Looking Back by Lora Stull
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One Hundred Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, June 11, 1919.)
With the Soldiers in Camp Dodge: Eighteen “lost men have been found” at the Fort Des Moines Hospital and communications with their homes re-established, through the “Missing Man Canvas,” which is being conducted by the American Red Cross. Men of whom every trace had been lost during the war, have been located through this valuable and interesting branch of the service, of which little or nothing has been mentioned in the papers. The “Missing Man Canvas” is being conducted in every military hospital in which the Red Cross is active. One man who had drifted away from home years ago and had not corresponded with his family since that time, but had enlisted in the army under an assumed name, finally gave his correct name and now is happy again, being in touch with his family.
Salvation Army Hut: The most popular organization in army circles these times is the Salvation Army. A large room is open day and night on Fourth Street in the city near the depots and here all soldier boys are provided with refreshments and a lounging place, day and night. A hut will be erected at Fort Des Moines by the Salvation Army following the arrival of the approval from the War Department. The hut will be permanent if the hospital at the Fort is continued in operation. (Although the doughnut became the symbol of The Salvation Army in France, pies and cakes were also baked by the lassies in crude ovens, and lemonade was served to hot and thirsty troops as well. It was not only the delicious home cooking but also the spirit with which it was served that captivated the men. The simple secret was that the Salvationists were serving not only the soldiers but God, and they brought to mind thoughts of home and of the people there. At The Salvation Army hut the men could not only bring their uniforms to be mended; they could also bring their problems to share. As buttons were sewed on, a brief message of help was offered.)
Obituary in this edition was: Helen Moore Deweese.
Seventy-Five
Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, June 15, 1944.)
The directors of the Rideta Electric Co-operative met Tuesday evening in J. A. Beard’s office with George Dillon and C.F. Blickley, members of the Rural Electrification Administration of St. Louis, Mo., and Lester Eckles of Brown Engineering Co., of Des Moines. During the meeting a contract was made with the A-A Electric Company of Chicago, IL., to construct approximately 265 miles of electric lines in Ringgold, Decatur and Union Counties,
Mrs. L.E. Butler of Benton has received word that her son, Staff Sgt. Charles V. Butler, has been injured while serving with the armed forces on the Anzio beachhead in Italy and is now confined to a hospital. Butler was sent overseas from Camp Claiborne, LA., in Feb. 1942, since which time he has been in Ireland, England, North Africa and Italy.
Marriages: May 29, Robert Hartman and Coleen Wright…June 9, Elizabeth Sheumaker and Sgt. Vernon Thomas…June 5, Bernice Maynard and Lieut Lee Newman.
Births: May 31, a daughter, Catherine, to Mr. and Mrs. Forest Harvey.
Obituaries in this edition were: William Curtis Hamblin, Mary Lurinda Rice, Brice Clifford Reasoner, Alice Lavada Gilmore Tedrow and Kenneth Avery Haley.
Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, June 12, 1969.)
A Grand Valley girl, Pam Wilcoxson, has been chosen as one of fifteen Iowa girls to represent the state in the National Federation Track Meet June 13-14 at the University of Kentucky. Track squad honored, 16 letters given; Coach Jim McIntosh announced at a track dinner held May 29 at the Shamrock Cafe. Boys receiving letters were; Seniors: Tim Irving, Lonnie Sharp, Gene Lesan, Steve Shiflett; Juniors: Ed Defenbaugh, Steve Crawford, Rod Saville, Terry Howie, William Burchett; Sophmores, Paul Fell, Mick Still, Mark Payne; Freshman, Lynn Rinehart, Jeff Brown, Doug Poore and Steve Calhoun. Three new school records were established during the year. Paul Fell raised the high jump record to 6’; Lesan Burchett, Crawford and Howie set new 2 mile record of 8:42.4; Defenbaugh, Irving, Burchett and Howie set new medley relay record to 8:47.8. Three other performers just missed school marks as they advanced to second place on the all-time chart. Tim Irving was just .1 second off the 220 record, he ran :22.8; Ed Defenbaugh;s clocking of :51 flat in the 440 is just .4 off the record. These two records are still held by Eugene Ricker. Terry Howie missed the record of Duane Miller by .3 as he ran 2:04.9 in the 880, and Lonnie Sharp remained second place in the discus with a toss of 138’4” behind Gary Wion.
Marriage: Jean Marie Black and Ron Seipp on May 25.
Births: June 9, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Murphy of Russell…June 10, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Snead of Grant City, MO.
Obituaries in this edition were: Alma Ruby Lambert Hunt, Clarence Edward Daly, Leona Rose Jasmer Schoenmann, Eva Gertrude Humphrey James and Clyde Kenneth Kemery.
Twenty Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, June 16, 1994.)
The Mount Ayr Community School board decided to move ahead toward building an addition to the Mount Ayr Community junior/senior high building at the meeting Monday. The decision came after several meetings with school committees, board members from surrounding school districts and a public meeting for people of the school district.
This weekend Iowa telephone users must begin dialing the area code when placing long distance calls made within their own area code. The change is necessary so that more telephone prefix codes will be available to meet Iowa’s future demand for telecommunication services.
Karon Giles and her daughter, Jodie Geist, both of Mount Ayr, combined to win the Mount Ayr Golf & Co. Club two-lady best shot golf tournament held June 7. There were 72 women competing.
Diagonal Maroonettes saw their season record go to 4-0 with a victory over Villisca there Thursday night. “Cindy Goodale threw another great game for us,” coach Jeff Bedier said. Trish Carson singled twice and had an RBI. Courtney Garrett had an RBI and double. Amber Sobotka, Cindy Goodale and Joni Butler each had singles.
Obituaries in this edition were: Lawrence Russell Grace, Vernon Wheeler “Tom” Boyer and Axel Marius Jensen.
Ten Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, May 28, 2009.)
Honor flights set for central Iowa Vets-Volunteers have begun raising funds to send several hundred central Iowa veterans of WWII to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. Planners of the Central Iowa Honor Flight indicate a total of $450,000 is needed to send 700 veterans on one-day charter flights from Des Moines.
A Maloy woman recently made her usual stop at Lynn’s Sinclair to buy a soda, cookie, and a scratch ticket. Only this time, on that particular day, Janice “Kathy” Braby won the top prize of $30,000 playing the “Crossword” (orange newsprint) scratch game.
Sophomore Cade Lambson had a great first trip to the state track meet this year, bringing home first place in the discuss and second place in the shot put. Lambson tossed the discus 158’1” for the Class 1A crown and threw the shot put 53’3.75” to take second.
Births: Jayden Loaiza Morrison was born May 8, proud parents are Jorge and Jennifer (Pedersen) Morrison.
Obituaries in this edition were: Clyde E. Bailey, Otis Ray Baker, Verda Fetty Day and Janice June Adkisson Wilson.