LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

Ray Shifflett and his famous flying circus have been booked to appear at Mount Ayr’s Fourth of July celebration to be held Monday, July 5, and will be here with something altogether different than has  been seen anywhere in this part of the country.

One of the outstanding features of the coming celebration will be the presentation of the first flag ever made in the county and which was used in the first celebration 65 years ago. The story is as follows:

In the year of 1861 a small band of very patriotic people met together for the first Fourth of July celebration ever held in the county. Mrs. Mary M. Lesan, now 89 years old, with assistance of Mrs. Margaret and Sybil Lesan, now deceased, made the flag that was used for that occasion.

She used white muslin, turkey red calico and blue wool delaine and, although it has had to be mended many times since, the patches have faded more than the original colors. Music for the occasion consisted of the song, “Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue,” sung by Jowett Bastow. It was the first time the people had ever heard this song and it made a real “popular hit.” There was no ice cream, red lemonade or cannon crackers, but just as much genuine patriotism as we have today. This historical flag will be rededicated and presented to Mayor Lewis of Mount Ayr, to spend the remainder of its declining years in the city library.

The jury which served at the trial of the case of the State of Iowa vs John Reynard, under indictment charging seduction, returned a verdit finding the defendant guilty.

Births: A son to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Walters..Last week a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Woollums..May 31, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. O.R. Parkhurst..Born Saturday a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Black.

Obituary in this edition was Homer Jacob Waggoner.

Firends and relatives in Ringgold County, especially those of the Wishard Chapel community mourn the tragic death of the Marvin Grovo family of Waterloo.

Mrs. Grovo, the former Nadine Jackson, daughter of Cecyl Tidrick, of the Wishard Chapel vicinity, was shot and killed by her husband about 4 a.m. Tuesday in her second-story apartment in downtown Waterloo. Mr. Grovo 46, also critically wounded his six-year old son, Andrew, and then committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

A total of 5.88 inches of rain during 27 days in June has been recorded by Weather Observer H. L. Cornelison at his station at his farm on the Lake road north of Mount Ayr.

Marriage: May 18, Helen Bliss and Jacop Halpern.. June 24, Lois Breckenridge and John Jensen.

Birth: June 22, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Galen Lynch..June 26, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Bob Sheldon.. May 10, son, David, to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Brown.

Obituaries in this edition were: Charles James Swan, Thomas Craig Miller, Charles Edward Cain, and infant Donald Dean Dulany.

A new look greets customers of McNeiley Drug Store in Mount Ayr as remodeling of the store front has been completed. The building owned by Dr. Charles Lawhead, features a cedar siding exterior that blends with the brick of the second floor of the structure located on the east side of the square. Green letters outlined in white say “McNeiley Drug” and identify the business owned by Corrine Bailey, pharmacist. Just below these letters, shake shingles form an awning like shade which overhangs the entrance and front windows.

Charles Reidlinger, grocer in Redding, will be honored at the Redding Reunion on July 4. This will be a fitting tribute to this friend of one and all, who is the last remaining merchant on the “square” in Redding.

The Reidlinger Meat and Grocery Market in Redding has been in operation since 1910.

Besides the post office, the store is the last place of business and a favorite place for old timers returning to Redding, and for local customers. He keeps a few chairs in the back of the store where visitors may sit to solve the and attempt world’s problems.

Teresa Ingram, Ringgold County Pork queen presented Mr. and Mrs. Tom Novak of Diagonal  a ham for having a son, Cory, on Father’s Day at Ringgold County Hospital.

Verd Bailey of Mount Ayr joined th Warin Law Office firm here Monday.

Marriage: June 10, Kathleen Haley and Rolfe Taylor.

Births: June 15, a daughter to Colleen Philips.. June 15, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Spencer..June 20, a son, Cory, to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Novak.

Obituaries in this edition were: Ruth Lavena McHenry Trullinger and Clyde Elmer Trullinger.

Five homes at Sun Valley Lake were on display Sunday during the annual Sun Valley Lake home tour. Visitors were taken on a tour of the lake and the five homesby pontoon boat.

Charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief were made against 11 juveniles and one adult after an incident at the Mount Ayr water treatment plant at the old city reservoir north of Mount Ayr.

Patti Jones of 703 N. Fillmore in Mount Ayr has the yard of the week.

Blake Haugland landed two national titles in one day at Jamaica, IA. Saturdat June 16, Jeff and Blake traveled to the International Kart Federation Pavement Grandnationals in Jamaica.

Obituaries in this edition were: Howard Robinson, Robert “Bob” Bagley and Geraldine N. Weaver.

Randy Snow is the new postmaster at the Mount Ayr Post Office.

Replacing former postmaster Mike Owsley, Snow started work in Mount Ayr in late May. He came to Mount Ayr from his most recent job working at the post office in Granger.

When Diane Case’s husband Charlie was dying of lung cancer, the Ellston man was adamant that Diane continue the couple’s tradition of participating in the Tractor Relay Across Nebraska.

The relay is a benefit for the American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors program.

City unhappy with street project quality. The condition of Columbus Street was a main item of contention, considering the street is a busy artery to the school.

Obituaries in this edition were: Larry Dean Bowen and Edna Darlene James Adkins.