New Faces to Greet Students
The 2021 School Year at Ava will begin Monday. Many new faces will greet students. This is week two of spotlights on new teachers. Sean McAnulty Sean McAnulty will be one of the 4th Grade teachers. He’s entering his seventh year in education. He loves teaching and creating a positive and active learning environment for…
Read MoreFootball Preview: Do Your Job
Approaching the practice field Tuesday, from a distance one could hear Head Coach Dan Swofford yell, “What is your job!?” The statement is a staple in many coaches’ book of hard-hitting questions and challenges for their players, but in Ava it means more than just what the players leave on the turf. “We aren’t just…
Read MoreCounty’s Population Down 15.4%
Data released by the US Census Bureau on Thursday indicates Doug- las County lost population since 2010. The development is part of a down- ward trend in rural south-central Missouri. Across the entire United States a population increase of 7.4% was recorded. The 2020 population total for Douglas County is 11,578. That figure is a…
Read MoreAva R-1 Tax Levy Set at Lowest Rate Allowed by State
By Jason Hoekema Freelance Journalist Following a closed-door session, the Ava R-1 Board of Education convened with the public on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. First on the docket was setting the Ava R-1 tax rate for the year. According to information presented by Superintendent Aaron Dalton, the rate affecting the four counties which are included…
Read MoreFriedrich “Fred” Kalhoefer
Friedrich Wilhelm Kalhoefer, 83 years, 11 months, 24 days old, passed away on August 10, 2021 at The James River Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Care Center in Springfield, MO with his sons by his side. Fred was born August 16, 1937 in Wittlich, Germany to Alfred and Josefine (Simonis) Kalhöfer. Fred was a U.S. Air…
Read MoreMarjorie Degase
Marjorie Ella Degase, 91 years, 5 months, 4 days old, passed to Heaven on August 12, 2021 at Gainesville Healthcare Center, Gainesville, MO. Marjorie was born March 8, 1930 in Stone County, MO to Olbert and Gladys (Meeks) Hedrick. Marjorie was a retired School Teacher. She taught most of her years in Washington County…
Read MoreFern Bishop
Irma Fern Bishop, 92 years, 9 months, passed to Heaven on August 14, 2021 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, MO with her family by her side. Fern was born November 14, 1928 in Douglas County, MO to Ernest Jackson and Sarah Virginia (Trotter) Anderson. Fern was a seamstress and worked at Hesterlee’s in…
Read MoreIngrid Renate (Ryan) Rees
Mrs. Ingrid Renate (Ryan) Rees found relief and peace from this life’s struggles at 9:31 am on August 13, 2021 in Springfield, Missouri. Ingrid was born September 9, 1959 in South Gate, California and grew up in Long Beach, CA. She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Brian Rees of Ava, MO,…
Read MoreClifford Ray Lilly
Clifford Ray Lilly, 92, has passed away at his residence in Ava Missouri in the presence of his wife Jean Lilly. He was born to parents Roy Lee Lilly and Opal Vern Vie Lilly Howell on October 6th, 1929 in Moberly, Missouri. Clifford joined the Army Air Corp as a plumbing instructor. He started his…
Read MoreCharlotte Elaine Higgins
Charlotte Elaine Higgins, 93 years, 11 months, 30 days old, passed away on August 9, 2021 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center, Ava, MO. Charlotte was born on August 10, 1927 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin to Leland John Kaudy and Lettie (Ebbe) Kaudy. On May 3, 1947 Charlotte and Leroy Higgins were married in…
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