LOOKING BACK in the Early Files

Saturday was circus day in Mount Ayr and the town was thronged with visitors from early morning until late at night. Before the sun appeared a crowd gathered at the station to await the arrival of the Robbins Brothers circus train, due to arrive here from Albany. It was nearly 8 o’clock before the long train, drawn by two engines, reached Mount Ayr. By that time the crowd had been augmented until the tracks were lined on both sides with people, young, old, and middle aged who came to witness the unloading and follow the wagons to the circus grounds on the W.W. Moffitt land just west of the tourist park to watch the “set up”.

Changes in Ford cars~Body changes and chassis refinements more pronounced since the adoption of the Model T chassis are announced by the Ford Motor Company. There will be no advance in price, it also stated. According to officials of the Des Moines branch of production on the improved models, will start about September 1. Outstanding features of the improvements in both open and enclosed types are lower, all steel bodies on a lowered chassis, complete new design in most body types, a change from black to other colors in closed cars, large lower fenders, newly designed seats and larger, more powerful brakes.

Mount Ayr friends of the R.A. Lawhead family will be interested in the following item from the Torrington, WY telegram of August 13. “John Lawhead left Torrington for Chicago Tuesday night to enter the rodeo there. He will go after the big prizes on bareback riding at the show Tex Austin is holding in that city.

Obituaries in this edition were: Minerva Dale Stephens Coverdell and Elnora Ellen Huss Bush.

The Mount Ayr schools opened Monday with a record enrollment of 567 students, twenty-six more than the peak year of 1949, thirty more than in 1948 fifty more than in 1947 and 60 more than in 1946.

The application filed April 4 by the Burlington Truck Lines for a certificate authorizing operation as a motor carrier of freight for Des Moines to Mount Ayr and between other towns in southern Iowa was denied last week by the Iowa State Commerce Commission.

The Liberty Boys 4-H club won the club livestock judging contest held during the Ringgold County Fair, scoring 574 points out of 600. Members of the winning team were Algie Link, Marvin Triggs, Jim Faris and Bob McCreary.

Mrs. Lillie Wehrle of Leon, came Wednesday of last week for a visit in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Cleora Hutchinson.

Ray Walters of Los Angeles, CA, visited Wednesday in the home of his brother Dick Walters.

Marriage: August 20, Theola Greene and Richard Lesan..Virginia Meyer and Gordon Thompson..August 2, Marie Huber and B.T. Longino.

Births: August 25, a son, Robert, to Mr. and Mrs. James Brown..August 22, a daughter, Cynthia, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jennings..August 28, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Hartsook..August 13, a daughter, Quita, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Trullinger..A son, Francis, to Mr. and Mrs. John Dailey..August 23, a son, Claire LeRoy, to Mr. and Mrs. Claire Foltz.

Obituaries in this edition were: Mary S. Hatch Belvel and Pearl Shadler Sanford.

Centennial Royalty candidates announced: Cindy Strange, Denise Dulany, Elizabeth Schnoor, Nancy Saville, Carol Michael, Rosemary Crawford, Cary Braby, Fred Bryan, Ricky Sweet and Gregg Cannon.

Steve Graham, 20, of Diagonal, took first place in the 5,000 pound stock class in tractor pulling competition held Friday at the Iowa State Fair. his prize of $300 and a trophy was won from a field of 18 entries.

Lloyd Glendenning of Mount Ayr took his second feature of the season in style by finishng ahead of season point champ, Lyle Main at the Ringgold County Speedway.

Patrick Weeda, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Weeda of Tingley, has been chosen by he Merit Selection Committee to receive honorary award recognition and to have his biography and picture published in the appropiate voulme of the “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” for 1974-75.

Marriage: June 8, Sheryl Schmoll and Robert Young.

Births: August 24, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Saville..August 18, a son, Shannon, to Mr. and Mrs. Terry Barnes.

An Iowan who is riding his bicycle to all 99 county seats in Iowa stopped in Mount Ayr last week on one of his seven rides around the state to complete his feat. Jerry Triplett, of Winterset stopped in Mount Ayr on one of a five day journey that was to cover 300 miles.

A southern Iowa woman has won $5,000 playing Iowa’s Powerball game. Patricia Cole of Mount Ayr claimed her $5,000 prize on Tuesday. She purchased her winning ticket at Lynn’s Texaco Food Mart.

A member of the Olympic skeet shooting team for the United States has Ringgold county ties.

When Michael E. Schmidt Jr. of Eagan, MN, represents the U.S. in the skeet shooting competition at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia in a couple weeks, Ringgold county residents will have someone with local ties to cheer for. Schmidt is the son of Michael and Dorothy Schmidt of rural Leon and his great grandparents lived in southern Ringgold county.

Marriage: April 1, Megan Longfellow and Chris Evans.

Births: August 27, a son, Noah, to Kevin and Jayla Shellman..August 10, a son, Brenton, to Casey Barber and Charlotte Fletcher.

Obituaries in this edition were: Luman A. Hummell, Jr., Irma Mae Peach Shrimpton, and Lucinda J. Jennings Taylor.

Lois Hunt, known to many as “Cookie” was inducted into the 2015 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H exhibit building at the Iowa State Fair on August 23.

Two burglaries have been reported to Ringgold county sheriff office. On August 23, Gina Still reported two firearms had been taken from a metal building belonging to John and Ronda Brown of Kellerton. On August 25, Tracy Doman of Mount Ayr reported someone had entered his residence and taken $100 in cash and approximately 20-25 silver half dollars.

Births: August 14, a son, Trey, to Luke and Beth Larsen..August 14, a daughter, Summer, to Adam and Melissa Cunningham.

Obituary in this edition was: Nioma Lane Gaule