LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

A plan to get Iowa out of the mud was announced by Gov. Hamill and the Hwy Commission a few days ago that has an immediate meaning to Ringgold County. Mr. Fred R. White, State Engineer, told me in Des Moines at the meeting of the Iowa Good Road Association, that the road from Mount Ayr to the Union-Ringgold county line will be graveled next year.

In making up it’s first balance sheet the Iowa budget bureau has discovered that the state owns more than ninety-two million dollars worth of property, including 22,328 acres of land. The land alone is given an estimated value of $9,419,067.

Marriage: December 5, Opal Henry and Dwight Mann.

Births: December 9, a son to Mr. and Mrs. T. McCowen..December 6, a son to Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Garland..December 13, a daughter, Thelma, to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse  Anderson..November 26, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hanson.

Obituaries in this edition: William Billett, George Wesley Vogan, Unnie Case Wilson, Victoria and Selina Campbell Herron.

Pfc. Jack E. Marshall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gernie M. Marshall, of Mount Ayr, was recently awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge “for his satisfactory performance of duty during ground combat against the armed enemy in the Seoul Korea Area.” Marshall and his unit, after two successful amphibious invasions and a leading role in the battle for Seoul, crossed the Ungi River in the northeast sector of Korea. They moved through snow capped mountains, to the Manchurian border and the icy banks of the Yalu River.

Carl Malone, extension economist form Iowa State College in Ames, will be the guest speaker at a public affairs meeting to be held Monday evening, Decemeber 18, in the assembly room of the courthouse. Mr. Malone is well informed on far eastren affairs and will speak on the war situation.

Marriage: December 10, Crystal Pate and Howard Whittington..November 25, Lois German and Roland Yousling.

Births: December 10, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller..December 1, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Don Bogg..December 1, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Dowell..Saturday night, a son, Samuel, to Mr. and Mrs. Chester Wallace.

Obituaries in this edition were: Elmer Bowman, Jennie B. Mosier Drake, John Dolecheck, Ida Viola Glendenning Kaster, Pareoda Blanche Shaffer, James Monroe Baird, Henry Thomas Smith and Frank Rychnovsky.

Donald Wood of Ellston is the new member of the Ringgold County board of supervisors.

Mr. and Mrs. David Scott have purchased the Sheets Rexall Pharmacy in Afton. Scott started working at the store Monday, December 1, and will take possession at the first of the year.

The initial move forward installing central air conditioning in the Ringgold County court house at Mount Ayr was made last week as personnel from Dahl Air Conditioning firm from Van Meter began work in the courtroom.

Marriage: June 28, Sherri Rinehart and Rodney Adams.

Births: November 26, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Dan Boyer..November 28, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Johnson..December 1, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Mick Still..December 2, a son, Jonathan, to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Stuck.

Obituaries in this edition were: Raymond “Lefty” Forest Vanderpool, Mary Emma Bailey Adair, Mrytle Mary Gorham Swanson, and Michael Keith Adams.

The first blizzard of the winter~and really of several winters~hit Ringgold County late Sunday night. By Monday morning snow was falling steadily as temperatures plunged into the single digits. By the time the snow had stopped Monday evening, as much as 9 inches was recorded across the county.

Three Mount Ayr community high school students were selected for the southwest Iowa honor concert band in auditions Saturday. Students chosen in the auditions were Clara Terrell, Landi McFarland and Randi Sobotka.

One of the stops to get warm during the annual Christmas window walk around the square in Mount Ayr Saturday night was the Ringgold County courthouse lobby, where the Ringgold Singers caroled and the Mount Ayr community FCCLA offered refreshments.

Births: November 20, a son, Colton, to Jennifer McElvogue and Skip Mitchell.

Obituaries in this edition were: Lonnie Laverne Dehart and Bea Orning Pedersen

State Champs again. Members of the Mount Ayr Community high school Sparks drill team placed first in the Class IV Pom division and second in he Class I Novelty division. Team members include: Haylea England, Ashton Quick, Kiersten Dolecheck, Laura Davison, Ryann Martin, Kennedy McAlexander, Caroline McAlexander, MacKenzie Shields and Abby Schafer.

On Tuesday, December 8, the Senior Life Solutions staff at Ringgold County Hospital got a big surprise.

Representatives from Psychiatric Medical Care were in Mount Ayr to present them with the “Program of the Year” award.

Marriage: July 11 Kayla Bender and Heath Brock.

Obituaries in this edition were: Ivan Clifford Groff, Rhoda Lois Baker Johnston, Mildred Maxine Keller Franklin, Catherine Eva Bergman Nelson, Robert Lee Rice.