25 Years Ago
March 13, 1986
Ava High School senior Shelly McKnight has been named the first place winner in a statewide art contest, and her work will represent Missouri in the national contest in Washington, D.C. Shelly is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie McKnight of Ava.
Strong winds that accompanied thunderstorms through the Ava area before daylight Monday morning peeled the roof off one section of the Ava Elementary school building resulting in water damage to the rooms below.
The American Legion Auxiliary opened up the Legion Hall last Friday and gave away masses of clothing and household items to needy families and individuals of the area.
On Sunday, March 9, the congregation of the Ava Church of God Holiness gave a surprise birthday dinner in honor of their oldest member, Mrs. Eva Surguine.
A group of FBLA members from Ava High School traveled to West Plains last Saturday for the Future Business Leaders of America District 14 Leadership Conference. Ron Cook took first place on the Job Interview event, and Mike Paul was second place winner in the Economics event. Cook and Paul will advance to the State Leadership Conference in Jefferson City to represent Ava High School.
Laine Elizabeth Fish, daughter of Danny and Kellie Fish of Ava, celebrated her first birthday, which was Feb. 28. A party was given March 1 at her home which was decorated with curly ribbons and balloons. After Laine opened her gifts with some assistance from her sister, a “Teddy Bear” cake baked by Mommy, ice cream, nuts and punch were served to the guests.
RED BUD VILLAGE –– Lacey Jo Turner spent Friday night with her great grandmother, Helen Stadler.
FOX CREEK –– Carla Dobbs, who is a student at SMSU, is spending a few days at home during the spring break.
50 Years Ago
March 9, 1961
Miss Leah Streight, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Streight of Route 4, Ava, was crowned the 1961 Docomo Queen at special ceremonies held Tuesday afternoon, last week, in the Ava High School auditorium.
Amos Turner, who has been associated with an artificial cattle breeding organization, started work last Thursday as a city policeman. Turner replaced Troy Evans, who resigned to return to stave mill work at Washington, Mo. Turner is now on night duty, with Clifford Cunningham on day duty.
A 1950 Ford which was stolen and towed from the used car lot of the Sallee Motor Co. on the night of Feb. 27 was discovered, stripped of all parts and abandoned, just over the Christian county line.
Seven Ava High School band students have been selected to play in the all-conference band which will perform during the annual South Central Association band clinic in Willow Springs March 10 and 11. The Ava students, selected by band teachers of the SCA schools, are Barbara Pitts, Corrine Beason, Tony Smith, Peggy Shollenberger, Patty Pitts, Jim Shollenberger and Richard Lane.
Modern Telephone Company has received state permission to expand its operational area in Douglas, Howell and Ozark counties. The company which operates exchanges at Gainesville, Norwood, Dadeville, Everton, Galena and Hurley, said it probably could serve 840 families in the predominately rural area.
Tornado and rough weather reports were broadcast during the first part of the week, but fortunately only rain arrived in this immediate section.
A system of impounding stray dogs was set up by the Ava City Council at its monthly meeting last Monday night. Adrian Byerley was selected as dog impounder and he began his duties immediately. All stray dogs will be picked up and confined at the dog pound at the fairgrounds for three days. If the dogs are not claimed during that period they will be disposed of. Persons claiming dogs must pay a board bill of 75¢ per day and purchase a city dog license.
Calvin Huffman, who has operated a television repair business in Ava for several years, closed his shop, located in the Adams building west of the square, and he and his family left Saturday morning for Independence where he has accepted employment.
A farewell dinner was given Sunday in Ava as a special compliment to SP/4 Bill Riley, who will leave here today to begin an assignment of 13 to 18 months in Korea.
Stanley Brooks Stores, AG to better serve you. Spam, 2 cans, 79¢ Heinz baby food, 5 jars, 49¢; Maxwell House coffee, any grind, 59¢; Trenton cake mix, 4 boxes, $1 Shurfresh Longhorn cheese, 39¢ lb. Prices good Friday and Saturday, MU3-4500.
MANSFIELD –– Eight places of business in Mansfield and Hartville were hit by burglars Friday night. The Palmer Hardware of Hartville was the hardest hit, with a loss of $125.
75 Years Ago
March 12, 1936
One of a trio of alleged chicken thieves was bound over to circuit court in the justice of the peace court of C.H. Ross Tuesday, a second waived his preliminary and hearing for the third was continued. The three stole five chickens from Sadie Jenkins, a neighbor in the Goodhope community, to get money with which to buy liquor. Three of the chickens died when they had been tied in the brush.
G.R. White, wanted in Canton, Texas, on a charge of removing mortgaged property from that state, was called out of church Saturday to go to jail. Sheriff Earnie Gentry and Deputy J.E. Reeves went to the church, located four or five miles east of Ava, Saturday morning and found their man attending church service. He was called out, arrested and placed in jail to await Texas officers who came for him this week.
Construction work has started on the fourth lookout tower in the Pondfork forest unit. Site of the new tower, to be known as the Saunders tower, is located three miles south of Chadwick on the old Springdale ranch. The other three towers are at Swan, Hercules and Caney.
FORTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO. (From the Herald March 8, 1888) The Herald presents its first issue of its second year and salutes the good people of Douglas County with good cheer. The Herald during the past year has had many obstacles to contend with, but has surmounted every difficulty and stands today as the leading journal of Douglas. We extend thanks for the liberal patronage the people have given us during our first year. By a continuation of this patronage we shall be enable to live, and as Douglas County advances the Herald will grow till it becomes a useful journal.
Officers of the Ava Chamber of Commerce were re-elected last Thursday evening, these officers, selected to serve during the commercial club’s second year of existence, are, president, W.I. Barker; vice president, Ray Hailey; secretary, J.E. Curry; and treasurer, Dr. F.F. Schudy. Three directors accepted by the organization are, Fred Livingston, C.E. Davis and Herman Baker.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Lowe and family moved Tuesday afternoon from Ava to the Frank James farm near Almartha. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have operated a cafe in Ava for several months but have leased the James farm and will put in a crop there.
The modern social slogan seems to be “marry in haste and divorce at leisure.”
EAST DOGWOOD —— Mr. and Mrs. George Butterfield are the parents of a baby girl born Thursday evening, March 5. They plan to move from the Alverson place soon, and a public sale will be held in the near future. Watch for announcement.
Senior Play “The Deacon Slips” three-act comedy, Friday, March 20, 8 o’clock, admission 15¢ and 20¢, reserved seats 25¢.
100 Years Ago
March 16, 1911
Atlanta, Georgia –– President Taft came to Atlanta, received an ovation from the thousands of Georgians gathered to do him honor and “passed the hat” at the meeting of the Southern Commercial Congress. While taking up the collection the executive raised $27,000 for the cause of Southern exploitation.
Some of the business men of the City are taking active steps to get better mail service. Several days last week and this, there has been no afternoon mail leaving Ava, and the citizens are making a protest to the Postmaster General at Washington, in hope of getting better service. We have also failed to receive any Sunday mail up to yet. The south mails which leave Ava at 1:00 p.m. are also making a great kick. They leave the Ava office many days without the mail. It is earnestly hoped that there will be brought some pressure or conditions, which will give us better service. The poor service which we are getting interferes greatly with our business, and the citizens have a right to kick.
A petition is being circulated in Ava this week asking the citizens to subscribe $2,000 to further developments of our oil well prospects – The Ozark Uplift Oil & Mining Co., to put up a like amount. It seems that our citizens are a trifle slow about putting up their end of the $2000. Now we do not know, but we do not believe our people would make any mistake in helping to get this thing to work. It is better to wear out, than to rust out — lets get busy.
Sallie Joe Adams has just completed quite a job of concreting. Mr. Newsome is doing the work. She has had several rods put down from her home toward the square, and has had a nice 8 foot walk put down in front of her lot on the southwest corner of the square. This is a great improvement as well as a convenience to this part of town.
For Sale –– Country store. Doing good business, will invoice about $1,000.00. For further information, call or write. E.B. Lefler, Bryant, Mo.
Seven sewing machines, price from $1.00 to $12.00. Also, 8 good organs in first class shape, very cheap.
L.J. Davis, who has been at Branson for the past few months running a mill for Fullerton-Moses Tie Co., has returned to Ava to make his future home.
Dr. Hick has treated three hundred and twenty-seven cases in the last 31 days.
Mrs. J.D. Barrow’s Music Recital, Friday evening March 17th at Opera House: Piano solo, Esther Curnutt, 4th grade; piano solo, Grace Grasham, 4th grade; vocal duet, Lena Wilson, Stanford Moses; piano duet, Bessie Inman, Cecil Reynolds; piano solo, Josephine Singleton, 1st grade; piano solo, Gussie Bradshaw, 1st, grade; vocal solo, Nellie Barrow; piano duet, Esther Curnutt, Mrs. Vivian Reynolds; vocal duet, Lena Wilson, Lela Curnutt; piano solo, Cecil Reynolds, 2nd grade; piano solo, Lloyd Reynolds.
No matter how hard you work, the barriers against you are almost impassable. Marketing is so expensive, rent is so high, that most men just make a bare living until they die. There’s only one solution for you – turn to farming.
