Blast from the past

Rural Missouri Magazine asked readers to name their favorite eateries, destinations and activities for its seventh annual “Best of Rural Missouri” Readers’ Choice contest. Jamesport made the list twice for Best Antiquing and Best Day Trip in the Northwest region.

Senior Airman Christopher Craig, son of Steve and Lisa Reid of Gallatin and Bob Craig of Green Castle, is deployed from Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, as the 777th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief. The 777th EAMU is a part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Main Group that provides combat-ready aircraft and munitions to the air component commander in support of coalition forces throughout Iraq.

April 1, 1998

Gallatin’s Amy Woodruff and Pattonsburg’s Cindy Lager were among a handful of area basketball seniors named this week to the Missouri All-State Basketball teams. Woodruff became Gallatin’s all-time leading scorer with 1,493 points. She led the Lady Bulldogs with a 16.5 scoring average. Lager scored 442 points this season, a 16.4 average, and passed Valerie Cornett on the all-time PHS scoring list with 1,461 points.

The Winston R-6 Jazz Band traveled to Springfield on March 7 where they took second place in the Class A competition at the Drury Jazz Contest. Band members are Frankie Baldwin, Heather Richardson, Michele Spencer, Carol Clark, Jennifer Tarepin, Derek Vaughn, Nathan Uthe, ShaVaughn O’Dell and Sharona Tarepin.

The start of 911 service in Daviess County has been delayed again. The new target date to announce enhanced 911 dispatching services here is mid-May. Roughly half of the county could be served now with enhanced 911 service, half would be without. The 911 board voted to wait until the entire system is in place before announcing service.

April 6, 1988

Gallatin has elected its first woman mayor. Norma Griffin, a former deputy city clerk at city hall, was elected in a voter turnout of 27 percent. Mrs. Griffin is the first woman to serve as mayor since Gallatin incorporated in 1854.

Aaron P. Tate, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Tate of Gallatin, and Rick R. Pardun, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Pardun of Gilman City, were recently selected to participate in the fourth Missouri Scholars Academy, which will be held on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. The 1988 scholars were selected from 533 nominations submitted by public and private schools throughout the state.

Jenny Lin, graduate of Winston R-6 High School and daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George Lin, has been recognized as the 1987-88 Scholar Athlete at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. This marks Jenny as the top scholar out of the university’s entire athletic program.

April 5, 1978

The main dining room of the McDonald Tea Room was comfortably filled Thursday night for a testimonial dinner in honor of Turpin Youtsey, longtime MFA Insurance agent in Gallatin. Mr. Youtsey was presented the traditional retirement watch, a memory book containing documents, letters of congratulations and commendations, all of which figured in his long and fruitful career with the company.

Craig Cummings has advanced to the state boxing championship tournament Friday in Hastings, Neb. Rob Patrick won the district championship in Lincoln, Neb., on March 19, but was defeated in his regional match.

April 4, 1968

Jerry Mays, defensive captain for the Kansas City Chiefs, will speak at the annual athletic banquet here. Mays, defensive end for the Chiefs since 1965, is in great demand as a speaker. He is very active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was a scholastic All-American in college, and is a registered professional engineer in Missouri.

Ronnie McNeel, who was quite a basketball star while in Gallatin High School, is keeping the hoop hot while in service with the Navy. Ronnie, playing with the Navy Auxiliary Landing Field team, scored 33 points against another team in the Pacific Grove Adult Recreational League. McNeel, who married the former Pam Sullenger, is stationed at the Melrose Naval Station.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Courter Theater, Columbia Pictures presents Sidney Poitier in James Clavell’s production of “To Sir, With Love.”

The Gallatin High School band, under the direction of Stephen Brown, received I ratings from all four judges at the district music contest held at Chillicothe Friday and Saturday. The group now has a I rating for both marching band and concert band.

April 3, 1958

Seven Gallatin R-5 seniors have received certificates of recognition for outstanding scholastic achievement for their high school record. They are John Lawrence Clements, Ronald Lee House, Richard Ashley Lyman, Patricia Kay Daniels, Lois Ruth Macrander, Jewell Fay Brown and Florence Marie Vegely.

PFC Thomas G. Ramsbottom, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ramsbottom, Gallatin, is scheduled to depart Fort Benning, Ga., in mid-April for Europe under Operation Gyroscope, the Army’s unit rotation plan. Ramsbottom is a member of the 3rd Infantry Division which is replacing the 10th Infantry Division in Germany.

Learning popular dance steps is a project soon to be put into operation at the Rock Inn, headquarters of Gallatin’s teenagers. Ronnie Kerns, professional instructor from St. Joseph, will give the six-week course. About 65 teenagers have already signed up for the lessons.

March 8, 1948

Bobby Holmes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Holmes, south of Gallatin, recently picked up a gigantic tooth on a sandbar in the Grand River near here. Accurate identification awaits word from the state geologist at the Rolla School of Mines.

Fear that the Liberty Ship “Henry Wynkoop” would be smashed to bits by towering 60-foot waves turned a 12-day North Atlantic crossing into a horrible nightmare for Elvin E. Campbell, a 28-year-old former Daviess Countian and third engineer on the vessel. He is the son of C.J. Stout of Gallatin.

Gallatin High School’s track team defeated Princeton, 70 to 47, Tuesday at Dockery Park. Johnny Brown, Gallatin’s all-around athlete, was high points with firsts in the shot put, 100-yard and 220-yard dashes, and second in the discus, high jump and broad jump.