Bygones – April 9, 2025

100 Years Ago

April 15, 1925

LaBelle is about to have its first factory of any importance and through this new enterprise expects to put the country on a fly-swatting campaign which will sound the death knell of millions of pests. It is known as the McDaniel Screen Door Fly Swat Factory and the device was invented and patented by L. B. McDaniel.

Masons of the Fourteenth District will meet at Shelbyville May 8 for their first semi-annual meeting of 1925. Large delegations are expected from all lodges in the district. Degrees will be exemplified at both afternoon and evening sessions and a banquet will be served in the evening.

8. R. Davis, Emden, Henry Davis, Jefferson township, and James W. Chinn, Clarence, were appointed special highway commissioners by Judge Drain, to view property under condemnation for the right of way for State Highway No. 8.

According to the Lewistown Record, “Uncle” Tida Wilson says he would not be surprised if we had a frost or two in May this year. He bases this belief on a weather record he has kept for many years which shows that whenever thunderstorms come in February, we have a freeze or at least a heavy frost in May.

The Ford coupe owned by Hurley Parsons of Epworth, which was found to be a stolen car, was reported in last week’s issue of the Herald. Mr. Parsons bought the car from W. J. Carty, salesman for Fred Wolters of Knox City. Mr. Parsons paid full retail price for the car and received a certificate of ownership.

22. B. Damell of this city was honored last week by the appointment as judge of the jacks and jennets at the Missouri State Fair to be held at Sedalia August 15-22. The appointment was made by G.W. Arnold, vice-president of the fair association.

The Junior class of the Bethel High School gave a banquet for the Seniors April 11. The banquet was served in the Methodist parsonage where two of the upstairs rooms were decorated and furnished as reception rooms for the guests. The dining room was decorated in purple and old gold, the Senior class colors; and Easter lillies.

One of the grandest Easter cantatas that we have enjoyed was rendered Sunday afternoon in the M. E. Church, South, under the direction of Mr. W. R. Moran of Shelbyville. He has been drilling Clarence young people for this affair for the past few weeks.

Tom Will Christine suffered a painful injury Tuesday when he was hit in the eye by a baseball at school. The eye was discolored and badly bruised.

The Clarence Choral Club will come to Shelbyville tomorrow evening for the presentation of a cantata, “The Resurrection Story,” which they rendered at Clarence on Easter Sunday. The organization comprises some of the best musical talent in Clarence and vicinity.

75 Years Ago

April 12, 1950

Estel T. Hardy, Circuit Clerk and Recorder for the past four years announced this morning he would not be a candidate for re-election. He plans to enter private employment after completing his present term of office in January. During his total of 12 years in the clerk’s office he has been a popular and efficient official.

A group from the local Methodist Church met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Drain in this city Monday evening to discuss plans for a minstrel show, for the benefit of the church organ fund. It was decided to hold the home-talent event at the Shelby theatre on Tuesday, April 25.

Bob Crist, of New Boston, Mo., who was recently admitted to the practice of law, is now associated with Fred C. Bollow, of Shelbina.

At the school election Tuesday in Lentner, Adalphus Leftridge and Curtis May were elected directors. Mrs. Sam Gorby of Lentner was re-elected teacher at a 15% increase in salary or $250 per month.

Bobby Perry, prominent Duroc breeder of Clarence, has entered another litter of purebred Duroc pigs in his breed’s official sow-testing program, according to word received from B. R. Evans, secretary of the United Duroc Record Association, Peoria, Ill. This makes a total of two litters under test in the Perry herd.

Mrs. Paul Wood was hostess to the Oak Dale Extension Club at her home Thursday, with Mrs. Mae Wood assisting. A covered dish luncheon was served at noon.

Shelby County Superintendents attended a schoolmaster’s meeting at Paris Monday night. Coming problems of the current school year were discussed. Dr. T. E. Musselman, Gem City Business College, discussed the migration habits of wild birds in a talk at an assembly in the high school.

Willie C. Jones, Clarence, today filed is a candidate for the office of County Representative.

50 Years Ago

April 9, 1975

Hey, they were “neat” in a sloppy sort of way, that is, at the annual Sloppy Sal Day at North Shelby High School. The “dress up” day, held Friday, April 4th, is sponsored by the North Shelby FHA. Prizes were awarded to the boy and girl student with sloppiest attire and the teachers were included. Winners are sloppy boy, Marty Underwood Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hart, Shelbyville; sloppy girl, Sherry Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Thompson, Shelbyville; sloppy man teacher, Jerry Culbertson, biology and science instructor; and sloppy lady teacher, Miss Tresia Griffith, girls physical education.

Coach Ted Michael, boss man of the North Shelby Raiders since September 1969, will face a new job next year, as head coach at Centralia.

Tri Square News: Frances Ratliff, correspondent – A four or five inch snow fell in this area Wednesday and Thursday night. It was beautiful Thursday morning. The snow melted Thursday, but the ice remained on the trees until Friday. This is something that I have never seen before, ice staying on the trees when the snow melted.

25 Years Ago

April 12, 2000

The Shelbyville City Board held its monthly meeting last Wednesday, a day after the Tuesday election. Shelbyville City Clerk Kathy Jones read the oath to new board member Mike Vanskike, current board member Ted Christine and mayor Michael Cuno.

Joe Rains was shown in a photo with his hydroponic tomato plants in a recently constructed greenhouse east of Bethel. The plants are heavily laden with fruit which will be vine ripened and sold in local retail grocery stores.

More than 300 junior and senior high school students participated in Missouri Farm Bureau’s annual Youth Leadership Day March 30 in Jefferson City. The one-day event focuses on the role of government and the responsibilities of citizenship. Sponsored by Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Programs, a highlight of the program is touring the State Capitol House and listening to bills debated on both the Senate and House floors.

Speakers during the afternoon program included Lieutenant Governor Roger Wilson and University of Missouri associate professor of political science Dr. Rick Hardy. Students and their chaperones attending from Shelby County were Kathy Chinn, chaperone; Jason Smoot, North Shelby; Stacey Werr, North Shelby; Janet Ratliff, South Shelby; and Kim Rubison, South Shelby.