BITS FROM THE PAST

BEACON BITS

        July 3, 1970

Old Fashioned Entertainment Here Saturday: A day and a night of old-fashioned entertainment is being planned for Saturday the 4th. The eats stand will be open in the city square to accommodate those who do not wish to have “dinner on the ground.”

Equalization Board to Study Tax Assessment: Texas County’s Board of Equalization will converse for four days, starting July 13, to study tax assessments in 17 townships.

Farm Bureau Chapter Organized: A farm Bureau Chapter was organized in Texas County at a meeting held recently. There are currently 43 members in the organization. Officers elected were: Clifford Morton of Houston, president; Richard Holt of Licking, vice president; and Arthur Haney of Houston, secretary-treasurer.

Recording Fee Boosted To $1 By State Law: A new state law went into effect Wednesday, July 1, which will require the payment of one dollar for the recording of any instrument in Recorder of Deeds offices in the state of Missouri.

          July 3, 1980

July 4 Events Are Fireworks, Circus, Dinner: If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate July 4th, there is absolutely no place like home... in Summersville. Three big events are on tap: a circus at 4 p.m. at the ballpark; a barbecue dinner at 6 on the square, and a free fireworks display at night at the ballpark.

Summersville Police Arrest St. Louis Trio: Charges were filed in Shannon County Friday, June 27 against a Shannon County woman and a juvenile accomplice by the Summersville Police Department.
Summersville 1980 Alumni Big Success: The 37th annual Summersville Alumni was held June 21 at the high school cafeteria. The total attendance was 129.

Mike Pitts Attends An FFA Camp: Summersville’s FFA president, Mike Pitts, attended FFA Camp on the Lake of the Ozarks this past week. This was public speaking week with FFA members across the state attending camp to improve their skills in this area.
      

           July 5, 1990

Texas County Sizzles In Near Triple-Digit Heat: Texas County broiled as temperatures this week approached the century remark. Hot, humid conditions made outdoor activity difficult in conjunction with the Fourth of July weekend.

Pair Receives Sentence For Judge Following Grave Robbing Incident: Two Texas County residents charged in connection with unearthing a grave in an Elk Creek cemetery made recent court appearances. The pair was among those charged with attempting to remove the remains. Authorities said those involved apparently intended to sell them as those of an Indian.

Jobless Rate Dips In Texas County: Texas County’s jobless rate showed improvement in May, according to the Missouri Division of Employment Security. The figure was 7.3 percent, a decrease of .5 percentage points from the previous month. A year ago, the rate stood at 9.6 percent.
Intercounty Picnic Set For Saturday: Intercounty Electric Cooperation Association, Licking, will hold its 54th annual membership meeting July 6 at the Licking city park.

ALL Obits and Classifieds Are Updated.

OMC Foundation Signature Event Raises $75,000 for the New Women’s Center

The Annual Ozarks Medical Center (OMC) Foundation Signature event, a Wild, Wild West-themed evening, drew a crowd of more than 400 people and raised approximately $75,000 for the all-new OMC Women’s Center. The evening of food, fun, and entertainment was held September 28, at the historic West Plains Opera House.

With this year’s venue change to the historic West Plains Opera House, guests were treated to an event that encouraged festive mingling. Entertainment on the main stage was provided the popular Ernie Biggs Dueling Pianos with Anthony Garner on his guitar in the downstairs saloon, and an enjoyable BBQ dinner was catered by Colton’s Steak House of West Plains.

An energetic live auction was hosted by Auctioneer Billy Sexton with exclusive items being donated by local sponsors and spirited bidding by many attendees which lead to almost $9,000 in contributions.

“We greatly appreciate the support the community has for the Foundation’s Signature Event,” said Carol Silvey, Vice President for Advancement, OMC Foundation. “Thank you to all those who donated auction items, sponsored the event and, of course, to those who joined us for the evening.”
Proceeds from the Wild, Wild West event benefit the OMC Foundation’s Building the Future Campaign, specifically for the new Women’s Center, and puts the campaign at just over the $3 million mark. “2019 was a fun event with a new venue, different entertainment features, and great sponsors! We had such a great time, we’re already planning the 2020 Signature Event,” said Silvey.

The Ozarks Medical Center Foundation, established in 1998 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) with a local board of directors, serves as a liaison between the donor and OMC to assist the hospital in providing excellent healthcare to the communities it serves. For more information or to make a gift to the OMC Foundation, please call 417-853-5200.

Oregon County Farmers Market Buzz

While it's Craft Event Season here in the Ozarks, (and thankfully, cooler,) be sure and  visit our excellent craft vendors at the Oregon County Farmers Market! Still coming in as well are fresh garden vegetables, and ours is a producer only market focusing on vendors that provide their own products that are grown, raised, or made locally.
 

You will find fresh vegetables and fruit in season, frozen chicken and meat, farm fresh eggs, sorghum, honey, delicious jams and jellies, baked items ready for your table, garden plants, machine embroidered items, lye soaps, and so much more!
 

In addition to the products we offer, the market  encourages patrons to Eat Local, Support Local, to get to know the farmers they are buying from, and where their produce comes from. Educational, fun, free programs for kids of all ages we've put together, with help from our Extension and 4-H folks, have been so popular. We'll be offering more of the same at the end of the month!
 

We'd be happy to know what you, our patrons, would like to see available at the Market, and what programs and information would interest you. Visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/OregonCountyFarmersMarket and  leave us a message. We would love to hear from you!
 

We will continue our market through October each Saturday from 9-1 in the Alton City Park & Pool walking park on Tucker Rd. We are easy to find, just south of Alton on Hwy 19 across from E Hwy. Follow our signs to the beautiful park, convenient parking, and graveled pathway. See you at the market!

New Officers for Friends of the Garnett Library Announced

Officers of the Friends of the Garnett Library Executive Committee for the 2019-2020 academic year are, from left, Dr. Surinder Datta, vice president; Dr. Dennis Lancaster, program chair; Carolyn Gerber, president; Linda and Gale Wooten, publicity co-chairs; Kay Garrett, projects chair; and Janet McClure, secretary. Other officers include Sally Watkins, membership chair; Pat Smith, coordinator of “Dessert of the Month” program; and Miriam Ward, event chair. Formed in 1992, the organization helps raise awareness of the services offered by the library and its needs. They meet the second Friday of each month from September through April. For more information about meetings or how you can join, call 417-255-7940 or email FriendsofGarnettLibrary@MissouriState.edu. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

‘Back the Blue’ Missouri License Plate Unveiled

Law enforcement officials and lawmakers came together Tuesday to unveil a new license plate that will give Missourians an opportunity to show their support for the men and women who protect and serve. Missouri drivers now have the option to obtain a new “Back the Blue” license plate to express their support for law enforcement. 
(Read the full article in the September 25 Summersville Beacon Paper.)

 

REFLECTIONS

Reflections

 “He’s not what you’d call work brickle!” was a phrase I heard in my youth; it describes one “not prone to industry.” It was the death knell for one’s opportunities for summer employment if used about you. Was right up there with “stranger to hard work.”

Being able and willing to “do a good day’s work” was a fine accolade back then. One who worked “can’t see to can’t see” someone admired. I was reared on such phrases as “if you’re fifteen minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you’re fired.” Encouragements such as “fill the heel of the shovel; let the toe take care of itself.”

We all had summer jobs pretty early in our youth. This of course on top of our chores. We loaded hay for a nickel a bale; drove for a penny if really young. Many the hayfield truck driver that couldn’t reach the pedals; sat on pillows to see over the dash.
The truck was placed in low, or “granny” gear, and just idled through the field. One of the loaders would quickly hop in the cab if the truck had to be stopped suddenly or when the bed was eventually filled.

We hauled cordwood and pine poles. Hosteled canoes on my end of the Upper Current. Maybe even “tailed a mill” if old enough; this being the guy that stacked the end product coming off the head-saw---slabs, boards and railroad ties all.

Most everything was piece-work. One wasn’t rewarded for effort, but solely for results. One learned to work quick, but careful. Such occupations wouldn’t tolerate much of an injury. We knew how to care for equipment. Most of what we worked with had been worn out two owners ago. We checked the oil in engines every morning because as a general rule more was needed.

In recent years I’ve heard some brag about how young they were when they “got their check.” Boasting of claimed disabilities that would provide them with a free ride from now on. Such attitudes would have made one a pariah in my youth; at least among the crowd with which I ran.
Labor was admired; a top virtue at the time. Had been that way for a while. John Locke wrote “All wealth is the product or labor.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing.” One of my favorite leaders, Theodore Roosevelt, stated that “It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.”
Since 1887, we have celebrated labor and the workers that accomplish it. The first Monday of each September we have set aside to do so. We barbecue, celebrate the end of summer and buy sheets and pillowcases on sale. We take that “one last summer vacation.”
I have always been fortunate in that I enjoyed working. Especially for myself. Splitting wood. Gardening. Hauling hay (more so when much younger). Even a bit of carpentry. I have always enjoyed the company, even if briefly, of someone happy with their job. Smiling while making my meal or pouring my drink.
I appreciate someone good at what they do; those that take pride in “a job well done.” From putting in stitches to serving up fried fish. I have learned to avoid those that spend more time getting out of work than the work itself would have taken.
“The labourer is worthy of his reward.” Let’s see they get it. Thanks for joining us!