Dear Editor: Elected officials take an oath to uphold our Constitution that became the supreme law of the land (Art. 6). The Civil War amendments, 13, 14 and 15 guarantee that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish, to the degree, that the…
Dear Editor, When I read “THE SNOOP with KEITH MOORE,” In the January 17th issue of the Herald, I marveled that such an article was published! Keith Moore seems to be supportive of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution “I will renew my membership in the organization (NRA) to…
Recently, I was asked, “What does the town of Ava have to offer?” I thought of places to shop or eat, but I didn’t have an answer at that moment. However, with recent events that have caused grief, pain and hardship for Douglas County residents, I do have the answer…
Editor: Just when I thought school food service couldn’t get any worse, Michelle Obama has done it again!! Last year, we the tax payer, was out boo koo money on her “Kindergarten Food from The Farm” program. This was a program that all Kindergarten classes had to sample different fruits…
Dear Editor: I know that I may be a little slow in my thinking sometimes and I’m asking for help on this one. Can anyone explain to me why MoDOT spent over a quarter of a million dollars for a traffic light at the junction of Highways 5 and 14…
Dear Editor, This letter is being written to my non-Catholic brothers and sisters because we are all under attack from our own government. Many of you probably know about the Health and Human Services mandate that says that all insurance plans must cover contraceptives, sterilization, and pills that cause abortions.…
In response to the MoDOT article about putting signs along road right-of-ways, I would rather see signs than weeds, brush, trees growing to block the view of cars when pulling out of my driveway. MoDOT wants people to pick up trash, but they can’t walk through the waist high grass.…
Dear Editor; In the past, I have been critical of decisions made by the Ava school board because I believe that criticism earned should be levied. I believe that accolades earned should be levied as well. I would like to applaud the Ava school board for their recent decision to…
Remembering Weldon Sanders A couple of months ago, while on a business trip to Ava, Bevy Moore gave me a copy of the obituary for Weldon Sanders. I had the opportunity, about three years ago, to spend some time with Weldon and Bob Cooper at a coffee meeting in Springfield,…
To the Editor, National Nursing Home Week, which begins on Mother’s Day May 13 and ends May 19, 2012, is a special week to “Celebrate the Journey” of residents and honor them with a shower of community support. This year’s theme of “Celebrating the Journey” is a perfect backdrop for…
Dear Editor: I recently read the story River Stillwood wrote about turning age 51. So, I’m going to tell my story about turning 94 on Aug. 11, 2011, and how I thought about it. This was just impossible, and as I kept thinking of it over and over and saying…
Dear Editor: I would like to encourage all registered voters of Douglas County to vote on Tuesday, February 7. Voting is a privilege that many take for granted. Many people believe that their vote does not matter. True. One vote may indeed not matter, however your “one vote” with others’…
To the person or persons who started the fire that destroyed my Grandpa Spurlock’s Store at Squires, Missouri on January 22, 2012, the building may be gone, but the memories from the community and family will never be destroyed. The building was the hub for the post office, feed store,…
So enjoyed all the stories in your Christmas series; knew but had forgotten the legends behind the candy cane and so many more. New Year’s Eve day we held a mini Sugar Shack reunion at Larkin’s. Haven’t laughed so much in a very long time. Four of the original were…
I read the article concerning the most recent School Board meeting in the 24 November, 2011 issue of the Douglas County Herald and I particularly was drawn to the graduation rate report of our high school for the last few years. Even though the rates were for five years in…
For over 20 years I have done volunteer work at the Seventh-Day Adventist Community Center along with a few other people on Tuesdays. If you don’t know what the center is, it’s where people can go on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. -2 p.m., to get free clothes and things. Anyway, the…
I abandoned my shopping cart along with my dignity in aisle three last (Thursday) night. After years of scoffing at those willing to camp out for the sake of a bargain, I finally succumbed to the lure of Black Friday, now moved to Thursday. I expect it to be bumped…
A rose goes out to the veterans who came together at the Ava Cemetery on Veterans Day, set aside to honor all veterans who graciously served and gave their lives for us to enjoy. I was unable to attend due to a doctor’s appointment. I was grateful to our local…
Dear Editor: The media are making much of the Occupy Wall Street doings and the other areas of this nation where some people have occupied downtown areas of cities. Supposedly this is to protest against “the rich”, for a redistribution of wealth, people wanting what they haven’t earned. If one…
First, I want to express our appreciation to Keith for “The Snoop” and Sue, to you for your articles. Really have enjoyed both. What I’m about to write is “food for thought.” I’ve always heard about this democracy countdown. It is interesting to see it in print. God help us,…
The Douglas County Fair had an awesome Fall Festival. Lots of hard work goes into putting the Douglas County Fair and Fall Festival on. I do not think that people realize what all it involves. Douglas County is a great place to live. It does make my heart sad to…
Dear Editor: I am really disgusted with these people who don’t have their animals spayed or neutered. Three weeks ago five adorable puppies were dropped off at the end of our lane. The temperatures were in the 90s. I went to the farmers market on Saturday morning and saw two…
Dear Editor: I am writing this, as you will soon see, while very frustrated. Frustrated with the complexities of the present as compared to the simplicities of the past. I would appreciate being able to pick up the phone, dial a number, and get someone on the other end, especially…
When Eastern Douglas County Fire Rescue instituted a Junior Fire Fighter Program, it was with some trepidation on my part. Having raised two sons, I knew how problematic teenagers could be, and fire fighting is a serious, dangerous business. Our first two juniors, Matt Hammett and Guy Mullenack, proved to…
Dear loved ones in and from Douglas County: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your thoughts, calls and prayers all over the country during my “out-of-pocket” experience on Sunday, May 22, 2011 about 5:40 p.m. here in Joplin. I was/am a most fortunate human being. I…
Dear Editor, Over the past several months I have been concerned with the Ava R-1 School District’s welfare. Many believe that when you look inside a school one should see a great educational process at work and teachers filling the minds of students with knowledge and the ability to work…
Dear Editor, I’m writing this because I’m distressed with recent events in the Ava School system, specifically with the Ava School Board, the Superintendent, and the high school Principal. I, too, attended the recent board meeting and stated my request to the board on behalf of Jeff Tabor. Obviously, that…
Dear Editor: When I read the paper last week about the school board meeting that was addressing the issue of Mr. Tabor getting rehired next year, I was shocked to say the least. I must admit that I don’t keep up on many happenings in the Ava School since my…
Dear Editor: I am writing this letter as a concerned Douglas County taxpayer and Ava graduate who has a child and four grandchildren in the Ava R-1 school system. I would like to thank those responsible for the Open Forum which was held so that I could get to know…
Dear Editor: Because we live in a representative democracy, in our government at all levels, we elect people to speak for us in making decisions to ensure that our constitutional rights are secure and preserved. With that in mind, I offer my views on the issues that have recently taken…
To the Good People of Ava, I was born and raised in a small village in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York. Cold Spring is a beautifully scenic town nestled at the foot of a mountain on the banks of the Hudson River. I wasn’t the type who wanted…
We must stop arguing about who pays the costs of medical care. We must begin to examine why the costs of medical care are so high! A friend of mine had some chest pains after overdoing yard work. “Ray” sat down and waited but they didn’t go away. Ray’s wife…
Dear Editor: I would like to present a large bouquet of roses to the cast and crew of Ava High School’s play, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” They did a great job of giving the audience a glance into the lives of the Jewish people who were hiding from the…
From Ozarks Preservation, Inc., and The West Plains Council On The Arts Dear friends and neighbors, As many of you know, our two local organizations, Ozarks Preservation, Inc., and the West Plains Council on the Arts, have been interested for some years now in seeking practical and affordable ways to document…
Dear Editor: I went to the library and read the “Feasibility Study” for the Ozark Highlands Heritage Area. It really didn’t say much about what they actually intend to do, but there were some hints. There was a map from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s document, Missouri Forest Resource Assessment…
By Charles E. Kruse The Missouri Conservation Commission will soon vote on a plan to release wild elk in the state. Reintroducing wild species is a laudable goal but Missouri has changed since elk roamed here over a century ago. Releasing wild elk in Missouri is a bad idea, wrought…
Dear Editor: Ad this mid-term election draws closer, as I see things, we Americans and our country are in dire straits. I am a counter subscriber to your newspaper, and am thankful we have a local news outlet that really helps us keep up with the events affecting our lives.…
To the citizens of Douglas County: Have you been blaming the Democrats or the Republicans about the sorry state of government affairs? Perhaps you have been looking in the wrong place for blame. Here are some interesting statistics found at www.SOS missouri.gov. I found some contradictory information there, as you…
Dear Editor, On September 8, 2010 I attended a celebration at Douglas County Senior Citizens Housing Association’s Redbud Village with several city officials and community leaders. The celebration marked the end of a 48-unit senior housing renovation project. Funding for this project was made possible by First home Savings Bank,…
I am writing to the Herald to comment on your 9/23/2010 story, “Hundreds Attend Public Meetings on Elk Restoration.” The story put out by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is filled with distortions, or what people in the real world might call lies. MDC wants Missourians to believe that…
Dear Editor: What does an individual have to do around Ava to get things made right? This city hired three companies to work on the water lines I’m told, and in the process these companies have made a wreck of most of our streets. They are terrible to drive on…
Dear Editor, I read last week’s letter to the editor by Carol Boeddeker, of Seymour. Her letter was a critique of the homes within the Ava city limits and the final paragraph read: “Even though I don’t have an Ava address, Ava is ‘my town,’ where I work, shop and…
Dear Editor: Out of curiosity I wonder if the following tallies have ever been taken in the City of Ava and what are the results of those tallies. For instance: 1) How many houses are there within the city limits? 2) How many of those houses are sitting empty? 3)…
I saw a boy come into our store the other day. He appeared unburdened and playful. He went straight for a puppy and enthusiastically got on his knees to play. He asked questions, laughed and for a few moments my life was a little brighter because of him. We all…
Dear Editor: Thank you for publishing the election results in depth. What a tedious job it must be to create the charts and then carefully enter the vote totals. (By my haphazard count, the Herald staff had at least one thousand six hundred forty-two opportunities to get the numbers wrong!)…
Dear Editor: LOCAL: To begin this simple dialogue, we have voted in the primary election. The results were rewarding to some candidates and disappointing for others. The votes were very close in a few cases, particularly pertaining to the question of prosecution. The future will reveal how well the “no…
The DOCO Sheltered Workshop Board appreciates the opportunity to respond to a recent letter to the editor from one of our fellow recyclers, Mr. Walt Walters. We want to address some of his concerns, and to help him and others in the community understand how many of the recent changes…
On a very serious note we have been confronted with the Presidents statement that he approves of the placing of a Muslim mosque in what is considered ground zero, in New York City. To do so is not only a slap in the face to all those who are serving…
It is time to make a mention of the DoCo plant in Ava. I am all for recycling, and I do not live in Ava. I live in rural Ava, south of the city, and I go to great lengths to recycle. Others around me simply burn or throw their…
I am writing in response to the Letter to the Editor written by Misty Johnson, that was published in the July 15th edition of the Douglas County Herald. Many times things are published, repeated and taken out of context without the other side being given the opportunity to explain the…
Dear Editor, I was delighted last week to meet a candidate for the United States Congress at the Ava square. I was impressed that a congressional candidate would take time to visit Ava. There was a good showing of the local citizens, and people were able to have a one-on-one…
I would like to bring attention to the readers of this newspaper about our Douglas County Sheriff’s department, more specifically one of their deputies. My three children and I were at the Drury University Extension office late last week when my car decided it did not want to start. It…
Dear Editor: Not that we don’t know or have not heard of the subject matter, but the purpose of this letter is to refresh our memory of the great event which occurred July 4, 1776. If it had not been for the events which occurred, this document or the other…
