Looking Back with Lora Stull
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One Hundred Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record News, Thursday, March 31, 1920.)
W. Moore, of this city, received a letter last week bearing the Madrid, Spain post mark. The letter imparts the information that the writer is in prison in Spain and aid is solicited in securing release that he may raise the seizure of his baggage, pay the registrar of the court the expense of trial and “recover my portmanteau (a large trunk or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening into two equal parts) containing a secret pocket where I have hidded one check for $60,000.” The writer magnanimously offers as reward for assistance 1/3 the amount of the check or $20,000. The urgency of the matter is indicated in the request that reply be made by cablegram addressed to a trusted friend at Saville, Spain. Although the letter is addressed to Wellington Moore, undertaker, Mr. Moore does not have any idea of undertaking to secure the $20,000 reward. It is evidently a revival of the old Spanish swindle which was familiar to newspaper readers a few years ago.
“Billie” Finch, representative of the Humphrey Produce Co., has established a new record for the amount of eggs taken in by one place of business in this city in one day. Saturday was a good day as to weather and although the roads were not as good as usual and in some instances too heavy for the use of a car, a large number of farmers came to town bringing their eggs as Finch paid 42 cents per for them. At the close of business Saturday “Billie” had taken in a total of 81,360 eggs. Counting all of the store’s business in Mount Ayr Saturday a total of over 125,000 eggs were brought to town by the farmers on that day.
Marriages: March 6, Virginia Carey became the bride of Glen Stewart.
Obituary in this edition was, Arthur Floyd Davis.
Seventy-Five
Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record News, Thursday, April 5, 1945.)
Petitions are being circulated in Mount Ayr this week requesting the town council to take “some action” for the improvement of the unpaved streets of the town. Petitioners request some all-weather material to eliminate the mud.
Staff Sgt. Lyle E. Goldner has been decorated with the Air Medal. The award was made in recognition of courageous service to his combat organization, his fellow American airmen, his country, his home, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Goldner of Mount Ayr.
C.C. Brimmer, president of Rideta Electric Cooperative Inc., Monday, April 9, will throw the switch which will release electric energy to serve 58 customers on the 30 miles of REA lines from the Knowlton sub-station east to Wishard Chapel and north to Tingley.
Service Selections: Mrs. Archie Palmer, of Mount Ayr received a letter last week from her husband, Cpl. Robert A. Palmer, informing her that he had landed safely about the last of February somewhere in India and is now stationed at an air base.
Marriages: March 21, Eloise Stanton and Homer Shaw…March 31, Carolyn Pettis and Dean Crecelius.
Obituaries in this edition were: Pauline Viola McQuigg Wharton, Darrell Baldwin Andesrson, Albert Lyle Kelley and Roy C. Adair.
Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record News,Thursday, March 19, 1970.)
The long popular “Stamp Day” in the nation’s schools will pass into oblivion at the end of this school year. The US Treasury sponsored Savings Stamp program for school children has been classified by many as second in popularity “only to recess” will be discontinued by the Treasury Department effective June 30. The decision to discontinue the sale of Savings Stamps was reached as a result of rising administrative costs and a general leveling off of participation in recent years. The program, born during WWII as a vehicle for youngsters saving, has provided the financing of many a college education.
Ken Pickens family held hostage in Iowa City. Pickens said family’s ordeal began when two men knocked at his door around 10:30 p.m. Friday night, greeting him by his first name. He said one man identified himself as “Joe Maloney” from Mount Ayr, Pickens home town. “I knew nobody from Mount Ayr by that name and when I asked him to step over to the side where I could see him he stuck a gun in my face. One man forced him to drive the family car to the Hy-Vee store, open the safe, and turnover its contents, while the other man held his wife, Sharon, and two sons, Kris 5 and Kent 13, in the boys’ bedroom. The bandit who took him to the store seemed very nervous at first Pickens said, but after he had the money and they returned to the house he “calmed down quite a bit.” The two men left the house and took Pickens with them, driving in circles for about 50 miles before letting him out about 3 miles from his home. (Parents of Mr. and Mrs. Pickens are Mr. and Mrs. Troy Payne and Mrs. Audrey Pickens of Mount Ayr.)
Obituaries in this edition were: Forest R. Johnston and Elmer L. Saville.
Twenty Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record News, Thursday, March 16, 1995.)
Ringgold County Accessor, Scott Johnson, is announcing that the preliminary work on the door-to-door inspections of all residential properties in Ringgold County will begin in April. A reappraisal program was approved by the company conference board in April 1994. The purpose of the reappraisal program is to equalize property assessments so that each taxpayer is responsible for paying only his or her fair share of the property tax burden.
Maloy’s city government faced another crisis Friday March 10, when a quorum did not attend the city council meeting. The council meeting was called to hold a public hearing on closing a street and to formally adopt the 1995-96 city budget. Only mayor Brian Terrell, council member Veronica Ray, and city clerk, Don Ray, attended the meeting. No official actions could be taken since a quorum was not present.
Marriages: February 17, Jolene Sobotka and David Cole…June 25, 1994, Marcy Miller and Kevin Maak.
Ten Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record News, Thursday, March 11, 2010.)
Iowa school districts have a schedule they are working on to adopt a new state wide core curriculum. The concept behind the core curriculum is that students should have the same educational experience in all schools in Iowa. There are five content areas in the Iowa Core Curriculum. They include math, literacy, science, social studies, and 21st century skills.
John Newton named to Pheasants Forever Iowa Hall of Fame. John received the award at the national meeting held in Des Moines recently. Special habitat projects during Newton’s years of service have included the Fogle Lake Recreation Area in Diagonal; Kellerton Bird Conservation Area near Kellerton and the Donald and Connie Huff Wildlife Area northeast of Mount Ayr.
Births: February 25, a son, Scott, to Jason and Brooke (Mitchell) Marshall.
Obituraries in this edition were: Ray Lee Creveling, LeRoy Clifford Giles and Charles Lorne McGahuey.