Looking Back December 28, 2023

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One Hundred Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, January 2, 1924.)
George L. Bastow, who during the summer and fall has had a force of men at work remodeling the old Mount Ayr house, announces that the new hotel, which will be known as Hotel Mount Ayr, will be formally opened Thursday evening January 10.
With suddenness and a vengeance indicative of anger at the manner in which fall up to the last day of December had shown a disposition to reign this region. “Old Man Winter” took over direction of the weather Sunday, shifted the wind to the northwest and threw the cold air draft wide open with the result that within 2 days there was a change in temperature of fifty degrees.
Miss Louise Williams has accepted a position as reporter for the Record News and began work this week.
Miss Esther Hughes has accepted a position as clerk in the Fair Store and began work Monday.
Edwin Ford is again on the job as traveling salesman in this territory for a wholesale grocery firm of St. Joseph, MO and last weekend moved with his family to Mount Ayr.
Marriages: December 31, Merle Armstrong and Mary Kimball…December 26, Walter Newton and Bessie Norris…December 31, M.F. Grimes and Lillie Davenport.
Birth: December 25, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lesan.

Seventy-Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 30 1948.)
Bobby, 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Pottorff, of this city was permitted during the holidays to have a Christmas tree in his room at Greater Community Hospital in Creston where he has been a patient for the past 3 months. Bobby was seriously burned September 25. He is expected to be in the hospital for another 2 months for skin grafting on his leg.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sickels and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Parker spent Saturday night in the home of the girls parents, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Bailey of Redding.
Marriages: December 27, Elizabeth Bishop and William Jefferson…December 26, Margaret Dugan and Lavern Brenizer.
Births: December 17, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. George Moyes…December 20, a daughter, Lynn, to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Cross…December 27, a daughter, Diane, to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dailey…December 23, a son, James Steven, to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jones.
Obituaries in this edition were: Ada Prentis Beasley, Frank Dixon, Mary Elizabeth Clevenger Moore and Jim Bernard.

Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 3, 1974.)
Summary gives highlights of 1973- Watergate, energy crisis, and further exploits in space…those are some of the things 1973 will be remembered for by historians of the future…January~W.B. Cunning and French & Schardein Agency partners dissolved partnership December 31, 1972..Funeral services for Judge Charles Lewis…Bulk of the estate of the late Judge Charles Lewis approximated at $100,000, will provide scholarships for students of the Mount Ayr Community high school students. February~Cindy Poore is the MACHS Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow…Bill Thompson succeeds Phil Campbell as manager of Skelley Station in Mount Ayr…Larry Bishop and Mark Triggs to participate in the state Class AA wrestling tournament. March~ Mount Ayr Raiders advance to the state basketball tournament for Class A schools…New manager of the Apco Station in Mount Ayr is Joe Pulliman…Elected as officers of the Ringgold County Sportsman Club are Homer Butler, Bud Beymer, Owen Campbell, James Mahan, Art George, Jim Smith and Russell Sweeney…Harold Blades succeeds Bob Pottorff as manager of Fina Station in Mount Ayr. April~ Glen McDonald head basketball coach of MACHS, named Class A coach of the year of the southwest district…Early snow storm with winds up to 50mph, practically paralyzed the state, snowfall estimated at 11 inches…Mrs. Allen Richards appointed Judicial Magistrate for Ringgold county at a salary of $4,800. May~ Stan Comer and Mark Triggs received Iowa Farmer Degree…Bob Erickson joins staff at Ringgold Mutual Insurance Assoc…Brent Geringer, MACHS junior, placed 3rd in discus and 5th in the shot put at the Drake Relays…Ginny Skarda selected to be a representative to Girls State…Top ranking seniors of the 1973 graduating class of MACHS are Lynn Keenan, valadictorian and David Henderson, salutatorian. June~David McNeill won the Mount Ayr open golf tournament with a 5 under par…Joe Jackson to be associated with Frank Clark Insurance Agency…Victor Fox, conservation technician, of the Mount Ayr field office of the soil conservation service will retire June 30, concluding 32 years of federal service…Doyle Hunter to retire June 30, after 23 years of service with the local post office. July~ Richard Smith is new member of the Mount Ayr police force…Karen Newton joins Record News staff as a trainee…Anna Mae Kobbe listed in Marquis “Who’s Who of American Women”…Linda Link and Pat Weeda show grade Gurnesy champion and champion registered Gurnesy respectively at the Midcrest 4-H and FFA dairy show. August~ James Mahan Jr. elected commander of Ringgold Post No. 172 American Legion…Meals on Wheels program is well underway in Mount Ayr…Dixie Taylor elected president of the Women’s Division of Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club. September~ Bill Harover elected president of the Moonlighters Theatre Group…Mike Greene named assistant manager of the Anthony’s Store in Mount Ayr…Richard Weehler and Dr. Max Pool named president and vice president respectively of Mount Ayr school board…Lutherns break ground for new church. October~ Angi Fisher crowned 1973 homecoming queen…Dr. Max Pool resigns as member of the board of education…Howard Pine appointed member of the Ringgold county board of supervisors to fill vacancy caused by the death of his brother Eugene Pine…Rod Bastow awarded the American Farmer Degree. November~Real Style Shop sold to Mrs. Russell Boyd…Todd Smith won 1st place, Debbie Dulany 2nd place and Rodney Hintz 3rd in the Fire Prevention Poster contest. December~Bill French elected president of the Mount Ayr Comm. Improvement Club…Harold Webb elected president of the board of directors of Mount Ayr Manor.
Births: December 28, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Stanton Wake…December 29, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick Jones…December 29, a daughter to Dr. and Mrs. J.E. Slauter…December 31, daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Karas.

Twenty-Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 24, 1998.)
Brian Moore, Ringgold county assistant engineer, has been doing some preliminary work for a walking and bicycle trail that would go across the community of Mount Ayr from east to west.
Ann Walkup, a MACH senior is a finalist in the Iowa State Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division, “Know Your Constitution” project.
A Des Moines Register feature about Carey Crowson, brother of two Mount Ayr residents, was included in December 18 edition. Crowson is the brother of Mary Trullinger and Margaret Bickers of Mount Ayr. Crowson is putting together “A Gift of Christmas” a musical benefit for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, which was held at Johnston middle school in Johnston.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held welcoming the Splash & Dash Car Wash in Mount Ayr last week. Owners are Terri and Kelly Main.
Obituaries in this edition were: James Alvin Coverdell and Irene A. Steffens Hickman.

Ten Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 2, 2014.)
The Ringgold Community Water Emergency Team was instrumental in the recovery of a fisherman who drowned when he and his utility vehicle broke through the ice recently on Lake Ponderosa near Montezuma.
Raiders fifth at POI wrestling tournament; Joe Ricker and Erik Freed were champions of their weight classes, heavy weight and 138 pound class respectively
Christmas lighting contest winners announced. The first place winner of the Record News annual Christmas lighting contest this year is Larry and Peggy Drake; second place went ot Joe and Julie Routh; third place to Dick and Bonnie Still.
Cash rent paid for non-irrigated cropland in Iowa during 2013 averaged $255 per acre an increase of $20 from 2012.
Obituaries in this edition were: Gabriel Edward Boeckman and Wanda Sue Pittsenbarger Schmitz.