The hearing to determine if the Tuesday, April 2, Ava Municipal Election was valid, was postponed on Monday and will be heard on Wednesday, July 3. Lonnie Atchison, who lost the election by four votes, has filed suit against County Clerk Karry Davis, questioning the validity of the election. According…
New Edition of Community Guide Is Being Distributed The noon luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce for June was held Tuesday at Bethany Baptist Church. Hosting the event was True Brew coffee shop on the Ava square. Owner Rachel Koch, who provided an assortment of sandwiches and…
The weather of the past two weeks has hardly seemed like spring, but we know it can’t be too many weeks away. With spring comes the threat of thunderstorms, dangerous lightning, flash floods and damaging winds. Although that type of weather can occur at any time, the potential for storms…
As part of severe weather awareness week in Missouri, tornado sirens will sound across the state next Tuesday afternoon, March 5. The drill, which is conducted in cooperation with the National Weather Service, is set to begin at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will monitor the…
Feb. 17, 11:26 a.m., Highway 14, stranded motorist: vehicle out of gas. Feb. 17, 12:18 p.m., 1100 block NE 3rd Ave., received information. Feb. 17, 1:58 p.m., trailer park. Civil matter. Feb. 17, 3:48 p.m., 700 block NE 8th Ave., domestic disturbance. Feb. 17, 5:35 p.m., NW 3rd Ave., keep…
An accumulation of snow that fell on the Ava area early Saturday morning caught everyone off guard, including MoDOT workers. It was not until people began sliding off the road and numerous traffic accidents were reported that workers began treating roads for the thin layer of ice that developed under…
An Ava woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries just after noon Tuesday following a crash on Highway 14, three miles east of Ava. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said both vehicles involved were across the center line and hit head-on. Seriously injured and taken to Mercy Hospital,…
The City of Ava Fire Department responded to Ava Place before noon Monday when an automatic fire alarm was activated. The building was evacuated and the facility’s automatic sprinkler system was activated. When police and fire personnel arrived, it was learned that the building’s sprinkler system had been activated when…
The City of Ava will help fund the University of Missouri Douglas County Extension Office this year. That was the decision of the Ava City Council Tuesday night. Acting in response to a request from Angie Fletcher, County Program Director for Douglas County Extension, the aldermen agreed to match the…
Ava R-1 School hosted the February luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. The meeting was held in the Decker Library on the high school campus, and the meal of broasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad and desserts was prepared by the school’s consumer…
Beginning Friday, Feb. 15, Ava Municipal Court will be held in the Douglas County Courthouse. Ava Mayor Eddie Maggard said, regarding the move, “We appreciate the cooperation the county has shown in allowing us to use the courtroom one day a month for our municipal court.” For the past several…
When a pickup ran off NW 10th Street in Ava last Saturday morning and hit a utility pole, it caused a chain reaction of problems for emergency responders and utilities workers. The incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. when a 1985 Chevrolet pickup driven by Kurdt W. Foy, 16, of Ava,…
Officers with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office took a woman into custody on Jan. 8 after receiving a report that she was passed out in her car on a city street. Kayla Lee Orton, 24, of Hollister, was arrested by Sheriff Chris Degase and Sgt. Vernon Johnson after Sgt. Johnson…
The filing deadline for the April municipal and school elections did not pass without a few late announcements, and perhaps some surprises. Former city employee Lonnie Atchison filed Tuesday for mayor of Ava, placing three names in that race. Previously announcing were incumbent Eddie Maggard who will seek reelection, along…
During the first business meeting in 2013, the Ava Board of Aldermen took action on three agenda items on Tuesday. The council members also received a report from the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce, and listened to a presentation from the Douglas County Health Department. Two business items addressed by…
Next Tuesday Is Filing Deadline For City, School, Ambulance Elections Former Ava Mayor Leon Harris has filed as a candidate for mayor, challenging incumbent Eddie Maggard. With filing for the annual municipal election set to close next Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 5 p.m., this is the only race taking shape…
Bethany Baptist Church hosted the monthly luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. Those attending enjoyed a potato bar with baked potatoes and a variety of toppings. Guest speaker was Rachel Koch (pronounced Cook), owner/operator of True Brew, the new coffee shop on the northeast corner of the…
The Ava Board of Aldermen met at City Hall Tuesday evening for the regular monthly session of business. Councilmen present for the meeting were Burrely Loftin, Ric Engelhardt and Billy Long. David Norman was absent. In closed session, the board chose to hire Michele Stout of Ava, as a part-time…
A violent lightning storm that lingered over the Ava area for several hours last Friday morning caused considerable damage, resulted in power outages, and in east Ava, shattered a tree and drove a 2-foot shard of splintered wood into the side of a house. No one lived in the house…
By Sue Curry Jones Mayor Eddie Maggard convened the September session of city council Tuesday evening with approximately 20 residents and business owners present for the meeting. The issue under scrutiny was the decision of the planning and zoning commission to approve a conditional use allowance for the Century 21…
Motorists in Ava can expect rerouting of traffic on Highway 14/Bus. Route 5 (NW 12th Ave.) in Ava during the coming week as crews perform sidewalk work in that area. This section of roadway is located from Route 5 to Jefferson Street in Ava. Weather permitting, work will take place…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening for a session of city administration – which included the discussion of issues, payment of monthly bills, and approval of the municipal court docket for July 20. First on the agenda, Park Director Sherry Wallace provided council with…
The Ava Lions Club celebrated its 75th anniversary Monday evening with a banquet and musical entertainment. Some 70 people attended the event which began at 5 p.m. when Lion President John Weisbrod rang the bell to call the meeting to order. Following a brief welcome by the president, all stood…
Ava Electric Dept. employee Toby Sheppard works on a power line in south Ava last Saturday night to restore power following the thunderstorm that passed through the area. Ava’s official rainfall was less than 1.5 inches, although amounts varied throughout the area. A strong wind gust that preceded the storm…
Heavy rainfall in Ozark County last Thursday was listed as the cause of a one-vehicle crash that resulted in injuries to an Ava teenager. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Jacob C. Madche, 18, was traveling west on Route W, 11 miles west of Gainesville when he crashed the 1995…
On Monday, July 23, Jeffrey Schmidt, 49, of Ava, was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine. The case was heard by Circuit Judge John Moody in a Douglas County Circuit Court bench trial. According to the police reports, officers pulled over a vehicle leaving a trailer court because the police…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava Board of Aldermen met in regular session Tuesday evening, with city council President Burrely Loftin presiding over the meeting as Mayor Eddie Maggard was absent due to illness. Acting on recommendations from planning and zoning, the council unanimously approved revising code designations on several…
After months of planning, research, and time well spent, the new billboard in south Ava on Highway 5 has been installed and extends a warm greeting of “Welcome to Ava” to passersby. The new sign not only welcomes people to our wonderful town, it also showcases some of its businesses,…
Stolen Items Recovered from Break-Ins The Ava Police Department reported this week that a third person has now been charged in connection with a drug bust executed last weekend in Ava. On Friday, June 22, the Ava Police Department was called to a residence in the 400 block of NW…
Attention was focused on Ava Monday. Ava Costello came all the way from Massachusetts to visit Ava, Missouri, after she located our town on the Internet and made contact with April Suter at Ava City Hall. Nine-year-old Ava was accompanied by her grandmother, Lindsay Morand, the great-niece of E.B. White,…
By Sue Curry Jones The City of Ava opened their regular business meeting Tuesday evening with John Forrester, of Olsson Associates, updating council members about options for solving bacteria problems associated with the water tower tank south of Ava. The water tank, which stands approximately 160 feet high, was originally…
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Ava Sonic Drive-In crew at 10th and Jefferson is one step closer to qualifying for the National Finals of the 19th annual Dr. Pepper Sonic Games, the annual competition recognizing the best Sonic Drive-Ins in the country. The Ava Sonic is one of 300 remaining drive-ins striving…
By Sue Curry Jones Council members adopted three ordinances Tuesday evening during the monthly session of the Ava Board of Aldermen. Two of the bills were annual agreements that re-instated the city’s commitment to fund the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce, and assist the Douglas County Fair Board with a…
An 81-year-old Ava woman was seriously injured in a single-vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon in Ozark County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Joan E. Small failed to negotiate a curve on Route JJ and ran off the roadway. The southbound 2004 Dodge Stratus struck a ditch, a tree and…
The Ava Art Guild’s Spring Art Show has been termed a wonderful success. There were 110 entries in numerous categories including advanced and junior (under 18). “The quality of the art is incredible at this year’s art show”, said Rita Fancher, Art Show director. Here is a complete list of…
Nine airplanes participated in the annual Poker Run last Saturday, sponsored by the South Central Missouri Pilots Association. Pilots participated by flying into their choice of nine airports to get a poker card. Participating airports included, Ava, Cabool, Houston, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View, Thayer, West Plains, and Willow Springs.…
By Sue Curry Jones Ordinances to increase sewer and water rates were passed by council Tuesday evening. However, the much-needed increase was adopted at a significantly lower rate than the proposed rate recommended by the firm who had analyzed and assessed the city’s system earlier this year. In April, Carl…
May 13, 11:37 a.m., S. Jefferson St., medical assist. May 13, 11:43 a.m., NW 12th Ave., medical assist with Cox Ambulance. May 13, 1:24 p.m., N. Jefferson, medical assist. Officer and Ava Fire responded. May 13, 1:56 p.m., 1000 block East Washington Ave., received information. May 13, 3:08 p.m., 500…
The Ava Fire Department was called to a structure fire at 501 South Jefferson St. just before 9 p.m. Sunday. Upon arrival firemen found a small fire in the utility room at the rear of the house. The fire was quickly extinguished. Due to the nature of the fire, and…
The Ava Volunteer Fire Dept. was dispatched Tuesday evening to put out a brush fire at on the old drive-in theater property on NW 12th Ave. The small fire appeared to have started along the right-of-way next to a utility pole, and spread to involve a small pine tree on…
Abandoned wells is topic of discussion. Council members tabled a request posed by city employee Janice Lorrain Tuesday evening during the regular session of city government. Lorrain asked council for permission to apply for a grant of $10,000 – $15,000 for the purpose of hiring individuals to canvas door-to-door in…
Spring City Clean Up Is Also Next Week In an effort to reduce illegal trash dumping, the South Central Solid Waste Management District will hold a special trash clean up for rural Douglas County households on May 4 and 5 at the Douglas County Maintenance Shed off Highway FF just…
By Sue Curry Jones Tuesday evening members of city council and administrative officials were confronted with a situation that brings to mind a phrase we’ve all heard. It’s an expression used when dealing with something unfavorable or difficult to embrace –– the often-heard phrase “bite the bullet now or you’ll…
The City of Ava has announced its spring Residential Clean-Up will be held the week of April 30-May 4. This free pick-up is provided to residents of Ava to get rid of items such as chairs, sofas, mattresses, etc. Tree limbs and brush cut by the homeowner will also be…
By Keith Moore – Managing Editor “When I came to Options I didn’t know what to do,” said one lady who recently found the help she was looking for at Options Pregnancy Clinic of Ava. “I was pregnant with our second child. That would mean two babies under a year.”…
Flashing Yellow Arrows to Ease Traffic Flow The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract during its regular meeting on April 3 to retrofit a signal in Ava with flashing yellow arrows. The signals are located on Route 5 at the Route 14 intersection. The $227,241 contract was awarded…
The Ava Board of Aldermen convened for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, and to administer the oath of office to candidates Ric Engelhardt and David Norman, who were elected to serve as councilmen representing the east and west ward, respectively. Council members also adopted an ordinance accepting the election and…
With only one contested race in the county for Tuesday’s municipal and school elections, the voter turnout was exceptionally low. In the East Ward of the City of Ava, incumbent council member Ric Engelhardt held off challenger Bonnie Evans to keep his seat at the council table. Engelhardt received 48…
An Ava man was taken to the hospital last Wednesday morning following a crash at the intersection of Highways 5 and Y in Ava. Ava Police said Herman B. Prock, 76, of Ava, was southbound on Highway 5 in a 1996 Chevrolet Lumina and was hit in the side by…
Next Tuesday, April 3, is municipal and school election day across the state. But in Douglas County, there are few ballot issues to be decided. In the City of Ava, voters will elect two members to the City Council. In the East Ward of the city incumbent Ric Engelhardt is…
The annual Membership and Awards Banquet of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce was held last Saturday night at Ava Victory Academy. In addition to the meal and presentation of special awards, the evening included judging of the best dessert, casserole and vegetable; and the selection of the best costume…
Ava Place enjoyed a visit this week from Larry Eugene Stevens of Nursing Home Ministries. Larry travels all over the country ministering full time, sharing gospel in song. We get to see him once a year and feel very blessed to be one of his stops. Also this week volunteers…
By Sue Curry Jones Concluding ten years of service as representative for the west ward, councilwoman Judy Lovan fulfilled her last duty as an elected official Tuesday evening. During the meeting, Lovan was recognized by City Clerk Marilyn Alms who presented the outgoing councilwoman with a plaque noting five terms…
Ava Police, with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, obtained and served a search warrant on March 9 which led to the arrest of an Ava woman. Ava Police Chief Reggie Johnson said Cheryl A. Holloway, 49, was arrested for distribution near a…
City officials convened Tuesday evening to news that the City of Ava had received a higher than usual evaluation rating from MIRMA (Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association) during a recent assessment from the firm, and on-site visit. In past years, the City of Ava has placed well in the rating…
Should there be a price to pay for voicing an opinion and speaking out? By Sue Curry Jones Last week our newspaper ran an anonymous ad submitted by a group of parents who are concerned about actions of the Ava School Board. The ad posed questions about recent budget decisions…
With the spring storm season seemingly starting earlier than usual this year, and with several deadly tornadoes already reported in Missouri and adjoining states, plans are in place for opening the FEMA storm shelter at Ava High School. Billy Long, Emergency Management director for Ava and Douglas County, said he…
Effective Thursday, March 1, Ava Place is now affiliated with Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center. Heart of the Ozarks Administrator Tonya Cutbirth said Ava Place will continue to operate as an assisted residential care center, but will enjoy many of the benefits that have become very popular with Heart…
In conjunction with the 75th anniversary the Ava Lions are putting the final touches on the plans for the annual walk/run event. This year’s event will be Saturday, May 12, which is the second Saturday in May. In the previous two years, the walk run event has had over 400…
Dean Anderson, policy specialist from the University of Missouri-Columbia, will be providing an update on tobacco issues across the state of Missouri on Tuesday, March 13, at the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the MOCH Wellness Center. The luncheon will be held from 12 to 1 p.m. and…
The City of Ava Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on NW 11th Street in Ava last Friday morning. When firemen arrived, they found the house full of smoke, but the fire had been mostly extinguished by an adult resident, Shanda Williams. Some remaining fire was found…
The City of Ava’s telephone system was affected by the storm that went through Branson and Taney County early Wednesday morning. Efforts were being made during the day and into the night Wednesday to correct the problem, and hopefully full service will be restored soon. In the meantime, if you…
The Ava Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening for a brief session, with each councilman present for the meeting. In a 3-0 vote, the council adopted a resolution stating the City of Ava will meet grant-funding guidelines as required by the Department of Agriculture. This opportunity was discussed during the…
It had to happen sooner or later. After going the entire winter with virtually no snow, a winter storm moved across the Ozarks Monday, dumping up to 5 inches on the Ava area. The official measure recorded in Ava was 3.5 inches, as reported by Billy Long, Community Weather Involvement…
By Sue Curry Jones Council approved a resolution to strengthen the application process for new applicants securing services from the City of Ava Tuesday evening. The proposed changes and new standards were discussed last month when Administrative Director Peggy Porter explained that a modification to the city’s utility deposit policy…
South Central Solid Waste Management District has scheduled annual collections of hazardous household materials for this spring throughout the region. Items that will be collected include all types of paint including latex, oil based and aerosol cans; use motor oil and antifreeze; batteries including vehicle, rechargeable, and button batteries; as…
By Sue Curry Jones Three properties were re-zoned Tuesday evening during city council meeting and received full approval of the Ava Board of Aldermen. The zoning classification modifications had been reviewed by planning and zoning, and submitted as follows: Property owned by Donald and Pearlie Breshears, 208 SE 8th Street,…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening for the first session in 2012, and in spite of the fact it’s cold outside, and warm temperatures are months away, councilmen voted to fill supervisory positions for the City Water Park and the upcoming season at the…
Six people escaped serious injury in a wreck at the intersection of Highways 5 and 14 in Ava last Friday night, but the crash created considerable traffic congestion for about an hour. The wreck happened at 5:27 p.m., just as many people were getting off work and heading home for…
Ava High School, Ava Victory Academy and Great Southern Bank recognized Students of the Month for December at the monthly luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. The December luncheon was hosted by Mike and Connie Roberts at Subway of Ava. Mike and Connie own Subway…
A huge crowd took advantage of the bright sunshine and warmer temperatures on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a big Ava Christmas Parade that made its way through town. Folks began lining up early to claim their vantage point along Jefferson Street. Some brought lawn chairs and relaxed with the family…
Ava City Council convened on Tuesday evening for their regular bi-monthly business meeting. During the session an overview of the city’s annual audit report was presented by Wayland Mueller, senior accountant with Davis, Lynn & Moots, P.A. of Springfield, Mo. Mueller said the city had received a clean opinion on…
On Tuesday, Dec. 6, during Law Day, Judge John Moody sentenced two people to prison for drug offenses. Leanna Hampton, 27, of Ava, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a controlled substance after the judge revoked her probation due to violation reports from Probation and Parole…
Early this week we’ve had snow, ice and very cold temperatures. But according to our friends at the weather bureau, that is all going to change by the weekend, giving us a beautiful day for the Ava Christmas Parade on Saturday. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 1…
Talk about the end of an era! Things just won’t be quite the same in Ava without the Highway House Café. After months of indecision and questioning the thought, Doris Liniger turned off the stove and locked the door for the last time on Wednesday. As a teenager in the…
Meeting in regular session Tuesday night, Nov. 22, the Ava City Council formally approved the bypass elimination plan as presented by Mike Pessina of HDR Archer. That plan, however, was amended from what had been presented two weeks earlier, to make the plan more financially palatable for the city. The…
On December 9 and 10 As the page on the calendar turns to December, Christmas activities move to the top of the list, especially for the Chamber of Commerce. Working hand in hand with the City of Ava, the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor several events and…
An Ava woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance Saturday afternoon after being attacked by a neighbor’s dog in south Ava. Police officers shot and killed the dog and the owner of the pit bull now faces criminal charges, according to Police Chief Reggie Johnson. …
An early morning house fire last Thursday morning claimed the life of an Ava man. Elwood Williams, 68, was found in the living room of his Ava home, located in the 100 block of SW 4th Ave., by personnel with the City of Ava Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department…
November Students of the Month Recognized November Students of the Month were recognized at the luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Nov. 8. This month’s meeting was hosted by Bethany Baptist Church and the program featured the Ozark Medieval Fortress, a castle in the making…
To Satisfy Demands of DNR Much of Tuesday night’s Ava City Council Meeting focused on the sewer system – not the residential issue on the northeast side of town that affects a few, but the city’s wastewater treatment plant that serves the entire city. Mike Pessina, from the firm of…
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a call Sunday that a burglary was in progress and the intruder was still in the house. Deputy James Gilbert was dispatched and while responding was advised the subject, identified as Sean Roberson, 23, of Springfield, had exited the residence by jumping through a…
Changes have been made in structure of project to make it more family-friendly. The month of November brings with it many holiday traditions and in Douglas County one of those traditions is the “Angel Tree.” This program was begun by the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce and has had many…
Ava Drug was featured in the New York Times on Sept. 21, with a story and picture in the A Section and a lead-in picture on the front page of the Times. The lead-in picture was Cecelia Shea, the daughter of Drug Store employee Andrea Shea. Because of the publicity…
Oct. 16, 4:52 a.m., NW 3rd Ave., traffic stop; warning issued. Oct. 16, 2:38 p.m., 800 block NW 3rd Ave., medical assist. Ava Fire Dept. responded. Oct. 16, 3:39 p.m., NE 8th Ave., domestic disturbance. Oct. 16, 3:56 p.m., 800 block NW 3rd Ave., agency assist, check well-being. Oct. 16,…
The Ava Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday for a brief meeting, as the customary executive session was not included on the evening agenda. Based on information presented by Administrative Director Peggy Porter, council voted to implement management controls over the city’s purchasing process, by using a plan advocated by…
Three individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the recovery of a van stolen in Springfield and found in Ava. Police Chief Reggie Johnson said the Ava Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol worked together on the case to bring it to a…
Oct. 9, 7:16 a.m., 800 block S. Jefferson, medical assist. Ava Fire responded. Oct. 9, 3:40 p.m., N. Highway 5, report of C&I driver. Vehicle stopped by Ava Police at request of Highway Patrol. Oct. 9, 5:46 p.m., Highway 5, stranded motorist. Oct. 9, 9:45 p.m., SW 3rd Ave., animal…
The Ava Lions Club hosted the October luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Guest speaker was Dr. Chris Dyer from Missouri State University-West Plains, who spoke on the adult program, GOAL. Through the Great Opportunities for Adult Learning program, he said working adults can earn an…
A community playground that has been envisioned for seven years and actually in the planning stages for some 17 months, became a reality last week. Dozens of volunteers from throughout the community met at the playground location behind the MOCH Wellness Center in Ava and cut, drilled painted and assembled the…
Some 26 firefighters from several departments in Douglas and Ozark counties met in Ava again last Saturday for training. However, the live burn that was planned was postponed because of the dry, windy conditions. The burn is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22, if weather conditions are favorable. On the…
By Sue Curry Jones Feelings of frustration, anger and empathy filled council chambers at Ava City Hall on Tuesday evening when approximately 37 people filled the meeting room. Most of the attendees were there to show support for a neighbor or friend in conflict with the City of Ava over…
Around 20 firefighters from four different departments of Douglas County met in Ava last Saturday for training that will conclude this Saturday. The house on NW 10th Street is owned by the city and will be burned for demolition. Before burning the structure, firemen will be able to experience real…
Do you have old medicine that should be destroyed? On Saturday, Oct. 8, from 8 am. until noon, you can take old medicine to the Ava Police Station on NW 12th Ave., drop it off and never leave your car. Waiting at the Police Department will be representatives of the…
Sept. 25, 3:50 a.m., N. Hwy. 5. Ava Police checked on vehicle off roadway. Sept. 25, 1:35 p.m., SE 21st Ave., traffic stop. Citation issued for registration; warning for financial responsibility. Sept. 25, 2:08 p.m., 400 block NW 5th Ave., medical assist. Ava Fire responded. Sept. 25, 2:20 p.m., 2100…
In a decision handed down by the Missouri Supreme Court Tuesday, Oct. 4, Attorney Carl Smith, of Ava, was found in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and his right and license to practice law in the State of Missouri has been canceled. The order of disbarment was based…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava Board of Aldermen adopted an ordinance to amend parking designations at the intersection of North Jefferson and 5th Avenue Tuesday evening during regular session of city government. The revised ordinance, which goes into play immediately, extends the no parking zones on the east and…
Homeowners in the Ava View Heights subdivision in west Ava were surprised to find a considerable amount of ash on things outside their houses Saturday morning, with no evidence of anything burning within the near vicinity. The Ava Fire Department, Ava Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and Ava/Douglas County…
The Fall Farm Classic held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds last Saturday also included a tractor parade through town. Here, Tim Stillings leads the parade on his bright red Farmall. Brother Bryan and dad, Tony Stillings, also drove Farmalls in the parade, along with several others.…
Area fire departments will be meeting in Ava on the next two Saturdays for training exercises that will include live burns. Firemen from the City of Ava Fire Department will be joined by firemen from adjoining rural departments of the county in the exercise. This exercise will also serve as…
The Ava Board of Aldermen created a new position for the City of Ava Tuesday evening when they voted to hire Shawn MacMillan to manage computer and technology tasks for city departments. As Information Technology (IT) manager, MacMillan will be responsible for technology needs, computer systems, programming, data storage and…
Aug. 14, 9:30 a.m., NW 12th Ave., traffic stop, warning issued for license. Aug. 14, 11:13 a.m., Hwy. Y, medical assist. Ava Fire responded. Aug. 14, 12:07 p.m., 2000 block Lakeview Drive, property damage. Aug. 14, 1:15 p.m., report of telephone harassment. Aug. 14, 8:25 p.m., N. Jefferson, Circle K,…
A powerful lightning storm moved through the Ava area between 1 and 2 a.m. Wednesday, accompanied by periods of heavy rain. This tree in the northeast part of town exploded from a lightning strike. Herald employee Josh Hoppe, who took the picture on a phone camera, said the strike threw…
By Sue Curry Jones Councilmen and city officials were pleased to hear the statement Tuesday evening that refunding the certification of participation bonds adopted in 2001 would be a worthwhile venture for the City of Ava –– the savings would be about $80,000. Steve Goehl, vice president of public finance,…
Improvements and New Dinner Items Discussed Board members of the Ava Lions Club met with the board of directors of the Missouri Fox Trotters at the Fox Trotter headquarters north of Ava Tuesday evening, Aug. 9, to discuss possible improvements to the Lions Concession building. One item presented by the Lions…
The Ava Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening for a brief session, and except for the approval of bills, the only business decision made during the meeting was the approval of a water and sewer rate analysis study for the City of Ava. The study will be performed by Carl…
By Hamlin Tallent When I lived in Ava the best place to be was the town square and it so happens that the town square was the scene of the Great Ava Chase. In the daytime the town square was a bustling hub of business and commerce and you could…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava Board of Aldermen, city administrators and city engineer John Forrester made an attempt to solve a sewer waste problem that has been an on-going challenge since November or December of 2010. During the meeting, residents asked the city for assistance with the sewer leak…
If you have ever thought you might enjoy being a member of Kiwanis Club of Ava, now is a great time! Join in July, pay just $18 and your membership is good till Sept. 30. You can come to meetings and see what Kiwanis is all about, join them for…
Community Health Assessment Resource Team (CHART) is hosting a free pool party for 7th-12th grade students on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the City Water Park in Ava. The first 80 students in attendance for the evening will receive a t-shirt. Youths from Douglas County…
A dump truck that collided with a Cox ambulance in Polk County last Friday afternoon was driven by a former Ava man. The Highway Patrol said the 1994 Peterbilt dump truck was driven by Royce D. Hutchison, 74, of Stockton. Hutchison was one of four people taken from the scene…
Holding a brief meeting Tuesday evening, the Ava City Council met in a session facilitated by Burrely Loftin, president of the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Eddie Maggard was absent. The central item of focus during the evening was the option to pursue refinancing on the Certification of Participation Bonds which…
Ava City Council adopted the 2012 budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the financial period begins on Friday, July 1. Administrative Director Peggy Porter noted the public hearing was held Friday, June 10, and no comments were received during the session. In the 2012 budget, projected gross expenditures for the…
Ava Police investigated two crashes at the intersection of Highways 5 and 14 within a 30-minute period last Saturday night. The Ava Fire Department was dispatched to the second one that occurred around 10:30 p.m. involving this Jeep and resulting in minor injuries. Cox Ambulance was also dispatched but no…
May 29, 12:05 a.m., 500 block NW 10th Ave., MOCH Wellness Center. General fire alarm. Ava Fire Dept. searched building. No indication of fire. May 29, 2:09 p.m., 1000 block NE 7th St., medical assist. Ava Fire Dept. responded. May 29, 7:20 p.m., West Washington Ave., peace disturbance. May 29,…
May 22, 12:02 a.m., Highway 5, traffic stop, warning issued for headlights. May 22, 12:47 a.m., 700 block NE 6th Ave., peace disturbance. May 22, 3:21 a.m., S. Jefferson, traffic stop, citation issued for operating vehicle without proper license. May 22, 10:15 a.m., N. Jefferson St., extra patrol requested. May…
The Ava Board of Aldermen held a brief meeting at City Hall Tuesday evening, and councilmen approved several of the agenda items without much discussion, as the topics were annual formalities. A resolution authorizing Mayor Eddie Maggard to renew a lease with Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, for use of…
The May luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce was held at the gazebo in the center of the square Tuesday. Chamber board members cooked and served hamburgers and hotdogs in appreciation to the local business community. The meal also included cole slaw, potato salad and baked beans.…
“The PPA that appears on city utility bills is there to stay, no matter what” were the words of electrical engineer consultant Dean Parks, with Barnes, Henry, Meisenheimer & Gende, Inc. (BHMG) of St. Louis, as he advised Mayor Eddie Maggard and city councilmen that the city’s additional electrical charge,…
The Ava Board of Aldermen voted to change the zoning designation of property owned by Randy and Barbara Pennington, 935 W. Washington, from B-2 Central Business to B-3 General Business. The property previously housed the Ava Bowl building. Councilmen also approved new wording for the code of ordinances – parking…
April 10, 12:14 a.m., NW 12th Ave., traffic stop, warning issued for speed. April 10, 1:10 a.m., NW 12th Ave., traffic stop. April 10, 10:26 a.m., NW 12th Ave., stealing. April 10, 1:54 p.m., 500 block NW 12th Ave., alarm. Officer responded; everything okay. April 10, 3:13 p.m., Highway 5…
The annual community Good Friday worship service, sponsored by the Ava Area Ministerial Alliance, will be held this Friday evening at the Ava Assembly of God Church. The service is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The Rev. Buddy Boyd, pastor of the host church, will bring the evening message,…
A new Casey’s General Store opened in Ava Wednesday morning. Actually, the convenience store at the south junction of Highways 5 and 76 in Ava, closed Monday afternoon as Underwood Shell, and on Wednesday morning the store reopened as Casey’s. Workers were busy Wednesday morning putting up temporary signs and…
By Sue Curry Jones Administering the oath of office to mayor-elect Eddie Maggard was the main order of business Tuesday evening during the first council meeting in April. Maggard, who defeated incumbent Leon Harris in the municipal election April 5, was sworn in by City Clerk Marilyn Alms. Re-elected as…
— Phone 417-683-2931 —Answered 24 Hours a Day April 3, 3:12 a.m., NW 12th Ave., suspicious activity. April 3, 5:46 a.m., 300 block NE 2nd Ave., domestic situation. April 3, 9:49 a.m., Hwy. 5 & 14 Jct., motor vehicle accident. April 3, 10:38 a.m., NE 6th Ave., peace disturbance. April…
The members of Sampson Masonic Lodge #298 and Ava Lodge #26 will hold a Masonic memorial service on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, to honor the memory of Sampson David Roberts on the 75th anniversary of his death. The Masonic service will be performed at…
The Ava-Douglas County Emergency Management Office will be conducting a test of the Ava storm siren on Monday, April 18, at 10 a.m. In the event that severe weather is in the area that day, the test will be rescheduled.…
Free steak dinners and Branson show tickets are just a part of the prizes. The second annual Ava Lions Club Walk/Run event is getting bigger and better thanks to many fine local merchants, and merchants from Springfield and Branson. The latest news is that many Springfield restaurants have committed meal…
Students of the Month from Ava High School and Ava Victory Academy were recognized at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting Tuesday. Ava’s recognized students are Dustin Davis and Kristen Hastings. Recognized from Ava Victory Academy was Lee Schmidt. Each student was presented a savings bond by Great Southern Bank.…
Retired Douglas County educator and very busy community volunteer Norma Stillings was presented the John N. Dickison Award last Saturday night by the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. The Dickison Award recognizes an individual who has given a lifetime of service to the Ava and Douglas County community. Norma graduated…
We are excited to announce we have added five new computers patrons may use to access the internet. This was made possible through the Bill and Melinda Gates Opportunity Online Hardware Grant. As this was a matching grant, we would like to thank Emerson Client Technologies and the Douglas County…
Davis Loses School Board Seat by One Vote Residents of the City of Ava elected a new mayor Tuesday, but retained the two incumbent aldermen who were seeking re-election. In the Ava R-1 School District, only one incumbent, Randy Spurlock, retained his seat with two new members elected to the…
Ava Elementary kindergarten and pre-school enrollment and screening will be held Tuesday, May 10 and Wednesday, May 11 at the Performing Arts Center located on North Jefferson Street beside the Ava High School. Screening times on each day will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If your child will…
Conservation agent Mark Henry announced this week that a Hunter Education class will be offered here on Saturday April 2, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The class will be held at the Ava Middle School cafeteria. It is mandatory to attend the whole day. There is no pre-registration necessary. …
School board members and Ava city aldermen will be elected at next Tuesday’s annual municipal and school elections, but the big question this year is, who will be Ava’s next mayor? Ava Mayor Leon Harris, seeking a fifth term, is opposed by four challengers: Larry Morrison, Richard “Moose” Allen, Bobby…
The annual Membership and Awards Banquet of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce will be held this Saturday, April 2. The banquet will be held in the multi-purpose room at Ava Victory Academy, beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Masquerade Ball” and those attending may dress up in…
Douglas County Clerk Karry Davis said this week that the County Clerk’s Office in the courthouse will be open this Saturday morning, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, for voters who need to cast an absentee ballot. The annual municipal and school elections will be held next Tuesday, April 5.…
Ava 4-H Club has been very active this winter: regardless of blizzards, closed schools and snow storms. Since January the club has conducted a winter sports trip, dog obedience classes, Valentines for Veterans community service project, conditioning for the Walk for Sight later this spring, and learning to bake bread,…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening and received an update on the current status of electric rates throughout the State of Missouri and surrounding areas. The board also approved the purchase of a mower for the park department. The update on projected costs of …
It has been announced that Ava Municipal Court will not be held this Friday, March 18, but instead will be held on Monday, March 21. Court will convene at 2 p.m. on Monday at the police station on NW 12th Ave. …
Students of the Month Recognized for January, February, March The Ava Area Chamber of Commerce and Great Southern Bank made up for lost time Tuesday, presenting Student of the Month awards for January, February and March. January and February presentations were postponed due to bad weather and students’ being out…
The Ava Board of Aldermen voted to amend the zoning codes on four city properties Tuesday evening during the first business session to be held in March. The board also listened to reports provided by Judy Shields, director of the Chamber of Commerce, and Sherry Wallace, director of Ava City…
The South Central Solid Waste Management District will hold free collections of household hazardous waste items at various locations throughout the area this spring. Among the item to be accepted at the collection sites will be paint, including latex, oil based and aerosol cans; used motor oil and antifreeze; batteries…
The Ava R-1 Schools will host the March luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, March 8, in the Decker Library on the high school campus. Parking is available on the south side of the high school or…
The University of Missouri Douglas County Extension Office will be closed on Fridays until further notice due to budgetary constraints, it was announced this week. The Extension Office, located in the Douglas County Courthouse, will be open 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 12:30 to 4:30 Monday through Thursday each…
The Ava Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the John N. Dickison Award and the Will McFarlin Award, to be presented at the annual Membership Banquet on April 2. The John N. Dickison Award is given each year by the Chamber of Commerce in recognition of a…
Kiwanis Club of Ava is proud to announce that the club received the Distinguished Club Award at the Mid Winter Conference held in Springfield on Feb. 25-27. The award is in recognition of meeting the criteria from the district and is awarded for the Kiwanis year Oct. 1, 2009-Sept. 30,…
Free Open Gym Night for Families is scheduled for Friday, March 11, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the MOCH Wellness Center. The event is being hosted for youth and their families; however, children 8-years-old and under, must be accompanied by an adult. The evening will be filled with various…
The Ava Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening in regular session, and with a unanimous vote, council members authorized Mayor Leon Harris to purchase a new backhoe for the city street department. The City also reported receipt of a good quality audit with MIRMA (Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association). Out…
By Sue Curry Jones In the Ava Board Spotlight, the R-1 board recognized technology director Jon Doane and staff for hard work and dedication in providing Ava schools, students, classrooms, staff and teachers with support and up-to-date technology. On behalf of the board, school board president Jeff Davis presented Doane…
Jan. 9, 1:35 a.m., NE 8th Ave., domestic disturbance. Jan. 9, 11:09 a.m., 500 block SW 7th St., power outage. Electric Dept. notified. Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m., NW 12th Ave., medical assist with ambulance and Ava Fire Dept. Jan. 9, 3:28 p.m., N. Jefferson, received information. Jan. 9, 4:27 p.m.,…
We all know how popular Ava Drug’s nickel ice cream is locally, but the local store’s fame has also earned story of the year honors for 2010 by a national broadcaster. Andrew McCrea, public broadcaster and motivational speaker, travels across the United States seeking and recording stories of local interest…
From the Douglas County Public Library It is that time of year again. Federal income tax forms are starting to trickle into the Douglas County Public Library. We have received a few of the required forms and instruction booklets to pick up, but they are sure slow to arrive. We…
Voters will have plenty of choices to make in April, when they go to the polls for the City of Ava and school board elections. Filing closed Tuesday afternoon with five candidates seeking the office of Ava mayor, and races for alderman in both the East and West wards of…
The Douglas County Public Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday.…
We’ve had some cold weather and we’ve seen some snow already, but winter hit with a vengeance this week. Light snowfall came on Monday and Tuesday, leaving an accumulation of around an inch Tuesday morning. But, in typical January fashion, dropping temperatures were accompanied by strong winds that drove the…
The Ava City Council agreed to split the cost of new tile for the Ava Senior Center at their regular meeting on Jan. 12. Bonnie Evans, director of the senior center, presented a proposal to the council outlining five bids for the project, which would re-tile the floors in the…
A large part of Ava woke up Monday morning in the dark, after a power pole snapped at the intersection of S. Jefferson St. and SE 6th Ave. Evidence at the scene along with an eye-witness account indicated a tractor-trailer rig hooked the pole while attempting to turn around in the intersection. A…
Filings for local elections to be held April 5 opened Tuesday, with some races already having a handful of candidates. In the City of Ava, voters will be electing a mayor and two aldermen, one from the East Ward and one from the West Ward of the city. Incumbents Billy…
The Ava City Council heard their annual auditor’s report at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 14. A representative from Davis, Lynn & Moots, P.C. of Springfield gave a report on the city’s financial statements. The report, which is of June 30, 2010, gave the city an unqualified, or clean…
The Ava City Council approved an ordinance changing the speed limit on NW 13th Street from 25 miles-per-hour to 15 miles-per-hour at their regular meeting on Nov. 23. The ordinance outlines that a petition was presented to the council expressing concerns about fast-moving traffic between Highway 5 and Walmart along…
The Ava City Council was presented with two petitions from area residents at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9. The first petition was from residents of the Rainbow Ridge neighborhood, and asked that the council consider placing some deterrents to fast-moving traffic in that area. The petition was presented…
The Ava City Council heard updates on many grant applications and the water project when they met in regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 26. For the first order of business, Administrative Director Peggy Porter introduced Kelly Beets from MIRMA (Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association). Beets presented a certification to the…
Oct. 3, 12:28 p.m., 100 block E. Highway 14. Animal complaint. Oct. 3, 11:52 p.m., NE 6th Ave., assist Sheriff’s deputy with traffic stop. Oct. 4, 4:07 a.m., NW 3rd St., traffic stop. Citation issued for financial responsibility and warning for speeding. Oct. 4, 8:17 a.m., SW 3rd Ave., medical…
Kiwanis Club of Ava is set to embark on another year of service to the children of the Ava community. The club roster has been confirmed and, although all of the officers are returning to their current positions, they are doing so with renewed commitment to make this Kiwanis year, which…
Student of the Month awards were presented to students from Ava High School and Ava Victory Academy at Tuesday’s luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. Each student received a $50 savings bond from Great Southern Savings Bank. Students of the Month from Ava High School for October…
Bethany Baptist Church will sponsor the October luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce next Tuesday, Oct. 12. The luncheon meeting will be held at the church, 302 SE 18th Ave. beginning at 12 noon. The menu will be tacos and the speaker will talk about health and…
The Ava Community Playground Project was selected as a finalist of the Pepsi Refresh Grant, with the opportunity to win a $250,000 grant. The grant winner is chosen based on the number of votes each project receives. Citizens can vote by texting “103398” to the number 73774. Or they may …
Sept. 19, 2:42 a.m., NW 12th Ave., traffic stop, citation for stop sign violation. Sept. 19, 3:38 p.m., Sheriff’s Office, report of harassment. Sept. 19, 4:39 p.m., report of motorcycles on airport runway. Sept. 19, 8:11 p.m., Highway 5, traffic stop, verbal warning for speed. Sept. 20, 6:16 a.m., NW…
The Ava City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, Sept. 14. During the public comments portion of the meeting, Craig Carter of the Douglas County Community Foundation spoke about a proposed walking/jogging trail from the new Missouri Ozarks Community Health (MOCH) wellness center to the Ava City Park trail.…
Friday, Sept. 17, begins the national celebration of Constitution Week. On Tuesday, local members of DAR met at the office of Ava Mayor Leon Harris for the signing of a proclamation designating Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week in Ava. The weeklong commemoration of America’s most important document is one of…
The 4-H club of Douglas County will be resuming dog training classes at the Ava City Park on Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. There will be beginning and intermediate obedience classes held on Thursday evenings through Oct. 27. For those not previously registered, there will be a $12 charge. All…
The Douglas County Commissioners and Sheriff Chris Degase have scheduled a second town hall meeting for Thursday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. in the large courtroom at the county courthouse, to review and discuss plans for a new county justice center and jail. The courtroom is located on the second…
Janie Dunning, Missouri State Director for USDA Rural Development, was among those in Ava Wednesday to official acknowledge a major renovation project at Redbud Village, a low-income senior citizens housing complex operated by the Douglas County Senior Citizens Housing Association. A certificate of appreciation was presented to Donna Alcorn, Ava…
Fire that was detected by the building’s alarm system just before midnight Thursday did major damage to one White River Valley Electric Coop truck that was parked inside the truck bay. However, the sprinkler system on the building located on NW 9th Street in Ava did its job in containing…
The Douglas County Commissioners and Sheriff Chris Degase have scheduled a Town Hall Meeting for tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. in the Ava Community Center, to review and discuss plans for a new County Justice Center and Jail. Notice of the meeting was only made public on Tuesday of this…
The Ava City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, Aug. 24 in City Hall. The council adopted a conflict of interest ordinance, something that is a legal requirement and is done every few years. The council also voted to enter into a voluntary compliance agreement with the Department of…
On Aug. 18, the Ava FFA Chapter hosted a blood drive sponsored by the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks at the Community Center. All the blood collected by the CBCO stays locals and supports 38 hospitals in Southern Missouri, northwest Arkansas and southeast Kansas. All blood and blood products…
Boyd Wins by 17 Votes Tina Boyd was declared the winner of the Republican nomination for Douglas County Recorder following a recount of ballots Monday. County Clerk Karry Davis said challenger Kathy Bray actually dropped one vote in the recount process, with the final tally having incumbent Boyd with 1,777…
After many locals participated in the Ava Drug 60th Anniversary American Red Cross Blood Drive, here are a few facts and tidbits of information about the American Red Cross that may be of interest. Less than 5 percent of the population in America donates blood, but someone needs blood every…
Ava Drug and the Ava Art Guild are collaborating on a contest called “The Way We Were.” This is part of the month-long celebration of Ava Drug’s 60 years of business. David Norman owner of the Ava Drug Store has gathered pictures of citizens from Ava’s history and they are…
The Douglas County Historical Society held its monthly meeting on Aug. 16. President Pat Carmichael called the meeting to order. Sharon read the treasurer’s report and the minutes of the July meeting and they were approved. The new brochure for the museum was discussed and what changes need to be…
Ava Mighty-Mite Football registration will be held at the Ava City Park next Monday and Tuesday. Registration will be held at the pavilion next to the Ava Water Park between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. Mighty-Mites is for players in first through sixth grades who want to have…
Gail Lennon will entertain in Ava this Saturday night as Ava Drug continues its 60th anniversary celebration. Gail will perform from 7 to 8 p.m. and will be joined by Brandon Henson, upright bass, from the Andy Williams Band, and Ava’s own master fiddler Junior Marriott. Gail Lennon came to…
The Ava City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 10. The council received the information on refunding their 2003 Combined Sewer Revenue Bonds that they approved at the last meeting. The average interest rates now on the bonds will be 3.85 percent, for a total savings of $89,900…
By Whitney Keith Local public defenders and circuit judges met with Peter Sterling, general counsel for the public defender system, on July 30 to discuss the caseload of public defenders. Circuit Court Judge John Moody, Associate Circuit Judges Craig Carter and John Jacobs, and local public defenders Linda McKinney and…
“Interesting” might be the proper term to use in describing Tuesday’s primary election in Douglas County. In most county races, Tuesday’s ballot was an elective ballot. The presiding commissioner is the only county office to be decided in November. That in itself has an interesting twist, because challenger Larry Pueppke…
Ava Drug Co. will celebrate 60 years of serving Douglas County with four Saturdays of free activities for the community. Among the August events: a community health fair, a Lennon Brothers concert, and a car show. “We lasted 60 years in Ava because of the patronage of the people in…
In last week’s Herald article about the Ava City Council, we described the Ava zoning classifications as: “The B3 classification is for commercial businesses, while the B4 classification is for industrial and larger businesses.” The Ava planning & zoning commission’s definition of the B3 designation is: For the conduct of…
The Ozark Mountain Players will present excerpts from “Laura’s Memories” at the Douglas County Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. This program consists of skits and musical numbers commemorating the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Admission to this program is also free. For more information about any…
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has passed a law that requires all contractors, artisans, landlords or construction workers to attend a one-day educational program to certify anyone who does maintenance or repairs on any structure built prior to 1978. The list includes but is not limited to general contractors, sub-contractors,…
Dwayne and Barbara Smith, musicians and storytellers, will be performing comic songs, gospel songs, ballads and stories from times gone by in the Ozarks and British Isles tonight at 7 p.m., at the Douglas County Public Library. The Smiths, from Joplin, have been performing music and storytelling programs professionally for…
At the Aug. 3 Law Day in Douglas County, a number of individuals were sentenced to prison terms, according to information provided by Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wade. Phillip Bea, 18, Ava, pleaded guilty to rape and forcible sodomy. He received 12 years on each count, with the sentences to run…
The Douglas County Democratic Central Committee met Tuesday, July 20, to select an individual to be recommended for the office of coroner. The committee was charged with the task of making a recommendation to the Governor’s Office of a candidate to fulfill the vacancy, created by the resignation of Coroner…
AUGUST 02 WIC (by appointment): 8:15 -11 a.m. and 1-3:45 p.m. 03 Office Closed: 8-10 a.m. 04 WIC (by appointment): 8:15-11:30 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. 05 Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar Screening: Redbud 8-9 a.m.; Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar Screening: Community Center 9:30-10:30 a.m. 06 WIC (by appointment): 8:15-11:30…
On Monday July 28, inmates from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were taken to the fairgrounds to clean up after the fair. Sheriff Chris Degase brought in additional personnel to guard the inmates as they were picking up trash. Degase said it took the inmates approximately 2 hours to pick…
[audio:http://www.douglascountyherald.com/wordpress/wk44citycouncil.mp3] The Ava City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 27. Two members of the public were there to address the board – planning & zoning commission head Josh Wilber and citizen John Sutton. Sutton has asked the council to review a P&Z request that he submitted and…
Ava Drug Store and Ava Art Guild had a very successful youth poster contest. There were a total of 18 entries with ages ranging from 13 years old to 5 years old. The grand prize winner was Zoey Crandall with her graphic art design. Two other youngsters whose entries were…
JEFFERSON CITY – Shoppers looking for a bargain on clothes, computers and school supplies can look forward to savings on these items in less than three weeks as part of Missouri’s annual “Back-to-School” Sales Tax Holiday. By state law, the sales tax holi¬day begins on the first Friday in August…
Whereas, the people of Ava and Douglas County are deserving of good health; and Whereas, all available knowledge indicates that human milk optimally enhances the growth, development and well-being of the infant by providing the best possible nutrition, protection against specific infection and allergies, and the promotion of maternal and…
In celebration of World breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7, Mayor Leon Harris has signed a proclamation declaring August Breastfeeding Month. More mothers in Missouri are breastfeeding their babies, but officials at the Douglas County Health Department are hoping more women in Ava and the surrounding area will choose breastfeeding and breastfeed…
The 2010 Douglas County Fair opens today (Thursday), and entertainment will kick off tonight with the traditional Fair Queen contest. Once again this year the Denim Gals contest will consist of three divisions, Petite Princess, Princess and Fair Queen. Preceding the queen contest will be the toddlers Stick Horse class…
A pool party for 7th-12th grade students is being sponsored by Community Health Assessment Resource Team (CHART) on Wednesday, July 28, at the Ava Water Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The pool party is free. According to organizers, the first 100 students will receive a goody bag. The…
National TV Sales and Rental has been in business in Ava since 2002 but just recently became a member of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce joined the business in cutting a ribbon this week to welcome the new member. Pictured from left are Chamber representatives…
A Douglas County inmate died last Thursday afternoon in a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 63 between Cabool and Houston. Stephen L. Thompson, 61, of Dora, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck at 2:22 p.m. by Texas County Coroner Tom Whittaker. Thompson was in the back seat of…
The Jacob Yeates Foundation has two main fundraisers. The first one was a Co-ed Softball Tournament that was held on June 5th at the Ava Softball field. It was a great time and the Jacob Yeates Foundation wants to thank all that participated and helped with the softball tournament. Their…
Ava kindergarten students who attended summer school this year have a better idea now of what goes on in their community. Several field trips were scheduled in the local community, taking the kids to retail businesses such as Town & Country Supermarket, and to service facilities like the Ava Post…
July 4, 12:30 a.m. NW 12th Ave., suspicious activity. July 4, 1:59 a.m., 13th Ave., warrant arrest. July 4, 11:41 a.m., 200 block NE 14th Ave., stealing. July 4, 1:10 p.m., NW 12th Ave., animal complaint. July 4, 6:58 p.m., 300 block NE 13th St., medical assist with Cox Ambulance.…
These young men were photographed “on the walk at our home in Ava, Mo.” according to what was written on the back of the picture in 1925 by Mrs. Mac Brooks. Pictured from left are Bill Brooks, Leland Davis, Russell Ferguson and Turner Silvey. The photo was sent to David…
The Ava City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 13. The council members heard a complaint about a city employee during the public comments portion of the meeting. Steve Goehl of D.A. Davidson Co. Quantitative Group spoke to the council about re-funding the bonds for a sewer project.…
Today’s edition of the Douglas County Herald offers a special political section which provides an overview of the local Douglas County candidates competing for a winning position in the Primary Election Tuesday, Aug. 3. The section highlights county candidates vying for the following offices: presiding commissioner, clerk of the circuit…
The 2010 edition of the Douglas County Fair will be held July 22, 23 and 24, but tomorrow (Friday) is the deadline to sign up for the Denim Gals Fair Queen Contest, for girls ages 5 to 18. Once again this year the Denim Gals contest will consist of three…
The board of directors of the Ava Area Ambulance District will meet at 7 p.m. Friday evening, July 16, at the ambulance station on NW 9th Street.…
The Ozark Mountain Players of Mansfield announced this week that they will bring their “Laura’s Memories” musical to the Ava Performing Arts Center on July 31. The pageant, based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, will be presented in two performances here at 3 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday,…
Employees of First Home Savings Bank have been paying $1 a week to “dress down”, and the money raised was donated to Neighbor Helping Neighbor. The employees raised $450 and the check was presented to Donna Nichols (at right above) who accepted the donation on behalf of Neighbor Helping Neighbor.…
The Ava Police Department is investigating a series of burglaries that occurred over a period of several days. Police Chief Reggie Johnson said the burglars seemed to have targeted government-owned buildings and in some instances there was more pilfering than stealing. All the burglaries occurred during the night, and in…
The Douglas County Herald and KKOZ radio will team up to sponsor a local political forum next Tuesday evening. The forum will be held in the Ava Community Center (Senior Center) from 6 to 8 p.m., and will feature local candidates for Douglas County offices. County voters are asked to…
June 28, 12:38 a.m., NW 12th Ave., stranded motorist. June 28, 1:35 a.m., NW 12th Ave., warrant arrest. June 28, 6:47 a.m., 1300 block NW 11th Ave. Terrace, power outage. Electric Dept. notified. June 28, 2:27 p.m., 600 block NE 6th St., stealing. June 28, 3:07 p.m., 1200 block NE…
The walking area at the Ava Police Station was closed to the public last Friday. The Herald has been notified, however, that the Health Department did not “order” the area closed, but only “recommended” that the city shut the area down. The walking area, which consists of the manufacturing portion…
Tanji Dye, the former bad check clerk for the Douglas County Prosecutor, was sentenced on July 6 to four years in the Department of Corrections for stealing. The sentence was suspended and she was ordered to complete 120-days of shock treatment, was placed on probation for five years, and ordered…
With the resignation of Douglas County Coroner Mark Pearson effective July 1, persons interested in filling that position may file as a candidate for appointment by the governor. County Clerk Karry Davis says anyone wishing to apply for the office of Douglas County Coroner may find an application form online…
Ava High School varsity football coach Dan Swofford reminds sports fans that the Night of Champions will be held Friday, July 9, beginning at 6 p.m. at the high school weight room. The public is invited to come by and watch the athletes work out and see what is involved…
The Ava/Douglas County EMA Office is hosting a 1st responder (EMR) Class starting July 12-16. This class will meet each night at the Little/Tost Training Center starting at 6 p.m. each evening. The cost of the class is $10. Interested persons can fill out the application before class at the…
Saturday, July 10 An LP gas class will be held in Ava on Saturday, July 10. The class is free to all area firefighters. Classroom work will be done in the EMA Little/Tost Training Center on SE 2nd Ave., east of the Sheriff’s Office. In the evening a live burn…
The Class of 2011 is busy planning and fund-raising for Project Graduation. The next meeting for any seniors and their parents is next Tuesday, July 13, at 5:30 p.m. in Connie Dean’s 4th grade classroom in the elementary school. All students and parents are urged to attend meetings and bring…
Ava Drug Store owner David Norman and the Ava Art Guild are seeking a young artist to design a poster that will be used as a promotion for the upcoming celebration of Ava Drug Store being in business for 60 years. In 1950 the Ava Drug store was opened just…
July Looks Cooler, Wetter Than Usual COLUMBIA – June temperatures were the warmest on average since 1953, according to a University of Missouri climatologist. “You have to go back 57 years to find a warmer June,” said Pat Guinan with the MU Extension Commercial Agriculture program. Temperatures ran 4 to…
The Douglas County Historical Society held its monthly meeting on June 21. Sharon called the meeting to order. She read the treasurer’s report for the last two months and it was approved. Pat read the minutes for the May meeting and they were approved. Subjects discussed were election of new officers,…
Joe LaTour Insurance will host the July luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce next Tuesday, July 13. The meeting will be held at 12 noon at the new Subway in the Roberts Centre on NW 12th Ave. A ribbon cutting scheduled for Wednesday, July 7, at National…
We had some great programs last month at the Douglas County Public Library. We were thoroughly entertained by Professor Farquar and the Great American Medicine Show, David Tower and his magic, and Daisy Shull with her chalk talk stories. There are two more special programs coming up in August that…
The City of Ava is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for vandalism to headstones in the Ava Cemetery last week. Ten headstones were spray painted, some with vulgar wording, and have since been cleaned up. Most of…
A light rain shower that passed through the area Friday night had little impact on the big Independence Day Celebration at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center in Ava. But the more intense thunderstorm that came through on Sunday evening created a little more concern for folks at the Celebrate…
The Ava Swim Team went to Lebanon last Saturday for swim meet competition and came away with third place overall. At left, Josh Gillies (left) was high point winner in the Ages 9 & 10 category and Jacob Gillies was high point winner in the 8 & Under division. There…
With the Fourth of July holiday falling on Sunday this year, government offices and many businesses will observe the holiday on Monday, July 5. City, county, state and federal offices will observe the holiday on Monday, which means there will be no rural mail service on Monday. For that reason,…
The Douglas County Commission recently announced it would place two ½-cent sales tax proposals on the ballot in November. Since that time, the Herald has received conflicting information from Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase and the County Commission as to exactly what the money would be earmarked for and how…
The Ava City Council promoted Trent Murray to lieutenant in the police department by a vote a 4-0 during the closed session of their June 22 meeting. The council also voted to hire Randy Kauffman to work as a wastewater treatment plant operator. However, Kauffman declined the offer, saying that…
Two rural Douglas County homes were destroyed by fire during the past week despite gallant efforts by rural fire departments that fought the fires in sweltering summer heat. Ava Rural Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at the Casey McCoy residence west of Ava on County Road 546…
- Activity Report - From The Ava Police Dept. Reggie Johnson, Chief — Phone 417-683-2931 — Answered 24 Hours a Day June 14, 12:30 a.m., NE 13th Ave., received information about missing person. June 14, 5:21 a.m., assisted Highway Patrol by holding individual in city jail. June 14, 11:24 a.m.…
Douglas County Coroner Mark Pearson has submitted his resignation, effective today, July 1. County Clerk Karry Davis has been contacted by the office of Gov. Jay Nixon in regard to the procedure to be followed to fill the vacancy. Anyone wishing to apply for the office of Douglas County Coroner…
Voter Registration Deadline Is Next Wednesday County Clerk Karry Davis said absentee ballots are now available for the August primary election. Anyone needing to vote an absentee ballot may contact the County Clerk’s Office. Davis also said next Wednesday, July 7, is the last day a person may register to…
The walking area at the Ava Police Station will be off limits beginning Friday, July 2, by order of the Douglas County Health Department. Area residents who use that area for exercise will be notified when the area is reopened for public use. Police Chief Reggie Johnson said the area…
Greetings once again from your state capitol. The state legislature is back in session this last week of June 2010 at the request of Governor Jay Nixon. This special session was called to consider two proposals. One proposition is to give tax breaks to large manufacturers who bring a new…
JULY 01 Blood pressure and blood sugar screening: Redbud 8-9 a.m. Blood pressure and blood sugar screening: Community Center 9:30-10:30 a.m. 02 WIC (by appointment): 8:15-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:45 p.m. 05 Office Closed – 4th of July holiday Observed 06 Office Closed: 8-10 a.m. Immunizations (by appoint-ment): 1-3:45 p.m. 07 …
We are missing some “regulars” that are on vacation this week. On Friday night, several came out to help in the booth as we made funnel cakes at Heart of the Ozarks Nursing Home Fireworks. We had enough help that we rotated which helped. Thanks to John and Chad for…
Loretta Burgin of the Community Garden Program will be meeting with Kiwanis members on July 1 at noon. Our club has been considering getting involved with that program and we have asked her to come so that we can get some more information. The public is invited to attend this…
The Ava High School Class of 1965 met for a 45-year reunion on Saturday, June 19, at the Ava Lions Club. The class members present were from left front row: Phyllis (Gray) Swofford, Ava; Rodney Alms, Ava; Barton Monger, Decatur, Texas; Larry Adams, Battlefield, Mo.; Delano Stewart, Ozark, Mo.; Row…
Dr. Nancy Lawler, assistant administrator at Ava R-I Schools, said Wednesday that the school has received approval for a grant that will allow for nine additional days of summer school. The additional days of summer school have been tentatively set for July 6-16, funded through a grant from Community Partnership…
Richelle Pettit, a candidate from Ava High School, attended Missouri Girls State at Central Missouri University in Warrensburg, the week of June 20 to June 25. Richelle is the daughter of Bruce and Pam Pettit, of Ava. Girls State is a program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary providing young…
Air Force Airman Brandon L. Mills graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic…
The Douglas County Public Library was presented a book last week that is sure to be of interest to a lot of folks in the Ava and Douglas County region. L.D. Keller and the Promenaders was compiled and written by Willie Washam, and edited and designed by Bob Chancellor. Washam…
High school students will no longer have a late start on Monday mornings, due to a vote by the Ava R-I Board of Education at their regular meeting on June 17. The board voted to replace the late start with a district-wide early release on Wednesdays to allow teachers time…
The Ava City Council approved the 2010-2011 budget at their regular meeting on June 22. Administrative Director Peggy Porter said no members of the public appeared at the budget hearing, but some employees came, and their concerns and suggestions were discussed. The council approved the budget by a 4-0 vote.…
Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center will host its 25th annual Independence Day celebration this Friday night and Highway Church of the Nazarene will present Celebrate America on Sunday, June 27. The annual Squires Picnic will be held next week, on Saturday, July 3. The activities at the nursing home…
Ham radio operators in this area will be taking part in a public demonstration the weekend of June 26 and 27. The demonstration will begin at noon, Saturday, June 26, and run through the night until 2 p.m. on June 27. Local “hams” will join with thousands of amateur radio…
