25 Years Ago
April 17, 1986
Two men were charged Wednesday afternoon with five felony counts each of receiving stolen merchandise, in connection with the confiscation of a large cache of grocery items and feed in Ava. Charged by Douglas County Prosecutor John Bruffet, the men are both being held in the Douglas County Jail.
The new Casey’s General Store opened on East Washington Avenue in Ava this week.
The possible transfer of the University Extension livestock specialist position away from the Ava office dominated the semi-annual meeting of the DOW Area Extension held Monday night at Porter’s Cafe at Squires.
Members of the Ava Bowling team that took first place in their league are Sammie Martin, Wanda Huffman, Brenda Taber, Billie Taber, and Joretta Sawyer.
Ava High senior Heath Wendell took second place in two events at the Hillcrest Relays in Springfield last Friday for Ava’s best showing in the meet.
Candy Schneider, district sales representative for the Missouri Lottery Commission, was in Ava last week to present a $100,000 check to Eugene Rogers, recent winner. Rogers purchased his winning ticket at Village Mart in Ava.
NORTH SIDE NEWS –– Mr. and Mrs. Doc Rippee and Donna spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Gene Rippee and daughters of Republic.
Free bagger, with the purchase of an Ariens 32” cut 11 HP electric start riding mower! Only $1375.00 Spurlock’s General Store, Squires.
RED BUD VILLAGE –– Mr. and Mrs. Glen Harnden called on Nellie Norman one evening. … Pete Klineline and Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Klineline visited Lillian Klineline Tuesday.
50 Years Ago
April 13, 1961
Robert Fink, 26, who escaped more than two years ago from the Howell County jail at West Plains is still being sought in the rugged canyons and hills of extreme eastern Douglas County, after eluding officers and a bloodhound brought in by the highway patrol. The dog lost trace of Fink along an old logging trail on a high ridge over Spring Creek, in the Twin Bridges area. Fink was accused of stealing a chain saw in 1958. He jumped bond and was rearrested in January 1959. On March 28, 1959, he walked to freedom again after getting out of his cell on the pretense of making a telephone call to sell his automobile. Douglas County Sheriff Don Souder, Deputy Chancy Sherman and Trooper Homer Grose have been assisting in the search.
James E. Curry was named as president of the Ava R-1 board of education at an organization meeting of the new board held Friday night at the school building. Harvey Moore was selected to continue as vice president, and Carl Henley as secretary. Two retiring board members, Lloyd Reynolds, Jr., and Herbert Sanders, had been president and secretary. Other members of the board are Harry Vinson, Horace Painter and Noel McCall.
Mr. and Mrs. Max Decker (Mona Gaulding) of Ava, have chosen the name Rebecca Ann for their daughter born at 11:48 o’clock Saturday night, April 8, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. The baby weighed seven pounds at the time of her birth.
Word came to Ava this week bringing news of a former Ava family, Commander Quentin Baker, USN, Mrs. Baker and their three children, who are now based in Naples, Italy. Commander Baker is the commanding officer of the USS Alameda County, now operating as an advanced base ship for setting up air bases in Atlantic waters.
Five counties counted as many cases of rabies among them in the week ending March 18, reported the State Division of Health. Callaway county reported a rabid skunk; Crawford, a dog; Dallas, a cat; Douglas, a cow; and Wayne, a fox.
The only difference between a dope peddler and a rattle snake is that the peddler sells his poison.
Harold Kellogg was elected president of the Ava Chapter of Future Farmers of America at the monthly meeting held April 5.
Friday evening, April 7, about 50 friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Brown (Sue Lethco) gathered at the Red Bank Church with many nice gifts and best wishes for the young couple who were married Saturday March 25, 1961.
ROMANCE –– C.E. Morgan, who drives a milk truck, was very much below par for a few days last week. Roy Watson drove the truck and went along to help him. He was able to go alone on Saturday.
OAK FOREST –– Charley Schudy, George Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Reese and Miss Barbara Wall went to Galesburg, Ill., to sing. They are the “Melody Aires Quartet.”
75 Years Ago
April 16, 1936
Expansion in the business of the Dairy Belt Cheese and Creamery Co. has necessitated a new and larger plant in Ava, according to E. McNealy, of Seymour, owner and operator. The new building is now under construction a mile east of town on Highway 14. The cheese factory started a night shift this week to take care of an increased volume of milk.
Six seniors ranking highest in scholarship for their four years school work have been announced by Ava High School. In the order of their ranking they are Flossie Finger, Hilda Mannon, Anita Dobyns, Sammy Wallace, Elsie Letsinger and Ruskin Norman.
Because he loudly agreed with an attorney’s remarks in circuit court here Tuesday afternoon, Luther Green, said to be a farmer of the Bruner vicinity, was put in jail on a charge of drunkenness and is being held now for investigation. Green shouted “Amen” to an attorney’s argument in the trial of a city case. “What was that?” asked Circuit Judge Robert L. Gideon. “Amen,” Green repeated. “If you’re going to do any amening you’d better leave the courtroom,” Judge Gideon advised. City Marshal Burnam Cummins followed the man from the courtroom arrested him for drunkenness, and started for jail with him. On the southwest corner of the square the man caught the marshal off his guard and landed a blow to Cummins’ face with his fist. Cummins knocked him down and took him on to jail. Green pleaded guilty to drunkenness.
Redbuds that took such a beating from hail and cold, are valiantly giving us a faint tinge of purple, and a promise for another year.
Even in case women are a farce instead of a force in politics, as the men are trying to make us believe, it doesn’t justify the savage indictment reported by Dorothy Thompson that we are responsible for the crime wave and excesses of youth and general decline in morals. It’s true that when the Lord made Adam, he then made Eve to blame it on, but considering the fact that at least 90 percent of all criminals are men, it’s letting them down pretty easy to assume that women are responsible.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bristol announce the birth of a son, Billy Jr., on Thursday, April 9, at the home of Mr. Bristol’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bristol.
Charles Daniels, road construction foreman at Thornfield, has been called to Ava to assist in the construction of warehouses at the new Beaver Creek administration site.
SWEDEN –– Mrs. Jack Spurlock, who is attending teachers college in Springfield, was home over the weekend.
BRUSHYKNOB — Wedding bells are again ringing in our community for Mrs. Mable Page and Burton James who were married Monday evening.
EAST DOGWOOD –– Easter dawn broke warm and radiant on a troubled and despairing world, and its message of hope and cheer can not be ignored. Surely, any power that can triumph over death, over the most seemingly final thing in our existence, can also triumph over such comparatively temporary things as poverty, wars, greed, hatred and despair.
100 Years Ago
April 20, 1911
In the midst of the general rejoicing over the surrender of Lee at Appomattox and the termination of the four years of disastrous civil war in which the country had been plunged, Abraham Lincoln, the moving spirit in that greatest of human dramas, forty-six years ago last Friday, April 11th, was shot by the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth. It was the worst possible thing that could have happened and the south, conscious of its utter helplessness in its then impoverished condition, was the first to recognize it.
During the week just passed information comes from many parts of the country of the disastrous effect of cyclones, hurricanes and hail, bringing destruction to both human life and property.
The following is the program for the second annual graduating exercises of rural and village schools of Douglas County to be held at Ava, at 8:00 o’clock Saturday evening May 6, 1911.
PROGRAM
Invocation, G.R. Curry;
Salutatory Address, Lily O’Neil;
Essay, Gertie Avery;
Instrumental Duet,
Esther Curnutt and Vivian Reynolds;
Declamation, Florence Giles;
Declamation, Lucile Allinson;
Valedictory, Ona Hughes;
Delivering of Diplomas;
Graduating Address, Prof. G.H. Boehm;
1st prize, Ona Hughes;
2nd prize Florence Giles;
Class colors, Blue and White;
Class Motto, “Rowing, not Drifting”.
We are glad to see the town of Ava, the people of the country, and the management of the Ozarks and Southern Rail Road getting nearer together on business. We need the rail road and the rail road needs us.
You can send a day letter by telegraph now, but old-fashioned people will cling to the “arrival safety” and “am well” formula.
Miss Josephine Singleton entertained several of her young lady friends at a birthday party at the home of Mrs. J.M. Adams last Friday evening.
A tin wedding at Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Davis’ last Friday, Good Friday, was a happy social gathering of their many friends and relatives, some of those present were J.L.B. Harnden and wife; Judge Anderson and wife of Granada; Mrs. Knight; Mrs. Davis; Oliver’s mother, and many other of their relatives and friends.
Fresh oysters and celery –– the last of the season at Voigt’s.
GIRDNER –– Mr. PetitJohn, of near Sweden has purchased part of the John Lane farm and is tending part of Mr. Nesbets farm this year. Mr. PetitJohn had the misfortune of breaking his grinder and we will have to wait for our cornmeal for a few days.
HILO HAPPENINGS –– Albert Forrest and Miss Nettie Hammons were married Sunday by Rev. Jas. A. Ward. Success to them.
STONY POINT –– On account of recent rains, plowing for corn has been postponed.
