Looking Backward 8.28.2014
25 Years Ago
August 24, 1989
New teachers who began duties at the Ava R-1 Schools Wednesday morning on the first day of the 1989-90 term are Jim Pitts, Darrell Isaacs, Jesse Blevins, Gina Clinkingbeard, Cathy Wade, Barbi Hartley, Maxine Harrison, Marsha Aborn, Laura McGill and Karen Sellers. Additional new personnel this year are nurses Pat Sallee, Kathy Buchanan, and teacher Michael Murphy.
An Illinois man faces charges in three counties after a high-speed chase through Wright, Douglas and Ozark counties last Thursday afternoon. Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Middleton, Ava, said the chase began just south of Mansfield when Tpr. Rocky Seiner attempted to stop a 1977 Pontiac Firebird for a speeding violation. The driver, Brent Peavy, 18, Loves Park, Ill., ran from the trooper, reaching speeds of up to 110 miles per hour as he sped south from Mansfield on Highway 5.
Winners in the Ava Ladies League golf tournament held Aug. 20 at the Ava Country Club were: Champion Flight: 1. Sawyer and Welton, 67; 2. Bacorn and Bacorn, 75; and 3. Prince and Gardner, 76.
Returning lettermen on the Ava High School volleyball squad this year are junior Kathy Morphew, and seniors Michelle Allen and Jana Lumb.
Van Eugene Lawrence received a B.S. in Agricultural Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia on May 6. Van is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lawrence and graduated from Ava High school in 1984.
SWEDEN –– Mrs. Minnie Moss and Mrs. Alice Hancock visited last Monday evening with their niece, Mrs. Gladys Dobbs in Ava.
50 Years Ago
August 20, 1964
Final stages in planning for the 24th annual Douglas County Fair are being readied this week, and scheduled events give promise of attracting good crowds. The Fair will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Aug. 27, 28, and 29.
Two Theodosia residents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Kempe, were found stabbed to death Tuesday morning at their home. The bodies of Oscar Kempe, about 54 and his wife, Ruby, about 46, were found in the yard of their hilltop home near Lutie lookout tower about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Hershal Meyer, Ocie, a milk hauler for the Carnation plant in Ava, made the discovery when he arrived to pick up milk. Officers were looking for a young couple who were hitchhiking in the area. Officers said that Kempe had “put up quite a fight” before being stabbed.
Nine weapons, a .30 caliber ammunition box and assorted hand tools have been reported missing from the home of Earl Kelly, 13 miles southwest of Ava.
The August “Yard of the Month” has been designated as that of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Barnes, in northwest Ava, it was announced Tuesday by the Ava Garden Club.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Cornelison announce the birth of a son Sunday morning, Aug. 16 at 7 o’clock at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. He has been named Bernie Duane.
Ruth Havens Evans of Ava received a B.S. degree in Social Science at commencement exercises held Saturday night at Drury College, Springfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Gale Barnes were honored with a wedding shower Saturday night, July 31, at the home of Gale’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oren Barnes of Route 3, Ava.
Danny Johnson celebrated his 11th birthday at a party given by his grandmother, Mrs. Hubert Johnson, Wednesday, Aug. 5 at their country home south of Ava. Guests were Bob, Dennis, and Audine Lawson, Teresa, Terry, Jackie and Donna Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Johnson and Herbert Johnson.
Edward Kimbrough, 28, will be superintendent of schools at Dora, succeeding Clifford Holland, who resigned to become principal of the Perryville High School.
A 73-year-old lifetime resident of Douglas County, Manie Thomas Rippee of Route 2, Ava, fell dead while playing a game of checkers with friends in the furnace room of the Douglas County Courthouse. His death came at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
Drive a Rambler Classic V-8 Wagon. Year’s best savings on a best selling wagon! Live a little with your savings, choose from sporty options like reclining bucket seats, console, floor shift, power steering, power brakes, power windows, and lots more. Crain Auto Sale, Jct. Highways 14 & 5.
Johnny E. Goss entered Burge-Protestant Hospital in Springfield on Aug. 9 and the following day had nose surgery. On the same day three of his children, Brenda, Linda and Jim, had tonsillectomies.
75 Years Ago
August 24, 1939
Lloyd W. King, state superintendent of schools, has announced that Douglas County will receive approximately $53,486 the largest payment ever made in the August distribution of state funds for the support of public schools.
Names of streets and avenues in Ava no longer will be mysteries. This week members of the Ava Lions Club have been setting out street markers at intersections all over the city. The markers are vitreous enamel nameplates bolted to cedar and black gum posts.
Harry (Jerry) Pettit, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Pettit of Ava, has purchased Half-A-Hill located just outside Springfield on highways 60 and 65.
Mrs. Scott Power and children moved Sunday to Ava after living for the past year in Lebanon. When Mr. Power returned to Ava she again took possession of the Cottage Hotel which she formerly operated. The hotel was vacated last week by Mr. and Mrs. Asa Potter who have lived there during Mrs. Power’s absence. The Potters moved back to their farm south of Ava.
Ava High School bus No. 4 was sold this week by Sam Hart to Fred Robertson, who will operate the bus during the coming school year.
Miss Una Ellison returned to Ava last Wednesday after spending two months in New York City where she attended Columbia University.
Enrollment of students in Ava High School for the 1939-40 term will take place Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The first day of school will be Monday, September 4.
RIPPEE –– Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Nell and family and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Lakey and family moved last week from Vera Cruz community to Shingle Hollow.
RIPPEE CREEK –– Virgil Davis is building a new chicken house on his farm. Ed Sherrill is helping with the carpenter work.
John Goodman and family have moved from Cora Porter farm to a house belonging to Orby Porter near Girdner.
ROME –– Mr. and Mrs. Austin Osborne moved last Saturday to their new home at Smallett. Mr. Osborne teaches one room of the Walnut Grove School. Mrs. Osborne will be remembered in this community as Miss Orlean Huffman.
Mrs. Lowell Hartley gave a party at her home Monday afternoon for her daughter, Annitta Lee, who was seven years old. Those present were: Annitta Lee Hartley, Mary Ann Burdett, Catherine Reynolds, Mollie Sue Banta, Betty Cameron, Gaylene Cooper, Iris Ann Lachmund, Mickey and Betty Gay, Patsy Fletcher, Robert McKinney, John Robert and Eddie Parker, Junior Brown, Jerry Rowe, Jimmie Silvey and Douglas Hartley.
100 Years Ago
September 3, 1914
A few of the most enthusiastic teachers of our county met at the Ava High School building and had a very helpful meeting. The culminating feature of the association was the discussion by Emmet Yeoman of the subject “Geography and its Relation.” If we had a few more such teachers who would devote time to preparation of their subject, our meetings would have known a new awakening. There are three grades of society –– the high, the low and the intermediate. A glass of water is a fair illustration of the three grades. The scum floats on top, the dregs settle to the bottom, while the pure stands between the two.
Peach canning is the vocation of the day and most of us are blessed with a general supply of the juicy, red-cheeked delicacies.
BIGGS ITEMS –– The “hustlers” of Biggs played a nine at Drury chosen from the Vanzant, Buckhart, Champion and Drury nines and yet the hustlers carried off the scores while the “Combinate Tigers” carried off the goose eggs. The game was five to eleven, in favor of the Hustlers of course.
A merry-crowd charivaried Mr. and Mrs. Nick Davis at the home of Ben Heard last Wednesday.
George Freeman and family have moved from Uncle John Freeman’s property and Uncle John is back with us again. Here is a hearty welcome.
SILVER SHADE ITEMS – The table committee got nice fresh bread from the bakery at Ava. The people of Ava have a right to be proud of their bakery such nice bread is a credit to any town.
Just because some guy may have a “gift for gab” is no reason why he has any right to cause his hearers agony just to consume time and give his gab exercise.
DRURY ITEMS –– Mr. Herman Hearst and Delpha Dobbs came up to see Rev. Sampsons and were announced man and wife. We wish them a long and pleasant journey down life’s highway.
In reference to the war situation in the East, they are still fighting to beat the band, without any special decisive battle. Germany’s invasion of France continues and it seems that they will eventually capture Paris.
School begins at the Ava High School next Monday. Parents get your children in on the first day and keep them there. Better education means better boys and girls, better boys and girls means better citizenship.
125 Years Ago
August 29, 1889
Yesterday evening Deputy United States Marshals Graves and Roper brought in from Douglas County James Coats, charged with charging more than the legal fee for obtaining a pension, and Patrick Callaway and Alert Riley, charged with making false affidavits in connection with an application for a pension. The men were arrested at Vera Cruz, Douglas County.
Constable Simon Lakey has again gone east, this time with a pair of warrants and blood in his eyes. If he makes a good draw he will bring home the game.
Painters are at work on Miller’s new store building, and when they finish up their work it will be a dandy.
Clerk Martin has issued the following marriage licenses: G. W. Smallwood and Susan A. Bancroft; R. W. Lender and Josephine Hunsaker.
J.A.G. Reynolds is having the foundation laid for a big barn on his land east of town. He intends to build a dwelling or an addition his present dwelling right away.
Dr. Harper was called to set a broken leg for George King living beyond Beaver. Mr. King was hauling piling when the chain broke letting the pile fall on his leg, crushing it badly.
From the amount of lumber passing through town we judge that the farmers are preparing to build new graineries, cribs and more commodious buildings generally. A large crop of all kinds of grains gives them a new impetus –– they feel like spreading out.
A Grand Army, Sons of Veterans and Women’s Relief Corps reunion will be held three miles east of Seymour, Sept. 6th and 7th, 1889. Prominent speakers will address the crowd, among them the Hon. R. W. Fyan, Col. J.P. Tracey, and Congressman Wade. A big time is in anticipation.
Sheriff Lyons and deputies are now traversing the hills and valleys of Douglas County, hunting criminals, witnesses and defendants for next term circuit court, which convenes 23rd September.
A careful compilation from all known statistics places the number of the human family living today at about 1,130,000,000. In Asia there are 800,000,000 or an average of 120 to the square mile; in Europe, 320,000,000 averaging 100 to the square mile, and in Africa 210,000,000. In the new world, both North and South America, there are but 119,000,000 relatively thinly seated. In the islands, large and small, 10,000,000. The extremes of the white and black are as five and three, and the remaining 700,000,000 are intermediate, brown and tawny.
FOUND –– Near the residence of J.A.G. Reynolds, a set of false teeth. The owner can recover the same on payment of charges. Inquire at the Herald office.
