Aug. 19, 2026...TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
Ozark County News
Aug. 21, 1890
Last Wednesday, Martin Smith, son of W. A. Smith, was struck by lightning and killed while in a schoolroom teaching at Brixey in the north part of this county. The school was in session at the time, and some 50 pupils were in the schoolhouse.
A thunder shower was passing over, and a tree near the school was struck by lightning, and at the same time, the electricity came down the flue and struck the teacher, killing him instantly. Many of the children were shocked by the stroke but none were seriously injured.
Mr. Smith was an exemplary young man, about 31 years old, just entering upon a life of usefulness. His sudden death has brought sorrow among all his acquaintance, and we deeply sympathize with his parents in their untimely loss.
June 6, 1895
Theodosia items – The Theodosia mill is paying 80 cts. per bu. for wheat. Wheat is going “straight up.”
Aug. 23, 1900
The residence of Capt. J. H. Sallee, who lives four miles west of Thornfield, was destroyed by fire Monday. He also lost all his wheat crop just threshed, and all household goods. No insurance.
Ozark County Times
July 5, 1912
Locust items – C. B. Breeding made a trip to Theodosia to mill a few days ago. He got such a good turnout he could hardly bring it back without buying an extra sack.
June 12, 1941
FOR RENT – The Theodosia mill property, consisting of water powered grist mill, gasoline pump, store building, 12-room house and 231 acres of rough land. Contact O. E. Wright.
Aug. 22, 1946
Gainesville Consolidated Schools will open for the school year on Friday, Aug. 30th. The purpose for opening on Friday is to get enrollment and registration out of the way for the following week. …
The school plans to continue its operation of the school lunch program in cooperation with the Department of Public Welfare. Since the federal government has not made any additional allowance over last year, which was 9 cents per meal served, and since food prices have advanced … it becomes necessary to increase the price per pupil meal to 15 cents. …
The lunch program is to be under the direction of Agnes Pace and someone not yet named for this year.
July 22, 1954
Headline – Million Dollar Bridge Now Stands Near Old Theodosia Mill Site.
Aug. 24, 1967
Mark Ray, who has spent a year in Army service in Vietnam, has returned home and is spending some time with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ray at Almartha.
Diane Dreckman of the Gainesville FHS won a red ribbon and cash award with her entry in the dresses classification of FHA at the Heart of the Ozarks fair at West Plains.
Aug. 6, 1986
Hurricane force winds lashed Ozark County last Friday evening, blacking out power across the county for days, and causing damage in the tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars...
The roof of the Gainesville High School’s gymnasium was blown off, and members of the school board and staff spent the night and most of the following day trying to keep water off the new gym floor. The roof of Thornfield School’s gymnasium was also blown off, and the board and staff found themselves mopping up the next morning.
Speculation about the near appearance of a tornado was voiced in the Thornfield and Theodosia areas...For the most part, though, it appeared the storm was a series of violent thunderstorms.
No personal injuries were reported, although many “close calls” were experienced. Margaret Sanders of Isabella said that a piece of metal roofing from a barn that was demolished flew across Highway 160 and hit a cedar tree with such force that it sliced the tree in two, leaving the pattern of the metal’s corrugation in the wood.
Aug. 21, 1996
Over 200 children attended the sixth annual summer reading program at the Ozark County Library this summer. On Thursday mornings, they were treated to stories read by Hootin and Hollarin Queen Katie Huggins, Dot Blackburn, Norma Mahon, Cindy McKee and the Theodosia Arts League, Helen Beard, Russ Been, Caryl Feiler and Police Chief Ron Mahan.