Looking Backward 12.17.2015
25 Years Ago
December 13, 1990
Wanda Lou Bautts was recently named winner of the Award of Excellence in the area of the arts at an annual Rogers (Ark.) Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast. Mrs. Bautts, a singer, was recognized for her “dedication to expanding cultural opportunities” for area residents, as well as her “commitment and boundless energy,” according to the Rogers Daily News.
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Everett (Sonja) are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Whitney Lane, born Nov. 26 at Cox south Hospital in Springfield.
Preston and Shannen Dobbs wish to announce the birth of their little sister, Amanda MaRae born Dec. 7 at Cox South Hospital at 6:56 a.m.
The Ava High School Bears lost two games during the past week and fell to 2-4 on the season. But Coach Jess Blevins has one message he wants to get across to his players. He is not disappointed with them.
M.Sgt. Randy Reid, who has been stationed at Scott Air Force Base, came to Ava Thursday last week to visit his mother, Bonnie Reid. M.Sgt. Reid was being transferred and when he left Ava Saturday he went to Philadelphia for the night and Sunday joined others for Incirlik Air Force Base in Adana, Turkey.
NORWOOD – Norwood School conducted its first earthquake drill on Tuesday.
GENTRY-RAINBOW RIDGE – Recent visitors of the J.K. Flynns were George Welker, Vernon Johnson, and Ada Mae and Raymond Hargis. Goldie Walker and Neva Piland visited Dorothy Haynes.
RED BUD VILLAGE – Willene Adams enjoyed going to the school program Friday to watch her grand-daughter, Jennifer Adams, perform, and then on Saturday to watch her son, Howard Adams, play volleyball.
50 Years Ago
December 9, 1965
The newly-organized Adult Basketball League goes into its fifth week of play Monday night with the Oldtimers undefeated, and the Troopers with only one defeat which was lodged against them last Monday night by the Oldtimers. Six teams have been formed in the league with over 50 local men making up the teams.
The Ava Chamber of Commerce met in its regular monthly session last Thursday evening at the American Legion Hall. Claud Gaulding, president, presided. Lloyd Weast, owner and operator of the Ava Motel, was elected president of the organization. Other officers are Don Victor, vice president; Charles E. Cagle, secretary; and Carl Henley, treasurer. In other action, President Gaulding appointed a three-man Airport Committee composed of Harry Stafford, Willard Pueppke and Dr. Robert Sample.
Miss Marsha Pettit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Pettit of Ava, was crowned “Miss Merrie Christmas” here last Wednesday afternoon following the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade.
The Ava Bears went down fighting to an unbeaten Bradley-ville team Tuesday night in an overtime period, 75-73. Bradley-ville boosted its record to 10 wins for the season with the Bears recording their fourth straight loss with no wins.
Two license plates for each car, issued yearly –– that’s what might be in the offing for Missouri motorists. Governor Warren E. Hearnes is in favor of such a proposal and there’s a good chance it will become law, if some of the bugs can be worked out.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Buchanan visited Sunday evening in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Neil Stillings and children, Arliss and Jennifer, when they helped Jennifer celebrate her fourth birthday, which would be Monday, Dec. 7.
Mrs. Vernon Jackson hostessed a regular meeting of the Thursday Afternoon Bridge Club in her home on Nov. 18. Following the play high score prizes were presented to Mrs. Cleo Cooper and Mrs. Harlan House and the consolation gift was won by Mrs. Fred Lethco, Jr. Other members attending with the prize winners were Mrs. Clinton Maloney and Mrs. Lou Prince, and playing as guests were Mrs. Everett Davis and Mrs. Aileene Barnes.
BASHER –– Mack Miller, Earnie Cook, Hugh Morris, and Eldon Bice visited Sunday evening with Bernard Deatherage.
EVANS –– Minnie Moss and Bertha Uhlmann had dinner at Rockbridge Wednesday.
MURRAY –– A Mr. Walker has bought the Virgil Plumb place.
75 Years Ago
December 12, 1940
Santa Claus visited Ava Wednesday and supervised the distribution of 2,660 packages of candy to boys and girls and a few grownups who came to see him. Because the day was rainy there was no parade as planned, and Santa met the children in the school auditorium. The entire auditorium was jammed and packed with youngsters who clapped and shouted in delight when Santa entered ringing a big bell and with small bells jingling at his knees and wrists.
Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Swearengin and Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Swearengin, living near the Christian County line two miles west of West Dogwood, were arrested Sunday on charges of poisoning Mack Swearengin, 69, father of the two men charged. The elder Mr. Swearengin, a prosperous farmer, died November 1 in a Springfield hospital, and officers here said that a physician at the hospital said there was evidence of carbolic acid about the man’s mouth and throat. Sheriff Lincoln M. Barnes made the arrests Sunday morning while the men were feeding. Roscoe Swearengin is said to be 40 years old, his brother 38. Their wives are said to be sisters. They were charged with first degree murder in the court of Justice of the Peace J.E. Reeves.
All questionnaires that will be sent out tot registrants for selective service before the first of the year now have been sent, according to W. I. Barker, clerk of the local draft board, and all the answered blanks are expected back in the board’s office by Saturday. The first man sent from Douglas County for training in the Army, Lewis Merill McDonald, 22, of Ava, was rejected because of a defective left eye. Jesse Graham, 23, also of Ava, number two volunteer, was sent early last week and was accepted for service in the Army. He is a son of Sam Graham and had county order number 445.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wood of Ava announce the birth of a son, Jerry Roy, Thursday, Dec. 5.
Oliver Jackson and Lorene Singleton were married at Hartville Nov. 27. Mrs. Jackson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Singleton and Mr. Jackson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Jackson.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hutchison announce the birth of an 8-pound son, Tuesday evening, Dec. 10.
SQUIRES –– Wedding bells have been ringing in this community for Miss Ruby Parson and Cecil Clark, Miss Iva Degase and Cecil Turner.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Harley and son, Jerry, moved Saturday to their new home on Webster Street. The Harleys recently purchased this property from Mr. and Mrs. Homer Cudworth who moved early this month to Springfield where they have established a home at 407 New Street.
GOODHOPE –– The Goodhope School children are planning to go to town Wednesday to the parade and to see Santa Claus. There will be a Christmas program at the schoolhouse on Christmas Eve.
100 Years Ago
December 23, 1915
An unidentified person stepped from behind the corner of “Uncle” Bob Clinkingbeard’s residence about six o’clock last Friday evening as Mr. Clinkingbeard was returning from his barn and fired at “Uncle” Bob with a shot gun. The shot penetrated the smoke house just opposite the intended victim, and as described to us, could have only missed him by a few inches.
A meeting was held at the courthouse Tuesday night at which the temporary organization of a Swanger For Governor Club was formed by electing Chas. H. Coble temporary chairman and Ira Mitchell temporary secretary. Since organizing the club, a large number of voters have expressed a desire to become members and a meeting has been set for Jan. 4 at which time the organization will be perfected and new members enrolled.
Along the Ava Forsythe inter county seat highway near the Willis Harris place near Roy, the good roads movement is still being pushed. The following enterprising farmers started the work on Monday, Dec. 13, and worked portionately until the job was done: John and Geo. Turner, Art Smith, Willis and Joe Harris, R. O. Richards and Mr. Toothman and son. A drainage was made of concrete tiling. The roadbed along the Harris hillside was lowered considerably and a fill made at the foot of the hill.
State Highway survey from Ava in Douglas County to the Texas County line was finished Tuesday.
PLEASANT HILL –– Mr. and Mrs. V.R. Abel are the proud parents of a new baby boy born Dec. 6th.
An eagle, a rare bird in this section, was shot near Mammoth, Ozark County recently, and by the time the tenderfoot had gotten through with his embellishments, the story recited that eagles had destroyed over $1,000 worth of livestock within three weeks, when in fact, few people in the Ozarks ever saw an eagle outside a cage, and there probably haven’t been ten eagles killed in Ozark County in as many years and the occasional small pig, lamb and chicken carried off, and that is the extent of their depressions which won’t amount to $100 in ten years. If these romancers would feature the good things of the Ozarks, and they are numerous, and leave out the “Wild Men”, “Blue Man,” “Cave Man,” the dreadful wild animals and other creatures that exist only in the lurid imaginations of purse-pinched penny a liners, would be settlers would not be frightened out of settling in this civilized community…
Bring your furs to east Ava, and I will give you as much or more for them than you can get from any other buyer. Carl Hitchcock.
Roy School recently installed the first modern heating and ventilating system in the county. A special flue, 12×16 inside, was built in such manner that the cold foul air is drawn out of the room, while the heating plant draws in volumes of fresh air from the outside, heats it and distributes it over the entire room, thus keeping the room at an even temperature and the children comfortable.
125 Years Ago
December 18, 1890
The King of the Hawaii Islands is negotiating for the sale of his Kingdom to the United States.
During October past, 36,567 immigrants came to this country against 30,051 in October 1889. Germany supplied 10,119; England and Wales 6,111; Ireland 4,677, Italy 6,399; Sweden and Norway 4,012; Hungary 2,512; and Poland 1,282.
NEW YORK Dec. 10 –– Over $3,000,000 in gold started from Europe this week for New York, by the steamship Majestic. This gold will tend very strongly to relieve the money stringency in this country, the extent of which was shown yesterday, when the rates of money advanced to ¼ percent and interest for no apparent cause except fear on the part of capitalists. The money market has been on the verge of a general panic for weeks past.
Last Thursday a week ago the Marshall left Rolla to go to a point 40 miles south of Rolla, in Texas County, after some illicit whiskey distillers and expected to be back in two days. He was next heard of on the third day after his departure through a boy who rode in to Rolla and announced that the Marshall had been found in a tie camp with his head cut off, as if done with a board axe.
SQUIRES – Turkey and venison has graced several tables since the snow fell.
The cyclone is anything but a building, but it can raze a house quicker than any carpenter.
In describing a newly invented typewriter –– one that can be held in the lap –– the patentee neglects to say whether or not she is pretty.
The Ava Normal School is in a flourishing condition, and the membership rapidly growing.
Attention is called to the new Bradleyville Normal School, located at Bradleyville, Taney Co., Mo. Prof. R.E. Morris, who is the Principal of the new school, is well known in this county as a thorough and efficient instructor, and we hope his efforts to build up the new school may be suitable rewarded.
Frank Curnutt’s sugars, fine white and brown, which he is selling at prices way down and in quantities too, that will surely sweeten the town. Curnutt’s raisins are large and fine, don’t fail to buy for the Christmas time.
Santa Claus’ headquarters is at the Post Office.
Another Democratic Treasurer has gone wrong. The State Treasurer of Arkansas is $67,000 short in his accounts.
Kansas City is infested with night prowlers, highwaymen and burglars. Every night some citizen is held up and robbed at the muzzles of revolvers, and thieving of all sorts is going on. The police, as usual are put to their wits’ ends and still they have captured none of the desperate men. Last night the Armourdale post office was entered, the safe blown open and about $1,000 in stamps and money taken.
