Looking Back by Lora Stull

A business change in Mount Ayr which will be of interest throughout Ringgold County took place Monday when J. L. Kinsell, veteran hardware dealer, sold an interest in his business to C.G Allyn and G.L. Todd. Immediate possession was given and the business will hereafter be conducted under the name of Kinsell Hardware Company. Mr. Kinsell has been sole proprietor of the business for eighteen years, succeeding his brother, the late Z.T. Kinsell, who assumed management of the business after the death of his father, D. C. Kinsell, who established the business in 1868. For nearly sixty years the Kinsell hardware store has served the people of this territory and has commanded a reputation for fair dealing.

The new members of the firm are well known and highly respected. Mr. Allyn, who is a nephew of Mr. Kinsell, was for many years connected with the Mount Ayr State Bank, serving as cashier of that institution. Mr. Todd has been associated with Mr. Kinsell for twelve years. He is an expert plumber and is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business.

Roy Huntoon, proprietor of the Fulton Market in Des Moines, received his first big shipment of rabbits on December 18th from Diagonal, a station on the Chicago Great Western in Ringgold County. There were 2,000 rabbits in this shipment, and they found a ready sale in hotels and restaurants. Mr. Huntoon receives thousands of rabbits during the season, by far the larger number coming from stations along the branch of the C.B.& Q., that runs south of Des Moines, through Osceola and terminates at Cainsville, MO. But few rabbits reach the Des Moines market from the north half of the state. An occasional jack-rabbit, as white as snow, reaches the city from that section.

Marriage: Last week, Evelynn Woollums and Hugh McConnell.

Births: Thursday, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Matthews.. December 9, a daughter, Beulah, to Mr. and Mrs. I.R. Lane.

Obituaries in this edition were:  Mahala Anne Johnson Allen and infant Junior Pyle.

The loan limitation on Farm Ownership loans for Ringgold County has been raised from $11,500 to $13,000 according to Max Henryson, county supervisor Farmers Home Administration. The county committee of James Moon, Ralph Long and Raymond Buck made these recommendations after checking into several changes which have been made in Ringgold County.

Laurence Bishop, Allen Richards and Gene Sickels went Tuesday to Creston, where they enlisted in the Navy Corps. From Creston they continued to Des Moines and took and passed their physical examinations. On Wednesday evening they left Des Moines for the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, IL, where they will begin their training.

The West End Market on Hwy 2 & 169, west of Mount Ayr was burglarized last Wednesday night. Forty-one dollars in silver and $15 in bills were taken. Entrance was gained by breaking out a corner of the glass in the front door and turning the night lock from the inside.

Marriage: December 29, Ruth Cole and Kenneth Fouser..November 9, Martina Stephens and Doyle Williams..December 9, Margaret Drake and David Cockrum..December 23, Lyle Goldner and Mary Paidakoich.

Births: December 25, twin girls to Mr. and Mrs. John Ward..December 25, a daughter to Mr.and Mrs. Forest Overholser..December 27, a son, Alan, to Mr. and Mrs. Elza Fetty.

Obituaries in this edition were: Victor Gray Newton, Madge Allyn, Ida Lulu Miller Shaffer, and Rolla Waggoner.

Slick streets and highways caused problems for motorists over the Christmas holidays and past weekend and kept Ringgold County Sheriff Elbert Strange busy investigating three accidents.

Eldon Dillenburg of Benton will represtent the Ringgold County Farm Bureau as its delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation convention to be held in St. Louis, MO, January 4-7.

A combined funeral services for a mother, daughter and son-in-law. Delores Jean Osborn, Julie Ann Roach and Billy Ray Roach, all of Shannon City, was held at 10 a.m. December 26 at the Creston Keating-Lindsay funeral home.

The three were killed instantly in a car-gravel truck collision which occurred at 1:10 p.m. December 23 two miles west and one-half mile north of Arispe.

Marriage: November 23, Cynthia Steele and Steve Duros.

Births: December 28, girl, Mr. and Mrs. David Lynch.. December 29, a son  to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Pollock.

Obituaries in this edition were: Jamie M. Walker, Verda Beatrice Morgan Nichols.

A civil rights complaint has been brought against the city of Mount Ayr by council member Ken Jones and the issue was discussed when the Mount Ayr city council held its regular meeting Monday night.

According to city attorney Richard Wilson, who was present at the meeting Monday night, council member Ken Jones has filed an age discrimination complaint against the city after not being hired for an opening on the city crew on June 6.

The December deep freeze was broken a bit Wednesday when high temperatures reached above freezing for the first time in a long stretch of winter.

Shelly Wimer of Mount Ayr Order of Eastern Star Chapter, was installed Sunday. October 22, 2000, at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines, as Grand Adah of the Grand Chapter of Iowa, Order of the Eastern Star, 2001 Grand Session.

A giant Christmas stocking was presented in a drawing by CGI Foods last week. Josh Case, 7, of Mount Ayr, won the giant stocking full of toys and games. He is the son of Darrell and Tami Case of Mount Ayr.

Obituaries in this edition were: Steven Bernard Meyer, Merle Duane Triggs, Ralph P. Skinner, Leona R. Winslow Adkisson, Wilma Pearl Kelly Ellis, Elbert Leroy Haley, Edward Paul Knight and Karl Layton McGahuey.

Ringgold County got its first taste of significant snowfall Sunday evening and Monday. An estimated 4-6 inches of snow fell in the area.

Ringgold County Hospital board approves demolation contract, Michigan firm bid of $464,800 is accepted.

Mount Ayr Sparks drill team preform their state championship pom routine at an Iowa Wild hockey game.

Obituaries in this edition were: Mildred Helene Strong Boyd, John Wilson Holmes, Edith L. Hammond Wood and Dorothy Irene Sobotka.