TIMES PAST


This undated postcard from Rainbo Ridge Resort in Isabella is thought to have been photographed in the 1950s. According to “The History of Ozark County: 1841-1991,” Rainbo Ridge was one of the 43 resorts established around or near Bull Shoals Lake at Ocie, Theodosia, Isabella and Pontiac between 1952 and 1973. Located on Highway 160 between the Theodosia Bridge and HH Highway in Isabella, the resort’s two simple and tidy cabins attracted early tourists, primarily fishermen, to Ozark County shortly after Bull Shoals Dam was completed in 1951, impounding the lake. According to the history book, Rainbo Ridge was built that same year by Dale and Edith Riddle of Kansas City, “with Edith Riddle doing the carpentry work and some of the wiring and plumbing.” After being bought and sold several times, the resort closed in the late 1970s, according to the book.

Ozark County Times
May 22, 1914
Liner – Poke salad has taken a back seat now, and strawberry shortcake is in order.
Wm. Holstine lost a fine colt this week. 
Toledo – Walter Gilliland of this place died Tuesday after a few days illness.
E. T. Brown attended the funeral of Mr. Gilliland at Thornfield Wednesday.
 
May 24, 1918
 Ocie – The communion meeting at Lutie was a grand success. At the 11 o’clock hour Rev. H. I. Hart preached to a large congregation after which dinner was spread in the grove.
The people were called together at 2:30 by singing, and V. G. Tannehill was in charge. ... He turned the service over to the pastor, Rev. Sigel Grey, and many did eat and drink and wash feet together. 
 
May 20, 1943
 Willhoit – Mrs. Nancy Naugle received two very beautiful quilts for buying bonds at the bond sale.
Several from here attended the graduation at town. Billy Shaull, Gene Beasley and Everett Bolian were the graduates from here.
Gene Beasley and Billy Shaull will leave for camp soon.
Raymond Terry sold his car to Herman Melton.
 Sallee – Mrs. Ruth Strong went up to Marshall, Mo., last week and brought her 10-year-old daughter Marie home. She had been in the Home for Crippled Children for a year. She can walk quite well again. 
Mrs. B. W. White has 49 baby turkeys. Hope she has good luck with them. 
 
May 22, 1952
Nine Ozark County men have been ordered to report for induction into the armed forces on May 22...
Listed were Cleetis Sanders, Pontiac; Donald Oscar Eslinger, Almartha, Noland Brice Morrison, Gainesville; George Wayne Halford, Udall; Elwood J. Quick, Wichita, Kansas; R. E. Hampton, Ocie; Leo Dolen Holmes, Mammoth; Boyd Bertram Dodson, Dora; and Loyd Loranzo Clarkston, Gainesville. 
 
May 21, 1953
 Lilly Ridge – Mr. and Mrs. Findley spent Monday night at Lonzo Mahan’s. He will take a load of rabbits to Branson the 29th.
Mrs. Sherman Green is the happy owner of a new vacuum cleaner. 
 
 
May 30, 1968
Mearle Jones Luna, 54, superintendent of the Gainesville schools died suddenly Saturday morning of an apparent heart attack at the Glenn Fry home at Tecumseh.
Mr. Luna and his son-in-law had stopped at the Fry home to ask permission to cross their property to launch a boat in the Bryant preparatory to a float trip.
Mr. Luna had served as superintendent of the schools here for 26 years and prior to that he had been principal of  the Gainesville High School for two years. He had also taught for six years in Ozark County rural schools at Luna, Pleasant Grove and new Hope. ...
Mr. Luna was born on Feb. 24, 1914, near Gaines-ville, the son of the late Cleo Luna and Carrie Hunt Luna, who survives.
He was married on Oct. 18, 1934, to Stella Irene Martin who also survives. 
 
May 24, 1973
Eight police vehicles were delivered to Amyx Auto Co. last week from communities in the South Central Ozark Regional Planning Commission, which had elected to purchase the cars through the Regional Law Enforcement Council. ... The purchase was made on a 25 percent to 75 percent basis with the communities paying one-fourth of the cost, and the federal government the remained.
Amyx Auto Co. was the low bidder on the contract to supply the vehicles.
There were nine cars purchased, but the one for the city of Gainesville was not delivered until later in the week. The other towns in the region which purchased cars were Alton, Ava, Birch Tree, Cabool, Houston, Mtn. View, Norwood and Winona. 
 
May 19, 1993
Conway School Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cook, died Saturday in a Columbia hospital from injuries he received in a plane crash on May 5 near Theodosia that also injured three other Missouri educators.
... Cook and three other educators ... were also aboard the plane and were returning from a conference when the plane crashed near the Bull Shoals Lake in southwestern Ozark County.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423