Forum Flashbacks: July 2-8

FORUM FILE PHOTO
Forum Flashbacks: 25 years ago – Spectators watch as fireworks light up the sky during a Fourth of July and Maryville Sesquicentennial Celebration held last night at the Maryville High School football field. Storms early in the evening threatened the event, but later subsided.

25 years ago

• Maryville was a natural site for the county seat of Nodaway County, with its central location. …
  The county court in the record of the July 1845 term noted: “It is hereby ordered and declared the seat of Justice in Nodaway County, Missouri shall be called and known by the name of MARYVILLE.”
  The town was named in honor of Mary Graham, wife of the first county clerk, Amos Graham, and first white woman to settle in the original limits of the town.

15 years ago

• A glass box full of cash and a newly-unveiled artist’s rendering of a downtown revitalization project were the lasting images from a press conference held Thursday by the Campaign for Community Renewal.
  The press conference was held on the grounds of the Nodaway County Courthouse, which is where phase one of the campaign’s project will take place. The phase calls for new sidewalks, storefronts, landscaping and decorative elements in a four-block radius surrounding the courthouse square.
• West Nodaway R-II summer school students this year could choose between several topics for their classes, including studies about China and Alaska, Route 66, and Lewis and Clark. They also took field trips and received visits from characters like Cowboy Randy and the Mad Scientist. …
  But the best part about West Nodaway’s 2005 summer school curriculum, in (Elementary Principal Nancy) Greeley’s opinion, was lunch.
  Each day, the students had “Sit Down Lunches,” where they continued the learning process. …
  The summer school curriculum actually continued during lunch time, where the children learned all about manners — the proper way to act at the dinner table.
  Each day, students took turns going to the lunch room early to learn the proper way to set the table — where to set the plate, glass, napkin and silverware. After lunch, students were also assigned to clean the tables.
  As the students arrived at the table for lunch, they were to stand behind their chairs, and wait for all the students and teachers to arrive. They could sit down after their host or hostess (the summer school teachers) said they could.
  After being seated, the children were to place their napkins in their laps, remembering never to put their elbows on the tables, say “Please” when they wanted something passed to them and to always pass the dishes to the right.

5 years ago

• A new chapter for the Maryville R-II School District began Wednesday morning. Becky Albrecht officially took over as the district’s superintendent succeeding former superintendent Larry Linthacum, who is now the top administrator at Jefferson City Public Schools.
  “My plan day one was to come in and get started,” Albrecht said. “I did that. I visited the district buildings, the construction sites, and I’ve been trying to meet a lot of people. I just want to get a firm grasp on everything.”
• Work has begun at the Maryville High School and Eugene Field Elementary School. The construction projects are a part of the $10.25 million bond issue that will be used to build a new performing arts center at the high school, along with a new MHS practice gymnasium and to expand the kitchen and cafeteria at Eugene Field.
  Superintendent Becky Albrecht said she visited the construction sites earlier this week and met with the superintendents of both sites.
  “It’s been a long time coming for the people of Maryville,” Albrecht said. “I know the community is excited for the projects to be finished and they are underway.”