Looking Back

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 24, 1924.)

Near Gravity, Taylor county, J.S. Francis says that in sinking a shaft for coal a piece of wood was discovered at a depth of 65 feet.

The piece of timber was embedded in blue clay. It was a small log about 6 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. The wood was believed to be black walnut and partially petrified with extremely hard rock crystals scattered through the fibers of the wood.

The workmen say that the clay above it had never been disturbed by the hand of man and one of the miners expressed it as his opinion that it had been there since the time of the flood.

Dr. Rodney P. Fagan, commissioner of public health, has issued a statement urging vaccinations against small pox owing to the presence of the disease in a number of Iowa counties. Since December 1 the health department has received reports of 103 new cases.

The outbreak is more noticeable in the northern border counties and in counties to the south on the mainlines of travel.

December 10 Bernice Clark was united in marriage to Fred Rice.

Births: December 15, a son, Chester, to Mr. and Mrs. Ira Foster…December 13, twin boys to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Shockley.

Obituaries in this edition were: Joseph Ernest Hopkins, Otto B. Nickle, Charles Wayne Hunt and Mrs. Lewis Imus.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 22, 1949.)

The business property in Mount Ayr owned by the late Neville Dickson was sold the first of the week to George Baldner and Curtis Roe. Possession was given Tuesday.

The transaction includes the purchase of the building, stock of dry goods and ladies ready-to-wear.

Four hundred and forty acres of land owned by the late J.A. Saville, was sold Monday afternoon at public auction at the courthouse in Mount Ayr for $19,448, or an average of $44.20 per acre.

The land was offered in four tracts by Carroll Williams, sole referee. Fay B. and Helen Warden purchased 160 acres for $6,080. Ansel Saville was the high bidder with $6,600 for 80 acres. George Archie Bailey paid $2,688 for 120 acres. Jessie P. Saville purchased 80 acres for $4,080. Col. W.F. Walton and Clair Brown were the auctioneers.

Marriage: December 15, Hazel Ruckman and Delbert Jackson.

Births: December 18, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Haley…December 6, a daughter, Jacque, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lesan…December 15, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Burl Mobley.

Obituaries in this edition were:  J.E. “Ed” O’Connor and Earl Ulysses Twombley.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 26, 1974.)

In a decision filed last Wednesday, December 18, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mount Ayr Low Rent Housing Agency’s effort to get land for a 26 unit housing unit. All other property in a square block east of the square had been obtained by purchase.

Miss Simpson refused to sell her land, which was subsequently taken by the Low Rent Housing Agency under the right of eminent domain.

Playing at the Princess Theater this week, “My Name is Nobody”. Adults $1.50 children 75 cents.

A capacity crowd was on hand Sunday night for a special organ recital of Christmas music presented by Mrs. Robert Thomas at the First Christian Church.

Births: December 16, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Max McCoy…December 20, a daughter, Allison, to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Hunter.

Obituaries in this edition were: Vesta E. Stevenson Herrington, Zona May Hoyt Smithson, and Marion Leroy Millsap.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 16, 1999.)

The Ringgold County Hospital board of trustees decided to enter into a cooperative service agreement with Wayne Co. Hospital for recruitment efforts of radiologist Dr. Madison.

The Ringgold Co. board of supervisors has received a $5,000 waste tire management grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

A tire clean up day is set for March 25, 2000. On that day, tires will be collected by volunteers at the Ringgold County Fairgrounds.

A former Mount Ayr resident has been named president of Fujairah Women’s College in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Marvin Lane a Mount Ayr native retired in October as president of Lamar Community College in Colorado. Lane and his wife Melanie, daughter of John and Marjorie McFarland of Mount Ayr, arrived at their new home in the Middle East November 1st.

Brett Shields won first place, Matt Gilliland took 2nd and four Raiders won consolation finals for 3rd place when Mount Ayr Comm. Raiders  traveled to Central Decatur wrestling tournament Saturday.

Birth: December 7, a son, Grant, to Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Creveling.

Obituaries in this edition were: Pearl Verniece Richman Bagley, Irene Mae Adams Bullock, Frances Martha Dominguez Clough, Ronald Roy Cole, Clayton Webster Seaton and Gregory Lynn Thompson.

(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 18, 2014.)

While a normal evening in Ringgold county doesn’t normally evoke these images, Shirley and Dave Hightshoe of Mount Ayr were able to experience them all when they recently attended a Hollywood Movie premiere as special guests of their niece, two-time Acadamy Award winning actress Hilary Swank.

Karen Schaefer was honored at the Ringgold county courthouse Monday during the supervisors meeting. Schaefer is retiring as county recorder.

Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr is planning a major improvement in 2015 according to cemetery board president Bob Sickels. Two new sections of roadway are being planned in order to open new areas and aid in burials.

Births: November 25, a girl, Georgiana, to Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Roe…December 12, a son, Gage, to Mr. and Mrs. Landon White…December 16, a daughter, Noelle, to Shea Hall and Justin Kopet.

Obituary in this edition was Larry Lee Hull.