Days Gone By – April 21, 2016
20 YEARS 1996
Plummer’s How-To-Store made a commitment not only to Farmington but to downtown. Scott Plummer and his family business went through a major renovation of the store located at 101 E. Liberty St. The first thing they did was bulldoze a section of the building that had been there since the 1930s then rebuilt the section. The renovation also included a new warehouse and loading dock on the back side of the building. The new retail space allowed the expansion on the products offered and gave customers a better selection.
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and his entire entourage were recovered after a plane crash. The U.S. Air Force and the National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team to Debrovnik to investigate the crash near the Adriatic coast. The U.S. Army also assembled a team to search for bodies. The jet liner was carrying six crew members and 27 passengers on a mission to stimulate U.S. interest in rebuilding Bosnia. Then-President Bill Clinton stated that “Mr. Brown was one of the best advisers and ablest people he had ever known and very good at what he did”.
30 YEARS 1986
Three Farmington girls represented Farmington High School at Girls State in Fulton. They are Dawn Buerck, Tara Rorex, and Stephanie Simmons.
The gymnasium at the St. Joseph Catholic Church was the scene of the Pinewood Derby and cake auction for Scout Pack 483. Some of the winners for second grade were Jeremy Strohmeyer, Andy Sherrill and Derrick Smock. Also third grade winners were Jeremy Detring, Josh Benz, Jeremy Vargo, and Josh Rogers. Fourth grade winners were Eric Watson, Bobby Greif, David Hahn, and Abby Mansumare. The fifth grade race winners were Tony Charboneau, Eric Davis and Jason Donze.
Overall winner was Eric Watson in first place, Jeremy Strohmeyer in second place and Tony Charboneau in third place. Jeremy Detring was an alternate.
40 YEARS 1976
The Farmington Garden Club and Girl Scout Cadets Troop 3062 dedicated a pink dogwood tree on Arbor Day at Mineral Area Osteopathic Hospital.
There were seven interested people in St. Francois County attending the meeting of the county chapter of the American Red Cross at the Ozarks Federal Building. The meeting was called to discuss projects to raise the needed funds to continue operating in the county. Lack of public help forced the chapter to decide that if fund raising programs don’t bring in the needed money, the county will lose the services provided by the Red Cross.
The Air Force Rock Band performed for the Farmington High School student body, playing some of the top hits. Students described them as “fantastic.”
The girls’ track squad of Farmington hosted a 23-team invitational meet in which they tied for fourth with Jackson High School, sharing a tie of 18 points. Farmington was able to grab five places in the meet, those of which were Gwen Melone, in the 80-yard low hurdles, Carmen Hahn took runner-up in the 100-yard dash. Carmen Hahn and Gwen Melone teamed up for fourth in the 440-yard relay. Hahn, Melone, Grief and Brown put it together for the 880-yard relay, taking second with 1:54.7. In the sprint the Knightettes took fourth.
50 YEARS 1966
During National Library Week, librarian Mrs. V.K. Giessing visited with users of Farmington’s Municipal Library explaining books on floral arrangements. National Library Week is an annual celebration.
Mark Henry, the son of Farmington School Superintendent and Mrs. Ray Henry was one of the eight spellers who competed in the final round of the Globe-Democrat/KTVI Spelling Bee.
Ben Lewis & Sons, Inc., the Western Auto associate store in Farmington observed its 29th anniversary and Western Auto’s 57th birthday. The store was located at 9 N. Jefferson St. opposite the courthouse.
60 YEARS 1956
Miss Mary Mackley, a member of the Farmington High School senior class, was chosen as winner of a three-year scholarship to Barnes Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis sponsored annually by the American Cancer Society.
Fitz Chevrolet re-opened their used car lot at the intersection of U.S. Highway 67 and Highway 32, opposite Ozark Village.
Mrs. William Cleve was appointed by the County Chairman Bill Robinson to spear-head the local “neighborhood drive” for cancer funds.
John LaChance of Knob Lick, Missouri filed as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Associate Judge of County Court for the Second District. Mr. LaChance was well-known throughout St. Francois County, having lived most of his life in the Lead Belt and Knob Lick area.
70 YEARS 1946
The Press was authorized to publish the announcement of Forrest (Dixie) Robinson for the Republican nomination for Recorder of Deeds of St. Francois County, subject to the primary election in August.
In response to request from the Missouri organization of The Sons of the American Revolution, the faculty and the members of the senior class at Farmington High School held an election to choose a senior boy of that class to receive “The Good Citizenship Certificate” for the school year 1945-46. The faculty chose Clarence A. Tetley, Robert Lewis, and Eugene Parker. The senior class vote resulted in the election of Clarence A. Tetley and his name was duly noted that honor.
George Karsch of the Leadbelt Amusement Company informed the paper he purchased and contracted for an amazing new sound system for the various theaters of his company.
