Jan. 15, 2025: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
This photo shows the Gainesville kindergarten class of 1958, mentioned in the Times Past item below. The six-week class, sponsored by the Gainesville Extension Club, was held in what is now the Gainesville Lions Club building. Teacher Julia Anna Taber is shown with her students: from left, Geraldine Hayes (or possibly Shirley Robbins), West Plains resident R.C. Alexander (visiting the Pace family), Audie Luna, Vickie Pace, Kim Veatch, Larry Wade, Rick Sims, Mike Breeding, Danny Weston, Beth Taber, Mike Bushong, Louise Pace and Lee Wayne Wallace. (Thanks to class members Mike Breeding and Larry Wade for identification help.)
Ozark County News
Nov. 3, 1887
Mr. Simon Clark left Wednesday, with his family, for north Missouri, where he will make his future home – that is, like all others, until he comes back to Ozark, which we think he will do about next fall.
Jan. 9, 1890
Collector Morrison has made fair collections this fall. His statement for last month, including state, county and school tax, amounts to over $4,000. He says about half the taxes are collected.
Jan. 21, 1904
The big stock barn belonging to M. T. Sims two miles northwest of town on the Springfield road was destroyed by fire last Sunday night about midnight. The barn contained about 400 bushels of corn and enough hay and fodder to winter a hundred head of cattle besides a nearly new wagon, harness, and many other things of value. Everything in the barn was destroyed except two mules which were gotten out by great difficulty. . . . Mr. Sims was, at the time of the fire, in Arkansas buying cattle. There is no clew [sic] to the origin of the fire, but it is evident it was set by the hand of a “devil” masquerading in citizens clothing. Let’s find out the guilty party and give him his just dues.
Ozark County Times
Jan. 15, 1909
With the inauguration today of Herbert S. Hadley, Missouri, for the first time in forty years, has a Republican governor.
The hall was packed to its full capacity, and there was turmult in the corridors, caused by hundreds fighting for admittance, which they were unable to gain.
Jan. 17, 1935
C.B. Breeding, west of town, was a caller at the Times office Saturday and advanced his Times subscription for another year.
Jan. 18, 1945
Mrs. Lissa Smart of this city received a telegram from the War Department Saturday evening stating that her son, Pfc. Luther Smart, who a few weeks ago had been reported seriously wounded in battle on Leyte, had died of wounds on Nov. 22nd. Pfc. Smart had been in service for two and a half years, going overseas in February 1943.
March 20, 1958
It was announced yesterday by Mrs. Don Rackley president of the Gainesville Extension Club, that kindergarten would start here on Monday, March 31. Classes will be held on the mornings of Monday through Friday of each week for six weeks. All children living in the R-V district who will be starting to school next fall are eligible to enroll. The kindergarten is sponsored by the Gainesville Extension Club and the tuition for the six weeks will be $10 or less, depending on the number of children enrolled. Classes will be held in the Dr. Hoerman building just west of the Hoerman clinic.
Jan. 16, 1975
Mrs. Mildred Otterbacher, Brixey, trapped for about three hours early last Friday morning in an El Camino pickup when it was washed from a low-water crossing over Spring Creek by a flash flood, remains a patient in the Mansfield hospital. Mrs. Otterbacher was a passenger in the vehicle being driven by her husband, John, who escaped and went to summon help. . . . The crossing they were attempting to make is one mile south of Rockbridge on a county road off of Route N. . . . At times the vehicle was completely submerged. . . . But there was an air pocket in the pickup which gave Mrs. Otterbacher the chance to keep her head above water and breathe. . . . [Sheriff Herman Pierce] waded out to the pickup with a rope tied around his waist and secured by persons on the bank. When he reached the vehicle, he heard her moaning and crying but the pickup door was locked on her side. As soon as the raging flood waters permitted, a front-end loader from Rockbridge Trout Ranch and a cable was used to pull the pickup from the creek.
Jan. 13, 1983
A renewed life for the old bank building at Bakersfield to house a branch of the Bank of Gainesville will soon be reality as rehabilitation construction progresses by the contractors, Frank-Rhine of Carthage...
When completed, the interior, with its 20-foot by 55-foot floor space, will include, besides the vault area, a three teller line, office space, safety deposit box customer room, and restrooms.
Jan. 17, 1991
Ozark Countians were this week assessing the effects of the late December and early January ice storms which ravaged the county’s roads and mounted up several thousand dollars in cattle losses...
“The temperatures were not so bad,” said County Extension Agent Vance Hambelton. “I think the cattle would have come through the cold okay.”
However, many cattle had to be slaughtered after falling on the ice and suffering broken legs and pelvis bones and other injuries. Some slid into guillies or ravines and broke their necks.