Looking Backward
25 years ago
Ava’s new postmaster, Dave Graham, arrived on the scene last Friday and immediately assumed charge of the local facility. Graham, 44, is a veteran employee of the U.S. Postal Service, having filled various roles in the system from that of letter carrier to supervisor over some 450 offices throughout southern Missouri. Postal Clerk Kirk Dooms, who has served as officer-in-charge at the Ava Post Office will remain on the local Postal Service staff and will return to clerk status.
Doris E. Pinckney, of Wasola, was presented a 20-year Length of Service Award recently by Karl Sieczynski, National Weather Service Cooperative Program manager for Missouri. The weather observation program has been in the Pinckney family since the station was established in 1940. Those weather watchers include Austin Pinckney, 1940-1965; Richard and Doris Pinckney 1965-1972; and Doris Pinckney, 1972-1993.
The large oak tree in the yard of the Sam Phillips home on East Highway 76 was demolished by a lightning strike that accompanied a thunderstorm through the area early Tuesday morning.
Leon Anderson of Squires, a charter member of the Highway Church of the Nazarene, was honored last Sunday evening with a special dedication service on his behalf. A recently constructed softball field at the church, located five miles north of Ava on Old Highway 5, was named on Anderson’s behalf and the field was dedicated during a special Labor Day picnic.
Six-year old Courtney Degase, Squires, took the first place trophy Saturday, Sept. 4, at the 15th “World Series of Fiddling” in Langely, Okla.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Frye will mark their 60th wedding anniversary Sept. 16.
The Ava High School Bears dominated the Marshfield Blue Jays in Webster County last Friday night and claimed a 33-6 non-conference win in the season opener for both teams.
All male dance revue is coming to Ava! Elite Male featured on Sally Jesse Raphael will be in Ava Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Southfork Amvets #166, 919 South Jefferson. See Mr. Missouri 1991 bodybuilding champion, and international male & GQ magazine model.
Holly LaNa Stillings, daughter of Lawrence Ray and Eva Stillings, and Danny Gene Watson, son of Delmas and Ilene Watson, were united in marriage Saturday, June 26, at two o’clock in the afternoon at Walnut Grove General Baptist Church with the Rev. Nolan Carrier officiating.
50 years ago
State Trooper Bill Davis of Ava will be promoted to the rank of corporal with the Missouri State Highway Patrol effective Sept. 1, according to Lt. W.L. Hutchings, commander of Troop G. Trooper Davis will remain in Ava.
Record attendance at the county fair this year. Total gate receipts for the four-day period were $2,887.16 compared to last year’s total of $2,828.96.
Winners in the Amateur Talent Contest Saturday afternoon were Everett Wayne and Richard Coy, first; Howard Hale, Bob Crutcher and Donna Hale, second; and David Asher, third.
A decrease of 45 students was recorded this week in the Ava public schools as principals tallied enrollment statistics after the first three days of classes which began Monday. Figures compiled by the three principals show a total enrollment of 1,620 students in the 12 grades, as compared to 1665 at the same time last year.
The Rev. and Mrs. Marvin Wray celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with an open house at their home in the Rainbow Ridge Subdivision Sunday, August 25.
Mrs. Emma Dewhirst, a nursing home resident and a native of Douglas County, observed her 100th birthday recently. She is an aunt of Mrs. Roma Cummins and Mrs. Ruby Mackey of Ava.
Clinton Beach of Almartha, special education teacher in the Gainesville High School, was one of the graduating class of 73 who received their Master of Education degrees at the summer commencement exercises at Drury College August 10.
Lon C. Penner of Vanzant has retired after 46 years of teaching, mostly in the rural schools of eastern Douglas Douglas. For the past seven years he has been principal of Skyline R-2 school.
Holiday specials at Ava Dept. Store, catawampus to Richard Bros. Lead the way in shoes for fall styles, colors, and prices, ladies washable tennis shoes, canvas casuals, choose from four colors and white, $1.98 pair; Hi Brows loafers, $7.98 pair; as seen on TV, Hot Wheels by Mattel cars, just 88¢; and men’s Hanes turtlenecks, $3.99 each.
Miss Jane Hodges, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Hodges of Ava, Star Route, enplaned in Springfield Monday enroute to St. Louis to meet her friend, Miss Mary Ann Baker, of St. Louis who was to accompany her on a flight to Washington, D.C. The two young women made the three-day stay in Washington an educational sightseeing trip as they made guided tours through the National Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial and Smithsonian Institution.
Clinton Gaston of the Kerr-Gaston Chevrolet and Oldsmobile Co. of Ava was elected by popular vote of the dealers in District 10 to serve as one of the members of the zone dealer council for the coming year.
Ava attorney James E. Curry was re-elected to his post as state Republican committeeman from the 7th congressional district at a meeting Tuesday in Mt. Vernon.
75 years ago
County Agent Clyde Clubb, commenting that the crop situation is pretty serious because of dry weather, Wednesday suggested the marketing of low producing cows so that available feed can go to higher producing cows and rigid culling of chickens to cut feed requirements.
There will be a school lunch program this year, Superintendent C.W. Parker announced, with the program being supervised by Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Buchanan, who supervised school lunches at Bradleyville last year. Details of the lunch program have not all been worked out yet, pending word concerning government aid. Lunches will be served for 15 cents.
The mystery about a woman-chasing church leader is whether he thinks he is fooling anybody – and if so, who is it?
In Britain, about 150,000 tons of timber, salvaged from bombed buildings, have been refinished and made into crates and boxes for important war uses.
A private citizen recently was paid $400 when she brought a triple damage suit against a retailer for overcharging her two cents on each of four dozen eggs. The settlement was made out of court.
MT. TABOR –– Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Barnes and their house guest, Mrs. A.J. Daily, motored to Licking Thursday last week and took Mrs. Barnes mother, Mrs. C.H. Daily, to her home there.
SANDY –– A picnic on Lake Taneycomo was enjoyed Sunday by Mr. and Mrs. Leo Horner and daughter, Ruth Ann, Mr. and Mrs. Quinton Hodges and son, Bobbie, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hodges and daughter, Miss Janet Shrum and Miss Ora Horner.
GIRDNER –– Corporal Herbert Porter left Tuesday night for Tampa, Florida after spending his furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Porter. A group of friends and relatives met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Porter Monday night and gave an ice cream supper in honor of their son.
An ice cream supper was given Friday night in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Call in honor of their son, Wayne, who is home on furlough.
DORA –– Dale Lawson was quite ill from infection on his heel but was able to return to school this week.
PETTIT’S THEATRES –– Program at the Avalon “Palm Beach Story” Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallee. It’s a top comedy, sophisticated, but funny. It’s about a wife who forgot she was married. Program at the Star “Who Done It?” Abbot and Costello the two biggest screwball comedians in the world, will keep you laughing, all the way through this wonderful picture. Even if you don’t like pictures, you should see this one.
100 Years Ago
All men in the United States from 18 to 45 years of age, except those in the army or navy or already registered are summoned by the government to register for military service on September 12.
Rube Graham and Earnest Forrest, deserters from Camp Dodge, Iowa came to Ava about 1:00 o’clock Tuesday morning and gave themselves up to Sheriff Wm. Miller. Graham and Forrest deserted from Camp Dodge on July 3, and returned to the vicinity of their homes 18 miles southeast of here, where they have been hiding and dodging the officials.
The country around Sparta, Ozark and vicinity was visited by a cyclone Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock, when a great funnel shaped cloud appeared from the southwest and swept over an area of a quarter of a mile wide. A heavy rain fell for over minutes. Residents of Sparta reported it was the worst storm that they had ever experienced.
Miss Erma Johnston of Topaz left last evening for Ravenwood, Mo., where she will teach the coming school term.
Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Curry entertained at dinner Tuesday evening, Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Reynolds, Mrs. Clara Gentry and son Chas. and Miss Myrtle Curnutt.
Miss Ranie Miller resigned her position as bookkeeper for the Citizens Bank last week and has accepted a similar position with the Bank of Ava. J.H. McMurtrey will be the new Cashier at the Citizens Bank to take the place of C.G. Blair who goes in the draft to Camp McArthur, Texas, this week; and LeRoy Swegart will be the new bookkeeper.
Arthur McDaniel has resigned his position as deputy county clerk and will depart next week for Missoula, Montana, where he has a position with a railroad.
Jno. W. Byng has resigned his position as General Manager for the KCO&S Ry. The resignation is the result of an effort to curtail the expenses of the road.
The war news from the eastern front these days is bad news for the German people. Quotations from German newspapers portray the gloom that overhangs the people in the large cities.
Sugar bowls have been banished from American dining cars. A traveler is served his portion of sugar and no more.
Firing across the Mexican border was resumed here about 8:55 o’clock tonight. Between fifteen and twenty shots were fired from the Mexican side. A general alarm was sounded on the Arizona side of the international line and the mobilization of troops and civilians followed immediately.
One more wedding before Uncle Sam calls the boys. Arthur Willard, prominent, well-known citizen, won the hand of one of Douglas County’s best teachers, Miss Bessie Cunningham.
125 Years ago
The county fairs in Missouri this year were well attended.
St. Louis is the headquarters of cremation in Missouri.
The Mississippi is getting low and business on it lower.
The Missouri industrial home for girls is well spoken of.
The only steam plow in Missouri is in operation near Boonville.
The number of dogs in Hannibal is estimated at from 1,500 to 2,500. Taxes are paid on 500.
Seven thousand pounds of lead were hoisted in two hours from a recently opened shaft in Joplin.
Two men dressed 875 chickens at Marshall in one day, not counting two watermelons and two dozen roasting ears that were cleaned at the noon hour.
The Whiskey trust is reported to be hard pressed for money with which to pay rebates.
The Mansfield High School, a thorough teachers training school, will open its winter term January 9, 1893. The managers have secured the services of C.L. Bennett, B.Sc., of the language department of the Bryant & Stratton College, St. Louis, who is a thorough and experienced teacher. For particulars concerning board and tuition, address C.L. Bennett, principal or Jesse Roote, secretary, Mansfield, Mo.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad has decided upon a ten percent reduction of salaries of employees receiving more than $130 per month.
The striking longshoremen of New York have returned to work at the old prices.
Ten thousand descendants of John Smith met at New Jersey, in annual reunion.
Anti-tax riots are in progress in Spain.
RICH HILL, Mo. –– The works of mine No. 19 of the Rich Hill East Mining Company were burned last night. It was evidently the work of an incendiary. The damage will cost thousands and work will have to be abandoned till the works can be rebuilt.
