Looking Backward 2.11.2016
25 Years Ago
February 7, 1991
Jean’s Healthway moved to a new location at 1016 North Jefferson and is now serving the public from a completely remodeled facility that provides the business with almost twice the floor space as the previous location. The block building has been remodeled, with new heating, lighting and plumb-ing, as well as a new interior design.
The Ava High School Bears set two school scoring records here last Friday night and took a 110-47 South Central Association win from the Cabool Bulldogs. Ava senior forward Danny Schnieder scored 33 points in the first half of that ball game and played just enough in the second half to establish a new individual AHS scoring record with 41 point. The Bears also set a new school record for the most points scored in a single game here Friday night. The 110-point explosion was five points better than the previous high set in 1975-76 when the Bears scored 105 points against Norwood.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lawrence will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Richard Lawrence and Inice Maggard were married at Highlonesome on Feb. 9, 1941 by Rev. John H. Shine.
The new cafeteria, gymnasium and multi-purpose building at Plainview R-8 School is located just to the north of the existing school building. The PTO will host an open house in the new facility Friday night.
Robert D. Rathbun, principal at Ava School, announced today that David B. Davidson, a 1991 senior, has been named to finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Dottie and Shorty Robertson were honored by KY3 television station Friday, congratulating them on their 56th wedding anniversary. The Robertsons raised 11 of their own children, and four grandchildren.
50 Years Ago
February 3, 1966
A blanket of ice and snow held a firm grip on the Ava area during the first of the week with downtown business at a virtual standstill and traffic moving at a slow pace. Low readings of five to 10 below zero were recorded here Friday night causing the freezing of many water lines.
Bretney Sims, agent for New American Life Insurance Company, went to Columbia Saturday, Jan. 22, to participate in the State Agents Meeting.
Miss Heather House and Gene Holman, who were vacationing in Ava during the between-semester-vacation at Southwest Missouri State College in Springfield, were in Joplin Saturday evening and attended the wedding of her Alpha Delta Pi sorority sister, Miss Sharon Long and Carl Preston.
Norbert Streight and his brother, Gary, drove to Waynesville Sunday and visited with their brother, Pvt. Rodney Streight, who is now undergoing Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. On the trip to the Fort the Streight brothers were accompanied by Jim Stafford, by Harlin Schmiedeskamp with whom Pvt. Streight formerly worked, and by Richard Dye.
Mr. and Mrs. Audie Posey of Route 1, Ava, announce the engagement of their daughter, Linda Faye, to Tony Dale Stillings, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Stillings of Route 3, Ava.
Mr. and Mrs. Vance Moore and children, Michelle, Vona Jane and Mary Susan, entertained with a 5:30 o’clock buffet dinner Sunday evening, Jan. 30, in their home at 621 NE 5th Avenue, in honor of Miss Linda Pettit and Ensign Lewis Felton. Completing the guest list were Mr. and Mrs. Bill Pettit and children, Susie and Robert, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Pettit, Marsha and Bruce, and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hart.
The daughter of a former area couple was featured in the Feb. 8 issue of Look magazine. Lisa Berry, six-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Berry of Kansas City, was featured in a story concerning student doctors. Mrs. Berry is the former Carolyn Follis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Follis of Route 5, Ava. She is a graduate of Ava High School. Mr. Berry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ferrell Berry of Brixey, is a graduate of Dora High School.
Mrs. Lou Prince hostessed a regular meeting of the Thursday Afternoon Bridge Club on Jan. 29, when she entertained at her home in the Sunrise Hill addition. Following the afternoon of Progressive contract (bridge), prizes were presented to Mrs. Clinton Maloney and Mrs. Carl Faszholz. Members attending were Mrs. Vernon Jackson, Mrs. Fred Lethco, Jr., Mrs. Cloine Pettit, Mrs. Harlan House and Mrs. Cleo Cooper.
75 Years Ago
February 6, 1941
Women Asked To Sew At Home For Victims of War –– The cooperation of the National Needlecraft Bureau and 22,000 Good Housekeeping Clubs has pledged to the American Red Cross to enlist support of all the nation’s needlewomen in making garments for children victims of the war.
With the raccoon tags all in, the Missouri Conservation Commission is able, for the first time in history, to tabulate accurately the net results of an open season. A count of the ‘coon tags, each of which represents a ‘coon taken, reveals that hunters and trappers took a total of 10,000 raccoons during the one month open season in December.
Thirty-five schools in Douglas County this year are operating lunch programs in which foodstuffs from the surplus marketing administration are use. Surplus food stuffs are purchased by the surplus marketing administration as a means of stabilizing farm markets, and these products are then donated to states for distributed.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gentry of Ava announce the birth of a daughter, Shirley Sue, Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Carter of Route 4 announce the birth of a daughter Tuesday morning, Feb. 4, at the home of Mrs. Carter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Thompson south of Ava.
Rev. C. J. Garrett of Ava is conducting revival services at Seymour this week and next, under auspices of the Nazarene Church.
A group of Ava High School boys belonging to the Future Farmers Association and their instructors Ross Brown and J.A. McKinney went to Mansfield Friday evening and played in two basketball games. The nine boys from Ava were victorious in both games. The boys who made the trip were: Edward Brixey, Marvin Barnes, Howard Alderson, John Pawley, Dale Gentry, Dale Haynes, J.P. Hancock, Charles Davis and J.G. Heinlein.
Lee Alcorn and Bernice Lakey were married Saturday at the home of Roy Bennett south of town with the Rev. John Silvey officiating at the ceremony. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Lakey, Route 4, Ava, and the groom is a son of Dallas Alcorn of Roy.
A group of young people who meet each month and enjoy a social evening together met Tuesday at the Lions Den and spent an informal evening playing games. The party was given in compliment to Paul Barker who recently celebrated his 17th birthday. Refreshments were served to the following group: Nadine Evans, Mary May Haden, Evelyn Bacorn, Letty June Jenkins, Helen and Mary Wiggins, Delta Barker, Betty Norman, Eva Belle Rowe, Darlene Summers, Lucille Haskins, Jimmy Jones, Roy Kelley, Royce Waters, Arthur Meeker, Max Norman, Eugene Clinkingbeard, Bob Pettit, Virgil Ellis, Jack Yeoman, Bill Pettit, Paul Barker and Miss Colleen Armantrout.
100 Years Ago
February 10, 1916
About 850 cities in the United States have adopted the commission form of government and almost unanimously have found it more successful than the old mayor and council form. Here are some of the ways in which the cities report the commission plan superior to the old form: It acts instead of deliberates. It investigates instead of refers. It is always in session. It represents the people not a predominating party or faction. Capable men, with the liberty given them, are glad to serve on the commission.
It costs 97 of the 114 counties of Missouri nearly half a million dollars yearly to maintain their almshouses and that there are from two to four times as many men as women in the almshouse. The almshouse population of the state is 3,013, the city of St. Louis leading with 789, and Jackson County, which includes Kansas City, being second with 353.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Hailey of west of town are the proud parents of a baby girl, born last Sunday.
James Thompson, and son, J. B. Thompson, of Yuma, Ariz., have bought the Ava Grocery Company. J.B. Thompson is at present holding a government position in Yuma, which he will give up and come to Ava in a few months.
$100.00 Reward is offered for evidence sufficient to convict any party or parties connected with the burning of Wm. Philpot’s barn near Depew on Sunday, Jan. 2, 1916. W.J. Spurlock, Sheriff Douglas Co.
- M. Curnutt started repair work on the King building on the east side of the square this week.
T.L. Plummer and assistants have been in Mansfield assisting in the repair work on the Mansfield end of the telephone system.
East Ava Canning Company is meeting with fair success in securing tomato contract for the season of 1916. Below is a list of the names of our citizens that have recently signed contracts with the company: M.I Nisley, T.W. Carter, P.D.A. Davis, W.H. Hicks, E.M. Bellows, T.M. Story, J.O. Briggs, Oscar W. Conklin, Cole Miller, Fred Stewart, W.H. Boudinot, Allen Yandell, M.F. Yandell, Frank Heimeyer and Henderson Osborn.
LAKEY ITEMS –– The Stork visited Mr. and Mrs. Corbin Brown Saturday night and left a 6-pound girl.
125 Years Ago
February 12, 1891
J.M. Officer, the gentlemen? Who robbed Capt. Turner’s store about a year ago, and Wm. Sprague, who is charged with murdering an old man in Oregon County, overpowered the jailer of the Christian County jail at Ozark, Mo., last Friday evening and made their escape, as also did one Bledsoe of Christian County. Officer and Sprague were recaptured a few miles west of Ozark Saturday evening; they had been out in the rain the night before and were chilled through and nearly exhausted. Sprague had a revolver. Officer has escaped twice before, and is a slippery one, and the sooner he is safe within the penitentiary walls, the better.
LONDON, Feb. 10 –– Berlin dispatches state that the German authorities are pushing forward military preparations with a rapidity and earnestness unexampled in many years. Two hundred artisans have been added to the number employed in the powder works at Spandau and the works are run day and night in the production of smokeless powder. The kaiser has come to the conclusion that smokeless powder shall be exclusively used in the German Army, although he is not satisfied that the manufacture has been brought to complete perfection.
The boomers who are reported to be invading the Sac and Fox and Iowa reservations might as well save themselves considerable trouble and expense by remaining out until the lands are formally open to settlement. Allotments to the Indians must be made before the lands can be opened.
Missouri is being celebrated for its fine distilleries and remarkable mineral springs.
No negotiations for a reciprocity arrangement between the United States and Mexico are “on” now. Apparently this country is waiting for Mexico to take the initiative.
Arkansas excuses itself from appropriating any money for a World’s Fair exhibit on the ground that its Treasurer absconded with $24,000.
Some “First” Things –– The first geographical map of England was made in the year 1529. … The first dictionary was compiled by Paout-She, a learned Chinaman, who lived in the year 1109 B.C. … The first voyage around the world was made by the Vittoria, a ship that formed part of the expedition, which sailed under Magellan in 1519. … Woolen cloth was first made in England in the year 1331, though it was known in Oriental countries since time out of memory; it was neither dyed nor dressed in England until the year 1667.
Whenever you hear a man say that all men are alike, it is an apology for some very contemptible scoundrel.
Brigham Young was not as wealthy when he died as was reported. He left just $1,200,000 and this sum was divided according to the strictest laws of equity among 18 wives and their children.
Marriage, like fire, follows a spark.
The people who use religion as a cloak will not need anything as heavy as a cloak to keep them warm in the next world.
