem to be plentiful near town. – Houston Herald
An Ozark County woman who died near Dora a few days ago was the mother of twenty-four children.
Next Tuesday will be Election Day in Ava. We are to vote on the proposition of levying $1.00 on the hundred for school purposes. The increase in taxes won’t hurt any of us very badly. The rich are able to pay it, and the increase to the poor will be small. Let’s make it unanimous. Be a “yes” town.
Jos. V. Pitts has bought the Grandma Reynolds property in the northeast part of town and is arranging to re-model and re-build the old house and put it in first class shape for a modern home.
125 Years Ago
May 2, 1889
Sheriff Lyons took a day off on a fishing trip this week. Mack reports heaps of suckers in Beaver.
Dot Effie saddled her pony Tuesday and struck out for Bryant, and Miss Millie Harper in another direction, both having secured schools, propose to teach.
The man Summers, who was shot by A.H. Livingston, of West Plains, as reported in our last issue, died in about three hours after the shooting took place. The shooting is reported to have been done in self defense.
The jury in the case of the State vs J. Potter recently tried at West Plains, returned a verdict of guilty and assessed a punishment of two years in the penitentiary.
The rains and cool weather of Tuesday morning spoiled our picnic.
Capt. Turner, of Arno, one of the leading merchants of our county was visited on last Monday night by a burglar, who broke open a back window of his storeroom, through which he entered and proceeded to relieve the money drawers of their contents, which unfortunately for the Capt., contained some $25 or $30, having been left in them by the boys who were left to close the store. No clue to the guilty party.
It is reported upon good authority that during his stay in Christian County last week, Mr. T.J. Delaney obtained affidavits disclosing evidence of a most material character in behalf of his clients, the Knobbers. Rumor has it that the new facts would justify another trial.
It is said that more money has been spent by the united States government in the investigation of the diseases which affect swine than of those which affect the human species.
A Taunton, Mass., preacher has sued his church for salary. He was to receive 50 percent of all collections, but the fund has only amounted to 77 cents, and he claims he did not get his share of that.
Biggest Python in America –– “This fellow was caught by a sea captain in the Egyptian marshes. This is the only python in the United States. He is fourteen feet long and can jump his own length faster than you can snap your finger.”
The Czar of Russia is the politest man in Europe. He insists on having some one eat and drink before he does. It occasionally kills the other fellow.
During the Civil War 267 Union soldiers were executed for desertion.
The artesian well basin of Dakota supplies abundant water under a pressure of 140 pounds to the square inch from wells 1,165 feet deep.
Californians are beginning to think the dandelion a nuisance. A few years ago it was introduced from the east, and now it threatens to crowd out everything else.
