Days Gone By – Dec. 24, 2015
20 YEARS 1995
Following the recent snowfall there was only one word for the area streets and highways treacherous. More than 100 accidents had been reported in the area including a fatal accident and a 12 car pileup, both on Highway 67. The snow was about one and one half inches deep in most places and the extreme cold kept the roads slick through the night.
Emily Firebaugh was the Citizen of the Month selected by the Press Leader. Citizen of the Month was designed by the Press Leader to spotlight those members of the community who give something back to the area of both themselves and of service.
30 YEARS 1985
There were two winners in the coloring contest held by the Sho-Me Mini Marts in Farmington. The winners were Brandy Sebastian, age 6, in the younger division and Alecia Wampler, age 10, for the older division.
One of the hottest selling items this year is the home video-cassette recorders (VCR) which are playing in many homes these days. It was the hottest selling item for the 1984 Christmas season, right up there with the Cabbage Patch dolls. The VCR allows people to go to video stores and rent the latest movie releases and watch them in the convenience of their own home.
40 YEARS 1975
Governor Christopher S. Bond announced the St. Joe Minerals Corporation, which has mined lead in Missouri for more than a century, has donated 8,500 acres south of Flat River in St. Francois County to the state for a park. “This is by far the largest land donation made to our state by private industry for park resources development,” he said.
Bond termed the donation “an enduring gesture which unites two of Missouri’s finest assets.”
A 16-year old Farmington man lost his life when the car he was driving went out of control and hit a tree just west of the St. Francois River bridge on Route W, between Doe Run and Farmington. The occupant was alone in the car.
50 YEARS 1965
The Farmington Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with MFA Central Co-op, presented cash awards to the winning Future Farmers in the Corn Growing Contest. The contest winners were: first place-Mike Shelley; second place-Terry Detring; third place-David Ballard; fourth place-Albert Cleve; fifth place-Mike McKelvey and sixth place-David Swink. The highest yield of 118 bushels per acre was from Terry Detring. The shortage of moisture affected most of the corn yields.
At a board meeting held in St. Louis at the Sheraton Jefferson Hotel, Hugo Cozean was elected to the newly created office of vice-president of the State Board of Embalming. John Shiel of Kansas City was elected State President. Cozean, grandson of pioneer undertaker Henry Rinke, can remember his grandfather’s Flat River establishment and the two teams of horses he used in his business. A pair of fine black horses and a pair of matched greys were used to draw the somberly decorated funeral hearse.
60 YEARS 1955
Some of the local businesses extending holiday greetings were Farmington Milling Company, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Adams Jewelers, Coghill Insurance, Vaugh Feed and Supply Company, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, Mueller Cabinet Shop, Miller Funeral Home, Cozean Funeral Home, Thomson Nursery, Trimfoot, Standard Service Station, Brewster’s Rustic Rock Service Station and Missouri Natural Gas Company.
Miss Edith Walker was chosen by the high school faculty and the members of the senior class to receive the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen’s Award.
On Jan. 16, 1956, Miss Walker would complete an American History Test along with other winners of the Good Citizen’s Award. The girl ranking first on this test in Missouri will be declared Missouri’s Good Citizen for 1956 and will be awarded a $100 United States Savings Bond.
70 YEARS 1945
The Farmington High School Teachers and senior class once again responded to the annual request of the Missouri State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to select a girl distinguished for her “Good Citizenship.” The teachers, by ballot, submitted four names as eligible candidates. The honor was bestowed upon Katheryn Zieba, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Zieba of Route 4, Farmington. The other pupils receiving recognition in the election were Edith Herbst, Norma Ruth Cole, and Mary Ann White.
Katheryn would compete in an examination based on Social Studies given to all “Good Citizens” chosen in all the participating high schools in the state.
