Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace
August 1997
This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the
stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction
families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the
Homeplace.” Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding
valley, in August of 1997.
Sheep waiting to be judged at the fair
Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_show
The 118th Annual Oak Creek Valley Fair was held successfully on the
first weekend in August yet again. What started as a one-day event those many
years ago has grown to a four-day-event that attracts visitors from surrounding
counties and across the four-state region. License plates were seen in the
parking lot from 12 different states, as a matter of fact… and, of course,
there could have been more over the four days. Held on the fairgrounds south of
Patton Pond in the southwest corner of the city, the fair offers township
residents an opportunity to show off their animals, crops and projects. The
higher ranked entries can be assured of good placement at the upcoming county
fair as well as the possibility of being selected for the State Fair.
Pioneer crafts from the 19th Century were a favorite of Fair visitors
as they are every year. We all enjoy being reminded of the simpler (but not
easier) times of our pioneer ancestors. A new exhibit this year that drew a lot
of attention was that of the new Oak Springs Historical and Genealogical
Society where a few of the family artifacts identified earlier in the year were
on display along with family stories related to the artifacts.
Six different bands and musical groups took turns performing on the
two stages set up at each end of the fairgrounds this year. The carnival was
set up in the middle of the fairgrounds, as usual.
The Bevins Corporation announced in the Oak Springs Enterprise that
Scott Gates, recent graduate of the Farm Operations program at the Ozarks
Community College, had been named Assistant Farm Manager. In this role, he will
be involved in the planning and direction of all farm related activities under
General Manager, Bart Bevins. The Bevins Corporation is primarily involved in
row crops, hay and pasture land management, and a large cow-calf operation.
Locals:
Virginia Hollingsworth was moved to the Serenity Nursing Home [http://homeplace.wikispaces.com/serenity]
from the Oak Springs Regional Hospital [http://homeplace.wikispaces.com/hospital]
where she had been undergoing care following a serious fall she took while
gardening at her home in the east valley.
Late in month, Heather Gates, a junior at the local high school, was
to present her FFA annual project at the FFA (Future Farmers of America) State
Convention in Kansas City. She had received high praise for the project from
her teacher and FFA advisor [http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/2015/03/may-1997-life-in-oak-springs-homeplace.html],
and all her supporters wished her well at State.
Peter Bevins, Managing Director of the McDonald Conservancy,
announced that two more persons had accepted appointment to the Board of
Directors of the emerging Land Trust. One was a professor in the Biology Department
at the State University and the other was a Regional Director of the Missouri
Nature Conservancy organization.
Social Notes:
Dr. Raynor Crimmons welcomed his daughter, Randi, for a two-week
visit from her home in the Washington, D.C. area, where she works for the
Department of Defense. During the visit, they also spend a long weekend in
southeastern Iowa visiting relatives and friends. While in Oak Springs, Randi
said she especially enjoyed spending time with Karen, Lori and Matt Winslow
with whom she grew up as a youngster in Tucson, Arizona. She added that she
also enjoyed meeting and getting to know Matt’s wife, Susan, and their two
children, Tyler and Emily.
Peter, Sheila, and Jeremy Bevins enjoyed a week of camping along the
Buffalo River in northwestern Arkansas early in the month. It was their first
out-of-town vacation since had Jeremy became part of the family last year.
[Learn more about this in “Christmas at the Homeplace.”]
Cop Shop:
Local police were investigating a fire at the playground in Patton
Park, in the southwest part of the city. It appeared that vandals had set fire
to the wooden swing set as well as the rubber pelts on the ground about 9 p.m.
last Thursday night. An empty container of flammable fluid was discovered near
the fire. As of this reporting, no one had come forward with useful information
on who may have set the fire or why.
"May
everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."
Dr.
Bill ;-)
