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Looking Backward 7.28.2016

25 Years Ago

July 25, 1991

Three Ava businesses have sold recently and all are now operating under new management.  Benny’s Restaurant, across from the Ava High School, was recently purchas-ed by Ralph and Sandra Turley.  Ava Used Furniture on South Jefferson Street is also under new ownership and new management. Now owned by Faye Gilson, the store has basically the same operation as before.  Manager Dean Mills says the business buys, sells, and trades merchandise, and also deals in new guitar strings and musical instruments.  Patty’s Pawns, Pets, Discount & More is everything the name says.  Located on the north side of the Ava square the store is a pawn shop, pet store, and deals in both new and used merchandise.  The store is owned by Allen and Ruth Brown and operated by Patty Brown and sons.

Mary Ann Brooke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Brooke, Jr., of Ava, has been named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 1991 semester at College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout.

Sgt. Randy Reid of Adassa, Turkey who had been in Ava visiting his mother Bonnie Reid, left here Thursday last week for his return to Turkey.

Two Ava golfers who were among the 64 participants in the West Plains Country Club Junior Golf Tournament on Monday won trophies in their respective age divisions.  Derek McGill placed first in the 11-year-old boys division with a score of 44.  Tyler McGill placed third in the 9-10 boys division with a score of 62.

Sallee Insurance won first place in the boys T-ball competition in the Lions Little League program this summer.  Kirk Dooms and Larry Miller coached the team.

50 Years Ago

 July 21, 1966

The Ava City Council, in its July session, approved a proposal to provide $20,000 for construction of a municipal airport here.  A total of $5,000 will be added to that amount by the Chamber of Commerce and local civic organizations to provide the city’s one-fourth share of the cost of a $100,000 facility with state and federal matching funds.

The City of Ava has taken an option on a seven-acre site adjoining new Highway 5 for the development of a city park facility.  In conjunction with the proposed land acquisition, the city is making plans for a municipal swimming pool and other recreational facilities for the park. The property is located west of the fairgrounds at the intersection of Highway 5 and Route Y, and adjoins the fair-grounds on the east.

The Maples Café at 409 North Jefferson, which has operated the last year as Reitha’s Café and has been owned by Mrs. Robert L. Conner, the former Mrs. Reitha Norris, sold Monday, July 18, to Mr. and Mrs. Buster Singleton of Ava.  The café, which again will be called “The Maples” will be operated and managed by Mr. Singleton’s uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Singleton.

Ten persons were injured in a total of 11 accidents in Douglas County during June, it was reported by Capt. J.A. Tandy, commanding officer, Troop G, Missouri State Highway Patrol.  Property damage was estimated at $1,540.

There’s truth in the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”  Trainers find that dogs more than two years old rapidly lose their ability to learn.

Mr. and Mrs. Ora T. Tallent of Ava announce the engagement of their foster daughter, Miss Mabel Reeves, to Joseph Owen Swink, Jr.

GENTRYVILLE –– Janet Williams and Patty LeRoy spent last week at Camp Joy. They had a very nice time in spite of the hot weather. There were 100 children enrolled this past week.

STAR –– Richard McFarlin spent the weekend here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McFarlin and sons. He returned to School of the Ozarks Sunday.

Marine 2nd Lt. George L. Lakey, son of MR. and Mrs. Leonard Lakey of Springfield, has reported to flight preparation school at the Pensacola, Fla., Naval Air Station.

OAK FOREST –– Mrs. Garnett Kelly and Mrs. Ervin Halford recently went with their sister, Mrs. Margaret Faverty to Geneva, Ill., for a few days.

Pvt. Rodney Streight, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Streight of Route 4, Ava, who has been stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala., since concluding Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, was transferred recently to Fort Eustis, Va.  Pvt. Streight will attend a school for advanced helicopter training for several weeks.

75 Years Ago

July 24, 1941

Two hundred to 250 miles of power line to serve rural consumers will be built in Douglas County and adjacent territory immediately, it was announced by Frank A. Dawes of Forsyth, superintendent of the White River Valley Electric Coop-erative, at a meeting Friday night in the courthouse here.  The line will come into Douglas County from three points. From the west it will come in from Spokane, Christian County, and will come to within a quarter or half mile of Ava by way of Dogwood and Tigris. A spur from that line will go to the Mt. Zion neighborhood. Another line will come in from Brown Branch, on the southwest, and extend to Cross Roads and Goodhope.  The third line will extend northward from Gainesville toward Squires.

Fire completely destroyed the Curtis Evans stave mill just north of town on Highway 5 early Tuesday morning. The mill was valued by Mr. Evans at $5,000. There was no insurance.

For the third consecutive month John Fawcett’s Jersey cows have ranked top in the herd improvement registry published in The Jersey Bulletin, nationally circulated Jersey trade weekly.  Last week’s bulletin showed the John Fawcett herd at the top in the list of herds containing less than ten cows.

Gerald Proctor, Norman Burris and Everett Arnold returned Tues-day to Fort Jackson, SC, following nine-days furloughs they spent here with relatives.

Members of the Goodhope Church gave a wedding shower Tuesday evening in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Hutchison in compliment to two newly married couples who are members of their church. The honorees were Mr. and Mrs. Bob Halstead and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Lakey.

Our local news reporter says nobody is doing anything nowadays but going fishing, so if there isn’t much news in the paper these hot days don’t blame us. We just write the news –– you folks make it.

Peck Jenkins and Vernon Jackson brought back a string Sunday night that included three good bass and seven goggle-eye. Jenkins was the kingfish of the trip with a 17-inch and a 14-inch bass, and Jackson brought in a 16-inch bass.

Sweden birthday dinner club met Wednesday last week in the home of Mrs. Tommy Dye.  Pre-sent at the meeting were Mesdames Jim Moore, Neil Lawrence S.A. Reed, Alma Peterson, Richard Peterson, A.M. Smith, Otis Welton, Hubert Welton, Henry Dye, Charles Schuler, E.S. Gourley, Tommy Dye, Dewey Squires, Clifford Dye, and Miss Ica Grote.

ROY –– An 8-pound daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Oren Barnes Monday night.  Oren had to leave Tuesday so as to be back at camp on Wednesday.

100 Years Ago

July 27, 1916

We have been informed that all necessary requirements have been met regarding the $15,000 bonds for the building of a new high school building in Ava, and that the bonds have been forwarded to the State Auditor to be registered.  Architect Geo. F. Reed of Springfield is now at work on the plans and specifications of the building.

Robt. Hargis, son of Rev. and Mrs. Sam Hargis of Toledo, Ozark County, was “held-up” in Kansas last week and relieved of $15. Mr. Hargis, accompanied by Cleve Sager of Rome passed through Ava Monday of this week returning home. According to his story, Mr. Hargis had gone to the mail box to mail a letter, and had taken a 22 cal. Rifle with him.  On the return trip he met three strangers, who appeared very friendly and immediately started a conversation. One of the strangers asked Hargis if he would sell his gun, and asked to see it.  As soon as he got hold of the gun he drew it on Hargis and demanded his money. Hargis grabbed for the gun and in the scuffle that followed was shot thru the left foot. The three men then held him and took his money which amounted to $15.00.

Miss Effie Curry and Mrs. Clyde Norman were quietly married at the home of the bride’s parents, Rev. and Mrs. Geo. R. Curry, at 2:00 o’clock Wednesday afternoon of this week. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J.D. Chappelle of Springfield in the presence of the immediate relatives of the bridal party and Miss Lilla Mankin, who was maid of honor.

A young lady only 19 years old, a graduate of the Springfield business College draws a salary of $1,000 a year. She finished the course in stenotype, the machine way of shorthand, only a few months ago.

Miss Lela and Myrtle Curnutt left Monday to spend a few days with their grandmother, Mrs. Cordelia White, at Topaz.

The J. T. Singleton grocery store was moved into the Reynolds and Adams building on the west side of the square this week.

Miss Lilly O’Neal and Mr. Harry Smith of Denlow were married in Springfield last week. Miss O’Neal is a former student of the Ava High School.

Before another press day the primary election will have been held. After the first day of August all of the aspirants will know more than they do now. They won’t have as much money as they had before they responded to the earnest solicitations of friends to get out and do something for their country, but they will be wiser. The county campaign in some races has indeed been hot.

125 Years Ago

July 30, 1891

GENEVA –– Henry M. Stanley, the explorer, has met with a serious accident. The explorer has fractured his left lower thigh bone by acci-dentally slipping while mountain climbing.

News of the assassination of Rev. P.T. Williams, a Methodist preacher near Heber, Ark., is received here. He was shot from ambush while riding along the country road.

The following fact will illustrate to a certain extent the manner in which the Missouri River has recently changed its course at Atchison. The house of John Kalu, which stood in the midst of 720 acres, about six miles north of Atchison, now stands on an island of seven acres. The river is still cutting the Missouri bank. Other farmers have lost considerable land by the changing of the course of the river.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. July 28 –– The most distinct shock of earthquake ever felt here, occurred Sunday evening.  It was preceded by a rumbling noise resembling distant thunder. A moment later violent quaking occurred lasting several seconds. The motion was lateral, apparently from north to south. Windows rattled and buildings swayed perceptibly. The populace fled in affright into the streets. Every open store in the business center and private residences were emptied of their occupants. Congregations at all the churches rushed pell-mell into the streets without waiting for the benediction.

The numerous glass works built in this country have forced the price of plate glass down, so that now a purchaser can buy better plate glass, made in the United States, for 75 cents per square foot than he could have bought when the manufacturer of it began in this country for $2.25 per square foot.

Dr. Murry has moved the Tallman building to the front of his lot, on the south side of public square, and will put in a new front and fit the building for a drugstore.

As a result of the four weeks work by the Douglas County Institute, the examining board issued 80 certificates –– 15 first grade, 54 second grade and 11 third grade. There were but five applicants that failed in the examination.

A meeting of great importance to the mineral interests of Douglas County was held at Mansfield on the 21st. The object of the meeting being the organization of a Mining Company.  Temporary organization being effected by the election of M.C. Reynolds of Ava as temporary chairman, and W. J. Turner of Ava, secretary.   Douglas County’s rich mineral deposits are attracting the attention of foreign capitalists –– mining company organized with $100,000 capital at Ava.

The man who thinks he is crazy is generally perfectly sane, but the man who thinks he is a fool is right nine times out of ten.

“Can lying be justified?” asks the Courier Journal. “Justified? Why, down this way, if it be on the right side, it can be sanctified.”