Looking Back

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, March 5, 1924.)

Tingley is  having quite a surplus of measles in town.

On account of bad roads Rev. Gray walked to Fry Chapel Sunday to fill his appointment.

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Wehrle and children spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Sickels.

Tama county and city get the name from an elision of an Indian word “tai-ma-ha,” meaning beautiful or pleasant. Some say it was the name of a Fox Chief and some say it was the name of his wife.

Marriage: Miss Bertha Griffith of this community (Delphos) and Vance Keller of Des Moines, quietly slipped away to Mount Ayr last Monday afternoon and were married…February 27, Letha Wilson and Lawrence Reynolds.

Births: February 29, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Art Smith…a son to Mr. and Mrs. Coin Jackson…a daughter, Helen, to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Tennant…born Friday, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Clough…Monday a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Lorimor.

Obituaries in this edition: Rex A. Atwood, Joseph Alexander Sparling, Frank Dunning, Francis Marion Cropper, Homer F. Hamblin, Nicholas Oliver Brown, and Sylvester Theodore Gunter.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, March 3, 1949.)

During the 28 day period temperatures have ranged from a high of 48 on the 17th to a low of -13 degrees on February 4. Hail and sleet, which fell on the 13th and 14th, caused precipitation in the amount of 1.11”. This was in a addition to the 6 inches of snow which already blanketed the ground.

Mount Ayr and Grand River basketball teams squeezed by 2 & 1 point margins in the finals of the sectional tournament held last week in Mount Ayr to advance to the district meet now in progress in the Mount Ayr gym.

Two baskets by Lamoni early in the game caused Mount Ayr to call time to look the situation over. As the game progressed the Mount Ayr boys discovered that they were playing an inspired and much improved team. It wasn’t until near the end of the game that Reynolds counted with a field goal and Teale sank 2 free tosses to place the game on ice. Drake turned in the best performance for Mount Ayr. He was steady, in on a lot of plays and counted with long shots.

Marriages: February 28, Ruth Bower and William Scott…February 18, LaVerna Gitt and James Long…February 20, Irene Park and Lawrence Vogel…February 20, Orlea Hagan and Marvin Kester…February 26, Ruth Hill Kelley and Lee Larson.

Births: February 25, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stevens…February 26, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Butler…February 23, a daughter, Sue Ellen, to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bonebrake…February 19, a son, to Rev. and Mrs. Paul Melander…Februray 20, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Motsinger…February 26, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Gregg…February 19, a son, Gene, to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stanley…February 20, a daughter, Mary, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mosier.

Obituaries in this edition were: Pfc. Harold W. Brand, Charles William Hale, Golda Winifred Long, Amos Albert Griffith, Claude Vance and Etta May Holden Smith.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday,  March 7, 1974.)

Ringgold County should be a more attractive place after May, if the project slated for late April gains community support. That is a county wide car crush program sponsored by the FFA and Ringgold County Resource Conservation and Development Committee.

A long-time Mount Ayr basketball record was surpassed in the season which closed last Tuesday night as the Raiderettes faced I-35 in district consolation contest at Afton.

Senior Sandy Terry poured in 42 points to close her career as the most prolific scorer ever to wear a Raiderette uniform. Her production in the season finale brought her 3 year career total to 1,647 points, best ever in 14 years of Mount Ayr basketball.

Former record holder was Lynn Obermeier, who counted 1,528 in three years at Mount Ayr 1960-62.

Marriage: January 26, Debra Monaghan and Glenn Grout.

Birth: March 1, a daughter, Nikki, to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Main.

Obituaries in this edition were: Marion Garfield Bunch and Millard “Pete” Morrison.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, March 3, 1999.)

Hospital trustees decided to proceed with a second bid letting for construction of the clinic at a special meeting Monday night.

The hospital had previously conducted a bidding process last November and December, however both bids submitted were too high for the board to consider.

This year’s chili cook-off at Lefty’s Club Tavern in Mount Ayr was held Saturday February 20. There were 17 different chilies competing for top honors.

Capturing first place was Casey Smith followed by second place winner Dusty Barber and third place went to Jodie Geist. The hottest chili was offered by Brenda Wilkey. The most unusual chili was made by a combined effort of Kelly Stackhouse, Diane England and Sandi Swanson. The annual event rasied $150 which will be used for toys for the Big Bird Preschool and Cradles to Crayons Day Care programs.

Becky Fletchall has been selected as the new administrator of the Ringgold County Public Health Nursing Agency effective March 1.

Raider 189-pounder, Ben Dorr grappled his way to sixth place in the state 1A Class wrestling tournament held in Des Moines last week.

Obituaries in this edition were: Clyde Francis Carney, Vera Fae McConnell Lantz, Margaret Elizabeth Bowman Pine, Florence Marie Arnold Robertson, Evelyn Catherine Smyth Reasoner and Margaret Elaine Akers Shields.

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

Kevin and Karen Watson live in rural Ringgold County, manage 20 bee hives within 100 yards of their house.

The Watsons moved to Iowa from North Carolina seven years ago. They sell comb and honey, which is honey jarred with a piece of the comb and strained honey, the more common variety found on grocery store shelves. Unlike most commercial honeys, Watson Farm Honey is raw and unprocessed. Their bees feed on a diet of prairie wild flowers.

In addition to selling honey, the Watsons make candles from bee’s wax and jelly from their honey.

“You can still keep bees and produce honey like the 1800’s, the old fashion way” Kevin said. However not everything about bees has stayed the same. The dwindling bee population has proved to be challenging. “It’s a lot harder to keep bees now than it used to be, due to parasites and disease”, Kevin said. He also thinks pesticides maybe to blame.

Births: February 25, a daughter, Shayla, to Mr. and Mrs. Terry Henry…February 26, a daughter, Quinn, to Mr. and Mrs. Jason Wetzel.

Obituaries in this edition were: J.R. Miller, Ronnie Gene Newton and Iris Rinehart Webb.