Clay County Courier Files

Clay County Courier Files, 1938

A meeting of the boards of all Corning churches was held on December 28th when a new organization was formed to be known as "The Men of the Churches." The following churchmen were elected: J. M. Oliver, chairman; J. M. Rhea, vice chairman; and W. M. Fowler, secretary; C. L. Bailey, treasurer.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Meadows recently moved from Corning to Poplar Bluff where they have reentered business. During their stay in Corning they formed many close friends in business, church and social circles.

L. G. Black, owner of Corning State Theatre building, recently destroyed by fire, announced this morning that construction work on a larger and even more modern theatre building would start within the next few days at the same location. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hutchins and Gordon Lee Hutchins will again operate the new State Theatre.

Mrs. Albert Smith, 36, prominent resident of Richwoods community just west of Corning, was abducted by a man and a woman near the western limit of Corning last Monday evening about 10:15 as she was returning alone to her home by automobile after attending a meeting of the local Rebekah Lodge. She escaped two hours later under gunfire about five miles south of Pocahontas.

Fifty-five members of Corning's newly organized Young Men's Civic Club and seven visiting club members from other towns in northeast Arkansas were present at the club's first monthly dinner served by ladies of the local PTA in the school gymnasium last Monday evening. G. A. Lamb, president of the local club, introduced several Young Men's Civic Club officers and other prominent businessmen of northeast Arkansas.

Arthur Lynn Brown, 69, pioneer local attorney and insurance agent, passed away at his home in west Corning last Sunday. Mr. Brown, a native of Allegan, Mich., removed to Arkansas at the age of 10, with his father, the late Dr. George Brown and brother, Clayton, locating at Old Reyno. Two years later, the family removed to Corning. His early education was received in Corning school and he was graduated from Valparaiso, Ind., University with degrees of AB and LLD in 1896, and in that year he was admitted to the practice of law in all courts in Arkansas. Brown held the position of deputy prosecuting attorney for the Western District of Clay County for many years and served as local agent for the Union Central life insurance company for more than 30 years. A resident of Corning for almost 60 years, he was a member of Corning First Church, South.

George Benjamin Clagg, age 77, a resident of Corning for 54 years, passed away last Friday in a Poplar Bluff hospital. He was born in Gallia County, Ohio, on February 29, 1860. He removed to Corning in 1884 and for 20 years was in the barber business with his brother, S. L. He was a member of the Church of Christ since 1883.

A Trades Day for Corning will be held one day each week, beginning in about two weeks. On that day local merchants will sponsor many inducements to bring people of this trade area to Corning. A community public auction, to be conducted by a licensed auctioneer on each Trade Day, will be held at Arnold and Harold barn in east Corning.

Corning school eighth grade Who's Who contest winners: cutest girl, Joann Belford; cutest, most athletic, sportiest, silliest and most likable boy, Sammy Ratcliffe; prettiest, most popular, studious and likable girl, Gussie Dee Smith; most popular, handsome, conceited, studious and talented, John Oliver Black; most conceited, Lucille Wisdom; most athletic and sportiest, Louise Gallegly; most bashful, Nettie Mae Niswonger and J. B. Smith; most talented girl, Violet Smith.

Senior class members are: Ludena Fitzgerald, Eddie Mae Wright, Mildred Schirmer, Bobbie Smith, Alfreda Mizell, Louise Smalley, Camille Futrell, Faye Hettel, Merle Smelser, Caroline Black, Billie Rayborn, Pat Oliver, Lora Green, Willie Parks, Eula Huggins, Jessie Fisher, Juanita Johnson, Mary Sue Richardson, Margaret Magee, Catherine Rhea, Frank D. Bennett, Bruce Barnhill, Vernon Parrish, Grey Ruff, Lynn Mabry, Arthur Woods, Ralph Maddox, Prentiss Park, Frank Mabry, DaVell Button, Milburn Mills, Freddy Schirmer, Norman Knowlton and Ralph Park. This class met at the school building on Saturday evening and enjoyed hay riding. After driving round town and to Corning Lake, wieners and marshmallows were roasted and enjoyed and games played at the lakeside.

Mrs. Elizabeth Barnett last week moved her beauty shop from the S. B. Neill residence property in east Corning to the former First National Bank building on West Second St., recently occupied by the Production Credit Association.

Sportsmen of the Western District of Clay County last Wednesday evening met in the circuit clerk's office in the courthouse to consider formation of a local fish and game association for conservation of wildlife. Local sportsmen who attended were J. M. Rhea, O. J. Harold, Ed Sheeks, DeWitt Hines, Tom Rhea, P. M. Companiotte, Bryan McCallen, George Bridges, Carl Launius, Columbus Wilson, Everett Long, Tezzie Smith, Charles R. Black, Jr., H. D. Hicks and Game Warden B. E. Redwine.

Mrs. Sarah Melinda Miller, age 80, passed away on Thursday of last week at her home near Palatka. Mrs. Miller had been a resident of Palatka community for 75 years and was probably the oldest living pioneer citizen in western Clay County, she was born in Ripley County, Missouri, and removed with her parents to Palatka community when she was a child. Her father, the late Captain John Anson Mulhollen, was a resident of Palatka community when he joined the Confederate army during the Civil War and was killed during the last months of the war in battle near Ironton, Mo.

In the death of F. B. Sprague last Sunday, Clay County lost another of its honored citizens and Corning a prominent business and community leader. He had been a resident of Corning for nearly 30 years. Mr. Sprague long had been an important factor in Corning's development and is prominently identified through his business interests in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri. For many years he owned and operated the Corning Telephone Company, selling his property to the Southwest Telephone Company several years ago. He has served continuously as president and otherwise as a member of the directorate of the Corning Bank for about 20 years, and is a large stockholder in the institution. He was one of the organizers of the Clay County Cotton Company, a ginning system now operating 15 plants in southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas with headquarters in Corning.

Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Schirmer of Corning Hospital were involved in a very serious automobile accident on Highway 67 last Friday while returning to Corning from a professional call at Success. The Schirmer sedan left the pavement and rolled over twice into a ditch. Dr. Schirmer's left leg, just below the knee, sustained a compound fracture when his foot was thrust through a window and was crushed, as the vehicle overturned. Mrs. Schirmer was seriously bruised and shaken. Dr. E. M. Pfeiffer gave first aid treatment and late that afternoon Dr. Schirmer was removed in Black's ambulance to Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. Dr. J. S. Guentherner, a well known Little Rock surgeon, is now on duty at Corning hospital, pending Dr. Schirmer's recovery.

Some person or persons cut or bored an opening through Black River levee just east of Moark last Monday afternoon, resulting in a fifty-foot washout in the dike with little damage to farm property.

G. B. Oliver, Jr. chairman of the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission, told Corning Young Men's Civic Club members last Monday evening that land in western Clay County has been selected for location of another Arkansas fish hatchery and that the commission is ready to spend $80,000 for construction and development of a new hatchery if the land selected can be purchased at a reasonable figure.

One of the most worthy projects ever sponsored by local citizens is the beautifying and permanent upkeep of Corning Cemetery. A committee composed of C. R. Black, chairman, W. E. Edmondson and L. D. Russell, recently appointed by the local Young Men's Civic Club, has done splendid work during the past three weeks in directing the cleaning off of this cemetery and soliciting funds to pay for same. A crew of eight workmen has already cleaned off the entire cemetery, filling in low places and improved the property in many ways.

Grand opening of the beautiful new State Theatre of Corning was held last evening. This new theatre building, recently constructed by L. G. Black on the same site of the former State Theatre, which was destroyed by fire last December, is one of the finest and most elaborate theatres in Arkansas. Mrs. Ann Hutchins and Gordon Lee Hutchins are proprietors and operators of the State.

Corning Civic Band, recently organized under the able direction of Charles E. Hughes, will soon be heard on many local special occasions. The new band now has 18 regular members, including several experienced musicians.

An annual motor vehicle tax for the town of Corning carried by an almost unanimous vote in a special election held here last Tuesday. Results were: 70 for tax, 16 against. The motor vehicle tax applies to automobiles, trucks and locomobiles and all other motor vehicles except motor bicycles, tractors, traction engines and road rollers. The tax is $2 per year. Election officials were W. W. Henry, N. N. Steinberg, G. A. Lamb, judges; J. F. Arnold, Jr. and Lowell Cochran, clerks.

Freddy Joe Arnold, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Arnold on his 8th anniversary, Thursday afternoon, entertained with a party for several of his young friends. Games were played and ice cream, cookies and cold drinks served to Marguerite Ann Hicks, Patsy and Georgia Lee Lafferty, Willie Jean Walker, Ermadean and Corky Chariton, Millicent Cobb, Marylea Vines, Helen Baccus, Betty Rider, Joe Price and Danny Ray Tharp, Johnny Mack and Jigger Ward, Bobby Lee and Buck Keller, J. L. Wisner, Jimmy Oliver, O. J. Niswonger and Jimmy Kennedy.

Members of the Sunday School Junior Department were entertained at the home of their superintendent, Mrs. W. E. Polk, on Thursday evening with a party and treasure hunt. Games were played and the treasure hunt was much enjoyed. Refreshments were pimiento cheese sandwiches, butter cookies and punch. Present were Johnny Mack Ward, Philip Wilcoxson, Kathleen Wynn, Hannah Oliver, Billy, Don, Rob and Dixie Polk, Joe Gallegly, Buddy Bridges, Emaline and Caroline Wright, Louise Davis, Marylea Vines and Nancy Ruth Boulton.

Veto by President Roosevelt of a $3,260,000 appropriation for development of fish hatcheries will not block construction of a proposed $60,000 hatchery on Current River between Corning and Pocahontas.

Three Corning women were injured, one seriously, when a Missouri Pacific local freight locomotive struck W. D. Russell's automobile, in which the three ladies were riding, on to a grade crossing one block north of the old freight depot here last Monday. The injured are Mrs. Ella Johnson, possible fracture of left foot and injuries to lower limbs; Miss Mattie Russell, possible rib fracture, severe bruises and injury to left leg; Mrs. W. D. Russell, left leg injuries and body bruises. They were removed to Mrs. Russell's home and have been receiving treatment by Dr. S. P. Blackwood.

Through work of the local Civic Club and Postmaster W. E. Polk, a new US mail route is expected soon to be designated from Corning post office to serve 250 families residing in White and Ring School districts, Hickoria and McDougal communities.

$100,000 fish hatchery is assured for Corning. Construction to start in six to eight weeks. Glenn S. Leach of Washington, DC, chief of the Federal Bureau of Fisheries, last Tuesday assured Corning YMCC that the site for a proposed federal fish hatchery here has met all requirements of the government and actual construction work on the $100,000 project will start within the next six or eight weeks. A beautiful five acre park, with improved driveways, a water system, picnic benches, chairs and shelters will be opened to the public in connection with the hatchery.

S. V. (Tiddle) Walls, Jr., 24 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. S. V. Walls, residing in south Corning, very painfully injured his right foot when a .22 caliber pump rifle in his hands accidentally discharged. The bullet fractured bones in the upper part of his right foot. He and other youths had been fishing last Sunday at Taylor Lake about three miles northeast of Corning and were returning home. He was unloading the gun when a bullet jammed.

J. W. McCauley and Son, owners and operators of mercantile stores in Neelyville and Naylor, last Monday purchased the local Odd Fellows building from the Corning Bank and expect soon to open their third store in the newly acquired property. The J. W. McCauley family have removed to Corning and he will personally manage his local store.

Clay County Electric Cooperative made another step toward furnishing electric lights and power to the rural sections of this county last Monday evening when teams were appointed to accompany a civil engineer on a preliminary survey of the proposed lines. The secretary reports that 480 contracts have been signed to date, indicating that approximately 150 miles of REA lines will be constructed.

S. B. Neill last Tuesday was appointed a deputy sheriff for the Western District of Clay County to fill a vacancy caused by J. M. Rice's death.

Corning Theatre early last Monday morning was damaged by fire to the extent of $10,000 to $12,000. The blaze, believed to have originated in the projection room, was discovered about 2 a.m. by Town Night watchman Chester Hollis who turned in an alarm.

Corning public school will reopen next Monday morning, September 5, with the following faculty: Silas D. Snow, superintendent; J. B. Dunlap, coach and social science; Miss Jewel Machen, foreign languages; Louis Webb, science and mathematics; Miss Edyth Griffin, commercial subjects; Miss Rosemary Hoffman, English; Miss Marjorie Durham, junior high school English and social science; Miss Grace Napier, sixth grade; Miss Zilphia Hulen, fifth grade; Mrs. Lucien Fowler, fourth grade; Mrs. Chas. Bowers, third grade; Mrs. Isabel Wilson, second grade and Miss Eula Davis, first grade. Superintendent S. D. Snow reports that enrollment in Corning public school for the ensuing term is the largest in the history of the school, with more than 500 in attendance, 310 in the grades and 200 in high school. Ninety-six students from other districts are enrolled in Corning High School.

At a special meeting of the local YMCC last Monday evening, several plans were discussed to secure WPA aid in paving Corning streets with asphalt.

The federal government is ready to start work on one of the largest flood control projects ever undertaken in northeast Arkansas, so construction of a $750,000 levied flood way system along Black river in western Clay County. The money has been appropriated and government engineers and contractors are ready to start work on the huge project when a few remaining small strips of land can be obtained from landowners.

Clay and Randolph counties have been allotted $300,000 to erect 271 miles of rural electrification lines, according to the Rural Electrification Administration in Washington, DC, in a telegram to Geo. F. Metzler, Clay County agriculture agent. On Tuesday, Clay and Randolph County Agents and L. A. Scrivner, president of the Clay County REA, J. C. Latta, vice president and Jess Dismang, Pocahontas, met with REA officials in Little Rock to get instructions for completion of the work which will enable rural families to get electricity at a very reasonable rate.

At a meeting of the local YMCC last Monday evening, committees were appointed to erect a community Christmas tree for Corning and arrange for gifts to local needy families.

Corning public school honor roll - First grade: Isaac Bracken, Harold Bowers, Billy Hollis, Thomas Kinsey, Billy Oliver, Jacky Ousnamer, Charles Patterson, A. C. Roberts, Sammy Motsinger, Fern Ainley, Wilma Bergman, Dorma Jean Davis, Betty Lou Grant, Jerry Lee Jackson, Francis Perrin, Billy Joe Taylor, Doris Ann Wisdom and Wilda Dean McGuire.

Rev. WILCOXON was a speaker at the meeting of the Corning School Hy-Y Club. His subject was "Living" and the "Hy-Y Club." The club discussed bird houses and decided to put them in every section of Corning. Rev. WILCOXON offered a dollar prize for the best bird house and Coach DUNLAP offered a Hy-Y medallion for the best one. Superintendent SNOW offered 50 cents each for the two next best. The program this week will consist of topics on the life of George WASHINGTON.

You are invited to attend a moving picture show featuring Allis -Chalmers farm machinery in action at State Theater Corning, Thursday, Feb. 23, 1:30 pm. Display of new line of Allis-Chalmers tractors in front of show and also at H. GOODE's Store. Get free tickets at store.

At a mass meeting of local citizens last Friday evening n the Courthouse, candidates for Corning municipal offices were selected as follows: P.L OLIVER, mayor; D.L. OUSNAMER, Punk McELVAIN, J.B. BELFORD, aldermen; Lowell THOMASON, recorder. The city election will be held next April 4th.

Announcing the opening of BURNS Service Station and Garage on Highway 67 at Western city limits, Corning. Ezra and Ewell BURNS, Corning.

J.W. BLACK 81, oldest member of Corning Baptist Church and one of the building fund committee, was among the first Baptists to start a movement for a new church building here about two years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Vogan BROOKINGS, gave a fish fry for Clay County Welfare Board members on the banks of Black River near that town last Friday afternoon. The outing included a delightful motorboat trip up the river.

When just a small boy, your correspondent remembers a long, gangling pitcher who was burning them up for the Datto club and Sunday I saw this same pitcher go to bat in the ninth inning with two men out and a runner on first base and pound out a triple which beat the State Line team, five to four. Although getting along in years, Smokey San CLEMENT can still win ball games. Success is the only team this year who has won a game from him.

Through the work of local civic club and Postmaster W.E. POLK, a new United States mail route is expected soon to be designated from Corning post office to serve 250 families residing in White and Ring school districts, Hickoria and McDougal communities. Sponsors have raised over $400.00 for the proposed Rural Mail route and the roads for same have been completed. Inspectors are expected to view this proposed new R.F.D. route early next week. Additional revenue from this new route will strengthen the classification of Corning post office. Corning is eligible for a new post office building, according to revenue classification and it is hoped that the government will see fit to construct a federal building here in the near future.

Erma Dean CHARLTON entertained several of her friends with a party celebrating her birthday, Wednesday night. Games and contests were enjoyed. Present were: Peggy Lee COX, Jerry COX, Margaret Ann NISWONGER, Peggy Jean FRAZIER, Norma Lee ANDERSON, Doris SMITH, Birdie Jean LOYD, Loretta KENNEDY, Altina LESTER, Carroll COX, Donald Jean TUSSEY, Stewart KIMBALL, Junior GARLAND, Gerald WISDOM, Kenneth VINES and Charles AINLEY. Refreshments were candy, cake and lemonade.

Mrs. C.C. JENKINS, high school room mother, entertained the high school with a wiener roast at Buckeye Ridge recently. Plans were made to build a small baseball diamond. The high school is planning a hay ride for early November. (Knobel)

Knobel School Senior Class officers elected are: President, Eugene HART; Vice-president, Ernest BORDER; Secretary, Louise CHANDLER; Treasurer, Dorothy BARNETT; Reporter, Norma GREEN; Sergeant at Arms, Raymond WHITAKER.

Knobel Junior Class officers are: President, Earlin HART; Vice-president, Robert ADAMS; Secretary-treasurer, John HOLLOWAY; Reporter, E.W. HOLMAN.
Tenth grade officers: President, Henry HART; Vice-president, Henry HART; Secretary-Treasurer, Jack CHAFFIN; Reporter, Mary ROWLEY.
Freshman Class officers: President, Leroy TYLER, Vice-president, Ellis HANDLEY; Secretary-Treasurer, H.C. TOWNSEND; Reporter, Billy WATKINS.

Clarence VOLMER, local superintendent for HORTON and COLEMAN Construction Company, suffered a fracture of his right leg last Thursday in an unusual accident near that company's Black River levee project, three miles South of Corning.
VOLMER had placed poles on the Missouri Pacific railroad track to permit Game Warden B.E. REDWINE to drive his auto across and as the auto started across, a pole caught Mr. VOLMER's leg and fractured it half way between the knee and ankle.

At a regular meeting of the local Young Men's Civic Club last Monday evening, plans for black top paving of Corning's streets were discussed. Mayor P.L. OLIVER issued a call for mass meeting of local citizens in the courthouse next Monday evening when the proposed improvement will be explained. The plans call for a W.P.A. project through which 40 per cent of the cost will be paid for by the government and the balance by a five mill property tax.

E.W. COCHRAN will put in a second-hand furniture store here. (Success)

Mrs. Glenn THARP entertained with a party, July 28, in honor of her son, Danny's' birthday. Games and contests were played. Refreshments of punch and cookies were served with candy suckers as favors.
Present were, Dorma Jean DAVIS, Mary Jo REED, Corky CHARLTON, Roberta Sue BAILEY, Mary Alice and Barbara EZELL, Jean BACCUS, Anna Ruth PATTERSON, Shirley Jane WISDOM, Becky SHEEKS, Emma Sue THARP, Jackie and Jacqueline WARD, Billy Joe AINLEY, Billy OLIVER, Freddie and Jimmy ARNOLD, Jackie OUSNAMER, Jimmie WISDOM, Johnny Frank THARP and Eddie SHEEKS. Mrs. F.R. WISDOM assisted in serving.

Mack WATTS, an engineer employed on Black River levee project was fined $20.00 and costs last Wednesday morning on a charge of "Malicious mischief of shooting up property with a gun, in a drunken condition."
Last Wednesday morning about two o'clock, WATTS appeared at PUCKETT's Cafe in BELFORD's GARAGE with a .22 caliber automatic rifle, shot out three large electric ceiling lights and then turned the rifle on a metal hanger oil skin as a target. Night Marshal William GRAYSON quickly appeared on the scene and arrested WATTS.

A goal of free school lunches for 84,000 underprivileged school children in Arkansas monthly has been set by the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, according to information received last week by John R. THOMPSON, state welfare commissioner and Renton TUNNAH.

Winners in the recent boys' horseshoe tournament were Jack CHAFFIN and Pete TYLER. Winners in the girls' horseshoe tournament were Nellie MYERS and Wanda FILES. (Knobel)

Knobel School Senior class officers elected are: President, Eugene HART; Vice-President, Ernest BORDER; Secretary, Louise CHANDLER; Treasurer, Dorothy BARNETT; Reporter, Norma GREEN; Sergeant at arms, Raymond WHITAKER.

Updated 13 May 2008