Featured Story
Douglas County to Receive $1.5M in Coronavirus Relief Funds
by Michael Boyink / [email protected] To say the COVID-19 pandemic has come at a cost is an obvious understatement. Some of those costs we don’t even know about yet. It could be decades before we fully understand what’s been happening for the last few months. But some costs we do know. Extra personal protection devices. New…
Read MoreStorm Sirens to be Tested on May 13
The Ava / Douglas County Emergency Management office will be testing the storm alert sirens on Wednesday, May 13, at 10:00 a.m. If severe weather should occur on that day, the testing of the system will be rescheduled for June.
Read MoreAva High School Class of 2020 Senior Activities
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, events for the graduating class of 2020 have been rescheduled. Senior Awards Assembly An awards slideshow will be released on Friday, May 15th, at 9:30 a.m. This is the same date and time the awards assembly was scheduled to occur. The slideshow will highlight students who are receiving awards…
Read MoreMansfield School Damaged
Jones/Herald photos Local volunteers were quick to respond to the Mansfield R-IV campus Tuesday morning to repair and clean-up after high winds hit the area Monday afternoon. According to the workers on site, Mansfield Middle School was hardest hit as the roof was ripped off from the north and laid in front of the school, on…
Read MoreGovernor Parson Announces First Phase of “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan to Begin May 4
JEFFERSON CITY –– During Monday’s COVID-19 briefing, Governor Mike Parson announced the first phase of the “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan outlining how Missouri will gradually begin to reopen economic and social activity on Monday, May 4, 2020. Governor Parson was joined by Missouri Hospital Association President and CEO Herb Kuhn, MO HealthNet Director Todd…
Read MorePrevious Pandemic
Editor’s note: COVID-19 isn’t the first time Ava and Douglas County have dealt with a deadly pandemic. On October 10, 1918, the Douglas County Herald ran the following article from then Mayor A.H. Buchanan and the Board of Health describing the Spanish Flu and advising people on how to avoid spreading it. While the phrases…
Read MoreAva City Council: Reopening Businesses Closed Due to COVID-19, Planning to Open Pool On Schedule
by Michael Boyink / [email protected] On Tuesday, April 28th the Ava Board of Aldermen convened for a business session at 5 p.m. City Finances City Treasurer Peggy Porter and Mayor Loftin reported that income generated by a city sales tax was down approximately $15,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resolution #2020.04.01 The aldermen approved a resolution…
Read MoreFlatheads, Fords and Fortitude- A Spirited Start To Racing A nostalgic tribute to the memory of the Ava Speedway
By Sue Curry Jones The idea may have started from a group of young high school students who passed Doc Sallee’s Machine Shop every day at noon. They were intrigued by the midget racer he was building in his shop. Or, maybe the spirited idea was developed on the dirt track Charlie Campbell’s dad…
Read MoreFun Parade Saturday for HOTO and Ava Place Residents
Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare and Rehab Center is hosting a special parade Saturday, May 2, in Ava. Local folks are urged to attend and participate in a show of compassion and demonstrate support for residents of HOTO and Ava Place, as the residents have been quarantined for weeks due to the COVID-19 threat. …
Read MoreCOVID-19 Ate My Senior Year; Ava R-1 Seniors On Finishing High School At Home
by Michael Boyink / [email protected] Editor’s note: We asked some Ava R-1 High School Seniors about their experience of having their senior year cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following are their (lightly edited) responses. Calee Dollarhide The process started with pure excitement for Spring Break and none of this even in mind which turned…
Read More