William Randolph Hearst, who inherited his father’s newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner in 1887, was nicknamed “Billy Buster” by his parents George and Phoebe Hearst. The name inspired Hearst’s co-worker Richard Outcaul to create a comic strip featuring Billy Buster, a boy with similar traits to Hearst. After Outcault sold an advertising license for the character to George Warren Brown of Brown Shoe Company in St. Louis, Brown’s portrayal of the Buster Brown character took hold, and Buster Brown became a household name in the early 1900s. The success of Buster Brown in the shoe industry and other marketing avenues was long lived, and families coast to coast recognized the name for nearly a century. It’s thought that the term’s widespread popularity may be linked to the name given to a site near Howards Ridge where today’s J Highway crosses Lick Creek.

Davidson

A meeting was held Jan. 16 in Ava to present development options for the new Bryant Creek State Park, in Douglas County a few miles north of Rockbridge. Proposed features include primitive camping locations, hiking and multi-use trails, and three possible locations for day-use areas.

Ozark County residents Jane and Andy Elder have worked for years to keep the art of square dancing alive. Ozarks Alive photo/Kaitlyn McConnell

Ruud