25 Years Ago
June 13, 1985
The Ava Bassmaster Club sponsored and Open Buddy Bass Tournament June 9 at K-Dock on Bull Shoals Lake. Top three money winners were: first place, Bob Cobb and Terry Thomas with fish weighing 16.55 lbs.; second place Leonard Herbst and Jack Rhoads with 12.25 lbs.; third place went to Terry Mock and Toby Pyle with 7.45 lbs. Winner of Big Bass was Leonard Herbst, president of the club. His bass weighed 7.65 lbs.
Ray Reynolds, owner of Ray’s Electric and Plumbing announced this week that he has sold that business to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Meeks, who have assumed operation of the firm.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Butterfield, Mansfield, announce the arrival of their daughter, Paige Lauren, at 8 lbs. and 14 oz. on Thursday, May 2 at 7:12 p.m. at St. John’s Hospital.
The East Side Body Shop ladies bowling team took first place in the Thursday Morning Coffee League at Ava Bowl. Members of the team are: Kay Hutchison, Gwen Burress, Jewell Elliott, Jo Stephens and Lena Wagner.
Lacey Turner was honored on her sixth birthday with a party at the home of her parents, Roldan and Brenda Turner, on Saturday afternoon June 8. Those attending were Brooke Fish, Holly Shortt, Dori Shortt, Amy Dobbins, Kellie Norman, Heather Garrett, Kristen McFarlin, Tina Cummins, Sarah Evans, Natalie Welton, Brandy Lakey, Lindsay Boeddeker, Donell Roberts and Shawna Snelson.
There was a family dinner observing the 50th wedding anniversary for Luther and Pearlie Page, hosted by their seven children.
Mr. and Mrs. James Norman announce the engagement of their daughter, Cynthia, to Rick Richardson, son of Pat Richardson, Springfield and Don Richardson, Cape Fair.
50 Years Ago
June 9, 1960
Boone, Jr. is expecting Canada’s Mounted Patrol to be after him any day. Last week we mentioned that he had caught Northern Pike and Muskys while on a fishing trip in Canada –– but the season was not open on Muskys. Substituting for Muskys he hooked Walleyes. Boone did catch a 15-pound Musky but returned it to the cold waters. Just think of it! Having to throw back a 15-pound game fish.
FREE vacation for 2 in Miami Beach, Fla. with every new car sold Fri., and Sat., during Krazy Days in Ava. You will receive a vacation for 2, 7 glorious days – 6 fun-filled nights, choice of more than 35 famous ocean front and ocean view hotels and motels, beautiful double room, not including meals. See the USA in YOUR 1960 Chevrolet! Go to Florida. Kerr Chevrolet Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Posey (Janice Adams) announce the birth of a daughter at 10:20 o’clock Friday night, June 3, in the suburban home on Highway 76, southeast of Ava. She has been named Phyllis Ann.
The new Ava High School basketball coach and his family, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Beard (Janice Calvin) and two daughters, Remie, age 2, and Angelle, 1, moved to Ava late last week and have established residence in the Harley residence on Jefferson Street.
Larry Chance, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Chance, suffered a severe leg injury in an accident at his farm home west of Ava. As a result of the leg injury Larry was unable to attend the last week of school at Ava, where he is a freshman. The injury has healed sufficiently to allow the youth to walk with the aid of crutches.
Miss Carolyn Spurlock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Spurlock of Ava, has joined the Extension Staff and will begin training July 1 as an assistant home agent in California, Mo.
This article was written by J.M. Turner: “It is surprising how much can take place in a single neighborhood during the life of an ordinary person. I was born at Arno (then in Taney County), now Douglas County, Mo, Nov. 3 1849, the seventh child of William and Hannah West Turner. That was our home until May 16, 1864. Being considered a weakly boy my job was to look after the cattle, horses and sheep on the range during the summer time. On the back of “Old Kate” I roamed over the hills for a radius of several miles, and learned the location of the residences. There was no town where Ava now stands. The neighborhood was known as “California Barrens”. As I remember the residents there were John King, killed by bushwackers, together with James Howard, John Kirby, Mark Ritter, and one other, whose name I can’t call, on May 18, 1864; Jake Wells, Bata Day, William (Buzz) Anderson and Dr. James Pack. Further away were Yandells, Singletons, and the village blacksmith, Simon Lakey; Henry Manning, Mose and John Miller. Further north was the Mollonee family, Sam Turner (my brother), and Jess and Bill Huffman. Over east were the Spurlocks; Dave Luke and Steve Marler; Zeke Eslick, Bill Wells, and Bill and Tom Proctor….
75 Years Ago
June 20, 1935
An unidentified man who was being pursued after a night club robbery at Poplar Bluff was shot and killed Wednesday morning by Sheriff C.D. McKinney of Carter County and Highway Patrolman Benjamin Graham in the woods near Willow Springs when he resisted arrest. A man and woman who abandoned an automobile and fled into a wooded section and who are believed to have been the companions, are believed to be trapped in a woodland and their capture is expected at any time.
Are you for a new courthouse in Ava? If so we would appreciated a letter from you expressing your views on the question. The columns of this paper are open to a thorough discussion of the question – and we hope to have a good list of letters for next week’s issue.
For New Courthouse – It looks to me as bad as we need one, and while we can get one for almost half price, we should get busy at once. I am just a little fellow, but I love Douglas County and have lived here all my life. I am proud of Ava, and I am proud of our fine school building – always turn and look back when I pass it. Let’s have a courthouse that we can be proud of. I realize it would be harder on heavier tax payers than on myself, but most of us could leave off buying a few gallons of gasoline, if necessary, which would make up for all the cost –– so let’s all be in favor of it while there is a savings on the cost price. –– Allen Yandell.
A poll of governors attending the governors’ conference at Biloxi, Miss., conducted last Saturday by the United Press, revealed that seven governors are opposed to amending the federal constitution to permit resumption of the NRA, one favors such an amendment, and five others felt such an amendment unnecessary.
Douglas County’s only railroad, the Ozark Southern short line between Ava and Mansfield, for which Ava citizens posted a $20,000 bonus in 1909, and bought outright in 1922, probably will be salvaged and sold as so much junk within the near future. The road was sold under mortgage last Monday to C.E. Vrooman of St. Louis, Mortgagee, to whom a deed of trust for approximately $60,000 was executed in 1922, at the time the road was purchased by Ava citizens in an effort to assure its continued operation
Again the belled buzzard has put in its appearance. While plowing corn in their field one and three-fourths miles southeast of Arditta, in Howell County, John H. McDaniel and his son, Johnny, saw a buzzard with a bell around its neck. The bird was flying from the southeast toward the northwest. They saw and heard the bell plainly, and described it as about the size of a turkey bell.
The temporary bridge over Beaver Creek on Highway 78, nine miles southwest of Ava, was washed out at about ten o’clock Saturday night, following a heavy downpour of rain about seven o’clock.
An editor can print a thousand words correctly and never hear from it but let one mistake creep in and he has a host of critics. He can also print a thousand words of commendation and never hear from it, but one word of criticism will bring a flood of condemnation upon his head.
100 Years Ago
June 23, 1910
If you are looking for a Place where they will have a good Old–Fashioned Celebration, Ava, Missouri, is that place. Free licenses ceremony and many valuable prizes will be given the couple who will get married on the day. The Ava String Band, Callithumpiam Club will furnish amusements throughout the day. A roping contest will be a very interesting feature. The tug of war between 12 country men and 12 town men, also a tug of war between 12 country ladies and 12 town ladies will be very interesting. Races around the square, a ladies nail driving contest, slow mule race and fat man’s race. Valuable prizes will be given for all contests.
PANSY ITEMS –– Geo. Wright’s new dwelling house is complete now and looks real becoming to the little town of Pansy.
DENLOW ITEMS –– Mr. and Mrs. Marion Smallwood are the proud parents of a fine girl. Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Wilson are the proud parents of a new boy. This is the second son, so Blain looks forward to the time he can sit in the shade and watch the boys plow corn.
Albuquerque, New Mexico –– News of the passage of the statehood bill was received here with wild rejoicing. A big celebration has been planned for.
G.G. Paris of Brushy Knob was in Ava last Monday. He has bought the store and stock of goods at that place of W.T. Morgan, and will continue the business at that place.
Dr. Osborn has had a new roof put on his building on the east side of the square.
The Ava Building and Loan Association is accumulating quite a little fund from dues being paid in by stockholders.
Proceeds from the skating rink and merry-go-round Tuesday evening amounted to $18, which was given to the M.W.D.A.
In our issue of last week, appeared an item in Whites Creek Items which in part at least, it appears was untrue. Our correspondents should be very careful about making statements that will offend anyone.
J.A.G. Reynolds, A.H. Buchanan and Jesse Mitchell bought the picnic grounds for the 4th of July celebration at public auction last Wednesday. They will sell stand rights at $10.00 each. Parties wanting same should see them at once.
Marriage Licenses –– Albert Walker, of Seymour to Pearl Wasner of Springfield; Chas. L. England to Pearl A. Stephenson, both of Drury; Joseph Boyd to Lucille Shepard, both of Ava.
GIRDNER JOTTINGS –– Mr. Miller of Marshfield passed through here with 600 head of sheep for K.C. market.
Big Sale at Joe Thomas’s’ Store on the north side of the square June 20th to 28th.
