25 Years Ago
August 14, 1986
A shock wave vibrated through the Ava community last week when Springfield radio and television stations announced that the Emerson Electric plant in Ava would be closed leaving 450 people without jobs. Emerson officials were among those stunned by the broadcast because they say the announcement simply is not true. The fact is that Emerson Electric Company will move a winding line of the Ava Plant to Monterrey, Mexico, beginning Oct. 1 of this year. As motor production is moved out of the Ava plant, another Emerson division will be brought in.
The August meeting for the Ava Business Women’s Club was an out-of-town dinner meeting at the Rockbridge Cafe. Attending were Mesdames Billie Logan, Freda Gray, Louemma Lawson, Lilly Linder, Betty Kennedy, Gerry Garrison, and Miss Beulah Gentry.
Among the 470 students receiving degrees during summer commencement exercise at Southwest Missouri State University were four Ava residents. Receiving Bachelor of Science in Education were Yolanda Hinote, Michelle Hodges and Joycelyn Markin. Mrs. Corrine Ellison received a Master of Science in Education.
Amy Jo Prince and Wesley A. Barnum were united in marriage on June 14.
Carla Dobbs of Ava has been accepted and enrolled at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., as a full-time student.
FOX CREEK –– Jack and Linda Lee are the parents of a 6 lb. 12 oz. daughter born Aug. 6. She was 18 1/2 inches long and has been named Britany Danielle.
50 Years Ago
August 10, 1961
An animated forestry exhibit starring Smoky Bear and his forest friends, a highlight of the Conservation Commission exhibit at the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield during the coming week, will be brought to the Douglas County Fair in Ava Aug. 24-26.
Local and area officers still are seeking a man who perhaps could be charged with kidnapping after he picked up a 10-year-old Ava boy who was walking home from the city ball park Saturday night. The youth, the son of the Rev. and Mrs. Max Morris, told officers that he was about half way between the ball park and his home, which is about three blocks away, when a man stopped and asked him if he wanted a ride. The boy thought that he knew the man but when he discovered that it was a stranger he asked to be let out of the car. However, the man, described as about six feet tall and blond with a crew cut, drove about two miles north on new Highway 5 and stopped by the side of the road. The youth said he attempted to get out of the car two or three times but each time the man pulled him back and slapped him about the face. The man told the boy not to tell police because he had been in trouble before. After about 30 minutes the man drove back to town and when the car came into the vicinity of the boy’s home he said that he jumped out of the automobile. The youth was not molested and apparently was not injured by the blows to his face. The boy thought that the car was a black Buick, but was not certain about the make.
A squad of “old timers,” made up of enough members so that Manager Olen Deckard will have ample substitutes if his starters fail to last past an inning, will meet the Babe Ruth All Stars on the Ava diamond at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Members of the “Old Timers” squad are: Marvin Barnes, Ted Sallee, Basil Spurlock, Lyle Ray, Lawrence Tate, Jay Monger, Charles Ousley, Eldon Givans, Leonard Sanders, Herman Davis, Howard Curry, Etcyl Painter, Willard Pueppke, Bob McFarlin, George Roberts, Gene Davis, Dennie Hays, Lawrence Plaster, Peter Puchheit, Bob Huffman and O. Johnson.
A new business firm to be known as “Uncle Dudley’s,” will open in Ava tomorrow in the Charles Kellogg building on the south side of the square. The firm is owned by three men who were raised in the Thornfield community of Ozark County, Gene Riggs and Orville Murray, now of Springfield, and Marvin Murray of Thornfield. The firm will handle dry goods, clothing and shoes.
Here are excerpts from letters all dealing with aid to needy children, which were actually received at a County Welfare Office:
–– This is my eighth child. What are you going to do about it?
–– Sirs: I am glad to say that my husband who was reported missing, is now dead.
–– Please find for certain if my husband is dead. The man I am living with can’t eat or do anything until he knows.
–– Unless I get husband money very soon, I will be forced to lead an immortal life.
–– I want my money quick as I can get it. I have been in bed with my doctor for two weeks and he doesn’t seem to be doing me any good. If things don’t improve, I will have to send for another doctor.
75 Years Ago
August 13, 1936
A hen on the Tom Jenkins farm at Goodhope went Republican this week and cast its vote for Landon in the form of an egg bearing the likeness of a sunflower on its shell. The egg was found Tuesday evening. In Ava Wednesday Mr. Jenkins told friends, who were inclined to dis-believe him. This morning he brought the egg to town with him and put it on display in the window of the Norman-Gentry Drug store. One side of the shell was flattened. From a circular center there extended “petals” formed by irregularities in the shell surface. “A Plymouth Rock hen laid the egg, I’m pretty sure,” Mr. Jenkins said. “We found it Tuesday evening in a nest in the barn loft.”
The Carnation Company, which recently purchased the Dairy Belt Cheese and Creamery company’s local plant and the Quality Cheese factory, will begin operations in the new plant on Highway 14 east of town Sunday, officials announced this week. Manager of the Ava plant will be John Fawcett, who arrived here last week from Rogers, Arkansas to take over his new duties.
Barring women patrons from public “Tap-rooms” is a start in the right direction if tap-rooms are to be “kept on a respectable basis.” Its not to get a drink that women and girls haunt the tap-rooms. Try a tap-room for women only, “Men Barred.” And see how far you get with it. It would be a lonesome place.
The fact that Mr. Hitler refused to receive our colored athletes because they were “non-Aryan” should not disturb the American people. Our athletes, dark or white, are not in Germany to pay tribute to Hitler, so it makes no difference whether he pays honor to some of them. For we know that a really “big man” would not indulge in such pettiness to exploit his political dislikes or use international games to express them.
Mrs. C.W. Boulson of Rolla is visiting this week with her son, Charles, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Curnutt. C.W. Boulson, who is expected to join his wife Sunday, is a cousin of Mrs. Curnutt.
ICE COLD SODA POP –– At the Exchange every day, 4 cents per bottle, 3 for 10¢.
Mr. and Mrs. Jess Irwin of this city resumed their teaching Monday at the Kolb school near Squires, following their summer vacation.
An outing and picnic was enjoyed Sunday at Branson by Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Spurlock, Mr. and Mrs. Murley Grabeel and daughter, and Royce Cline Waters.
ARNO –– Murrel Hartley has bought the stock of goods at the old Arno Store from W. J. Hicks. Mr. Hartley took charge of the store August 8th.
Mrs. Cora Prock and Edna Byerley attended the Ozark Summit exposition in Mansfield last week.
GIRDNER –– The stork made a visit to our community last week leaving a boy at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Porter and a boy at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Durham.
100 Years Ago
August 24, 1911
A letter received by J.L.B. Harnden yesterday states that A.W. Smith, of Topeka Kansas, will be with us during the Old Soldiers Reunion. Mr. Smith is one of the few survivors of the Andersonville prison, having served 19 months in the prison pen. He is an excellent speaker and will deliver some addresses.
The Douglas County Normal will open next Monday. Get your children ready for school and keep them there. The law of the state compels every child between the age of 8 and 14 years to attend school. The school commissioner and Prosecuting Attorney say they are going to enforce this law. This last statement might also apply to every district in the county.
E.A. Bristol and a few others who happened to be up in the night last Thursday night, had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful rainbow by the moon light. Mr. Bristol says that this is the first time he ever saw such a sight.
Good Housekeepers always insist on using the very best materials for all kinds of housework and this is largely responsible for the reputation they enjoy among their neighbors. Good work and good results are impossible with poor materials. This applies particularly to laundry work. To get that fresh, crisp, dainty, snow-white effect on clothes so much desired by all women, go to your grocer, ask for and insist on getting a large 16 ounce package for 10 cents and use Defiance Starch.
James Sloan, of Topaz, was in Ava last week looking after some business. He informs us that he has sold his place to Jim Bittick, and he will move to Oregon County to make his future home.
London, England –– An industrial war has been declared and the employees on all the railway lines of the United Kingdom will be called out at once.
Meadow fescue is of little value for temporary seeding since it takes about three years for the plants to get well established. On rich soils that do not dry out it gives good results, the plants being relished by all farm stock. It should have a place in all permanent pasture mixtures.
The anti-saloon contest waged by the churches and anti-saloon league at Montgomery was decided in favor of the saloons. The court held the saloons had legal petitions. Sam Jennings’s license was granted and Barnes and Hibbert’s will be granted September 9.
Fifteen bootleggers were arrested by Warrensburg officers and taken before Justice Rothwell who gave each a jail sentence ranging from six months to one years. Many of those arrested are old offenders and were out of jail on parole on former convictions. The little jail is crowded with convicted bootleggers. Peddling liquor is becoming so common among the population in the county and convictions and jail sentences serve so little purpose that the taxpayers are urging the county court to hire guards and put those sentenced to jail to work on the public highways.
