Looking Back July 4
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One Hundred Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, July 16, 1919.)
The trial of Roy Emerson, charged with murder in the first degree, is developing some very interesting phases, so many in fact that the large crowd of spectators which gathers in the court room every day to hear the trial will not leave their seats during the recesses for fear that they will be unable to get seats upon their return. The court room has been filled for nearly every session and many times extra chairs were placed in the aisles and just back of the railing to accommodate the people.
Extra, Extra, July 19, 1919
The trial of Roy Emerson, charged with the murder of his mother, Kate Emerson, was concluded in District Court of Ringgold County this morning at 10:10 o’clock when the jury finds the defendant, Roy Emerson, guilty of murder in the second degree.
Property owners within the business district of the town of Mount Ayr are hereby notified that they must at once make connections with the sewers of all water closets. All privies and surface vaults must within ten days of the publication of this notice be cleaned and removed. All alleys must be cleaned up of the accumulations of filth and decaying matter and the weeds and vegetation cut and removed. A new health law is now in effect and will be enforced in Mount Ayr. The town is maintaining by taxation a sewer district and all privies and vaults must be discontinued within the sewer district.
Births: July 8, a daughter, Dorothy, to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Denhart…July 5, a daughter, Lula, to Mr. and Mrs. James Fletchall…July 1 a daughter, Betty Maxine, to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Frazie…June 23, a son, Virgil LeRoy, to Mr. and Mrs. Barton Florea…June 19, a son, John Peter, to Mr. and Mrs. T.P. Groves.
Obituaries in this edition were; Emma B. Lamb Thompson, Mary Margaret Mitchell Huffman, William Alexander McMullen, and Mary Saltzman Kling.
Seventy-Five
Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, July 20, 1944.)
Mrs. Cora Hall, of Benton received a telegram Tuesday from the War Department which conveyed the message that her son, Staff Sgt. John E. Hall, who had previously been reported missing in action over Germany since June 18, is now a German prisoner of war. The information was gained through the American Red Cross…Pvt. Olin F. Marshall, of the Army Airforce, died June 29 in a station hospital in New Guinea. Pvt. Marshall served as a tail gunner on a bomber…Technician Fifth Grade, Warren A. Allen of Tingley, has been missing in action since D-Day somewhere over France.
Construction will start soon on Rideta electric lines in county. William Anderson of the Brown Engineering Co., of Des Moines arrived Monday and began staking lines for the construction of the three-phase lines. As soon as sufficient lines are staked, the A.A. Electric Co. of Ciero, IL will begin construction. Problems dealing with wiring of farm houses and buildings have already been discussed at meetings held at Diagonal, Lamoni and Mount Ayr.
Obituaries in this edition were; William Geiger and Frances Marion Wickett Page.
Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, July 17, 1969.)
Bigger checks for county officials starting July 1- Since July 1, the paychecks of Ringgold County officials have been larger. In compliance with Senate File 714 of the 63rd General Assembly of the State of Iowa, the Ringgold County Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Clerk of the District Court, Ringgold County Attorney, Sheriff and members of the Board of Supervisors are benefiting by the raise in pay. The salary increases for the elected officials are based upon the population of the county and assessed valuation. Officials and their yearly salaries are: Ringgold County Auditor, Treasurer, and Recorder, $7,375 ($3,125 according to population and $4,250 according to valuation); Sheriff, $8,000 plus $750 house rent per year and Ringgold Count Attorney, $7,500. Members of the Board of Supervisors will receive an annual salary of $5,600.
With the Soldiers:YN3 Richard E. Hill returned June 27 to San Francisco, California, after a leave spent with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Hill of Tingley. From San Francisco, Hill left on the John Paul Jones for Hawaii, where he spent a week and then returned to his home port of Long Beach, CA…Sgt. and Mrs. Lyle Harris are the parents of a son, Christopher, born July 8 in Madrid, Spain…Eugene Aniszewski, who has been in Viet Nam since June 28, would like to here from his friends…Roger Bickel left June 27 from Fort Lewis, WA. and landed in Kimpo, Japan, where he is stationed at the Headquarters Army Depot near a village about 30 miles from Seoul, Korea.
Births: July 8, a daughter, Julie, to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Zimmerly…July 9, a daughter, Mary Ellen, to Chief and Mrs. Dorman Weaver…July 12, a daughter, Maria, to Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hannon.
Obituaries in this edition were; Anna Bell Vest Liles, George Riley Burnside and Jesse M. Anderson.
Twenty Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, July 14, 1994.)
Garry Hamilton, 50, of rural Diagonal was pronounced dead at the scene of a semi/tractor accident which happened July 8, eight miles west of Mount Ayr on Hwy. 2. Hamilton was the driver of the tractor struck by a semi loaded with bales of recycled tin, as it attempted to pass. Both vehicles were eastbound on Hwy. 2 according to investigating officers from Iowa Highway Patrol and Ringgold County Sheriff.
The Ringgold County Public Health Nursing Agency will be relocating it’s office next week July 18-22nd to 111 So. Fillmore.
A graduated Diagonal senior, Jennifer Butler, will have “Don’t Drink and Drive” message broadcast on WHO-TV Channel 13, Tuesday, July 19. Jennifer is the daughter of Jim and Kathy Butler.
A ribbon cutting was held at the new location of Ringgold County Abstract Company this week to welcome the business at it’s location at 108 E. Madison, east of the square. Lesa Saville is the owner.
Obituary in this edition was Garry Hamilton.
Ten Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, July 2, 2009.)
It looks like the Ringgold County Board of Supervisors may have found a solution to their search for a lease purchase provider for the new Ringgold County jail. Last week they talked about advertising for proposals for the building project with a June 30 deadline but Tuesday morning Joe Murphy of Mount Ayr brought in a proposal that he wanted earlier action on so the project could get moving. Murphy noted that local contractors would play a big role in getting the facility built, a plus for the community.
Searchers scoured Ringgold County Sunday night and Monday morning looking for Shirley Martin of Mount Ayr, who was discovered early Monday morning walking along a road in Adams County. Martin, who has dementia, left the Ringgold County fairgrounds about 5 p.m. Sunday night and family members thought she had just taken the pickup and driven home when she was not found at home, family members began a search and then notified Ringgold County Sheriff’s office.
Obituaries in this edition were; Gearldine Garrett Dailey, Marvin Earl Dillenburg, Richard L. Drake, Billie Jean Smith and Virginia Lou Rood Straight.