Looking Back – January 4, 2024

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 9, 2024.)

State of Iowa vs Murry and Ruckman; charge of bootlegging and written answer of plea of guilty to crime charged. It is order and judgment of the court that the defendants pay a fine of $75 each and costs of action.

As was recorded in this paper last week, the prospect for a mild, open winter had gone glimmering with a record of 15 degrees below zero the morning of New Year’s day.

But that was only the preface. The little silver thread in the temperature takers continued to move up and down, mostly down throughout the week and on Saturday morning the record was 26 below. That was the coldest weather we have had since 12 years ago January 12, when the record was 30 below.

Marriage: December 31, George Irving and Marjorie Ritz.

Births: January 1, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Loren Scott…January 8, a daughter, Dorothy, to Mr. and Mrs. Rex Sickels…December 31, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Norris.

Obituaries in this edition were Jesse Dady and Elton Allen.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 6, 1949.)

According to the local weather observer, H.L. Cornelison a high of 62 degrees was recorded December 4. Of the 31-day period, thirteen days were cloudy, eleven were clear and seven were partly cloudy. Only .27 inches of precipitation was reported during the month, other than the 4 inches of snow on December 24.

The 320 acre State Experimental farm to serve six counties in the area. The farm of 320 acres known as the Miller place near Beaconsfield was recently purchased from Erma Miller, who resides in California. The purpose of the farm will be comparable to the one located near Clarinda.

Services include experiments in phosphates, limes, rotation of crops, soil fertility and soil building practices and pasture improvement.

Marriages: December 31, Ned Irving and Dorothy Whittlesey…December 19, Sharlie Jackson and Richard Hargis…December 26, Lyla Culbertson and Wheaton Max Dawson.

Births: December 24, a son, Christopher, to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bailey…December 20, a daughter, Wendy, to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Flemming…December 28, a daughter, Cheryl, to Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Kimball…December 29, a son, Danny, to Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Rinehart.

Obituaries in this edition were: Arvilla Paul Taylor and Goldie Belle Ruckman Washburn.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday,  January 10, 1974.)

An 18 year old youth of rural Adel lost his life Thursday morning in an accident on the Jack and Craig Elliott farm near Redding. James Zuber, an employee the Central Harvestore Systems of Adel, suffocated while installing a breather bag in a grain storage bin on the farm.

First baby of 1974 at the Ringgold County Hospital greeted the world on Monday January 7. Zeblon Isac, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Prawl of Grant City, MO.

Five families have located recently in Mount Ayr, announcement of which is made by Mrs. J.H. Eddy, chairman of the Welcome Newcomers Program. Those locating in Mount Ayr are as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Ken Smith and children, Gary 8 and Rose 5; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Van Langen, building supervisor of the new Lutheran Church; Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hunt and children, Chad 20 months  and Neil 3 months. Kenny will be joining Dr. Max Mekus and Dr. John Peters as an associate at Mount Ayr Veterinary Clinic; Mr. and Mrs. Gary Stroup and children, Wayne 5 and Tricia 2. Gary is a new employee of Country Boys Lumber; Mr. and Mrs. Aster Nelson, recently retired from their farm south of Clearfield.

Two free throws by sophomore Kelli Adams with one second remaining on the clock provided the margin of victory for the Mount Ayr Raiderettes over the  unbeaten Wayne of Corydon Falcons.

Births: January 7, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Jake Prawl…December 31, a daughter, Korbie, to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Karas.

Obituaries in this edition were: James Ralph Sissel, John England, LeRoy “Dick” Bucy, Lottie Brownlie Simmons, Mrs. Jessie Thompson and Mary Rose Courtney England.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 31, 1998.)

Six of Mount Ayr school band students are part of the Southwest Iowa Honor Band which is performing in the Fiestsa Bowl parade in Phoenix Saturday and  helping with opening ceremonies at the Fiesta Bowl football game Monday. Band members include: Josh Smith, Megan Petersohn, Josh Rusk, Shannon Norris, Korbie Rinehart and Rachel Derscheid.

Breaking an 11 year trend, the average value of Ringgold county farmland moved down in 1998. Farmland value in Ringgold county were down 6 tenths of a percent or $5 an acre between 1997-98, after increasing 12.3 percent the previous year.

A former Mount Ayr Community high school football player was a member of Buena Vista University Beavers football team this past season. Cody Cochran, son of Patti Lee of Mount Ayr was a member of the squad which had a 7-3 record, playing 3rd in the conference in the teams best showing in ten years.

Obituary in this edition was, Hazel Bell Cummings Lane.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 9, 2014.)

A pair of recent break-ins at county businesses have been reported. According to Ringgold County Sheriff Mike Sobotka, Boyer’s Bar in Diagonal and Lefty’s Club Tavern in Mount were the target of thieves in the early hours of Saturday, December 29. The back doors of both establishments were pried open to gain entrance.

The MACH school band has once again been selected by Disney Performing Arts to be a part of the entertainment at the Walt Disney World Resort. The performance will be at Future World area in Epcot Center.

Birth: December 17, a son, Adrian, to Joe and Lindsey Catanzerti.

Obituaries in this edition were: Margaret “Peggy” Eiseman Abarr, Mildred Irene Cole Beymer, Mildred  L. Trimble Nichols, Naomi Lorene Weeda Wilson and James K. Hanks.