Forum Flashbacks: May 15-21
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, MAY 17, 2000
25 YEARS AGO: World Champs – Ashley Pedersen and partner Hope Carrell stand with their trophies and batons after winning top international honors in duet twirling.
25 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, May 17, 2000
Pedersen, Carrell take the ‘World’ — give it a twirl
Maryville is home to at least one world champion.
Ashley Pedersen was recently named 2000 World Twirling Champion in the duet division along with her partner Hope Carrell of Marion, Ill.
The team earned a spot at the international competition in Birmingham, England, by winning the 1999 United States Grand National Duet Twirling Championship.
“It was a great honor. I was really proud,” Pedersen said. “It was one of those experiences you’ll never forget.”
In the weeks leading up to the competition, the US team had to conquer a few obstacles. Both Pedersen and Carrell were suffering from leg injuries, requiring daily physical therapy.
Pedersen met another hindrance, as her flight to England arrived 26 hours late, due to bad weather.
Not only did she miss the opening ceremonies, but Pedersen actually arrived only one hour before her team’s scheduled competition time.
A panel of six judges from various countries rated the team’s performance, which lasted two and one-half minutes, on difficulty, teamwork, partner exchanges, production, technique and showmanship.
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, May 17, 1975
Wilcox Church Celebrates Birthday
The 125th anniversary of the Wilcox United Methodist Church, which will be observed Sunday, will be a memorable day, for members and friends. …
The Methodist Church of Wilcox traces its beginning back to 1850, when preaching services were held and the group organized in the home of Washington Griffith, then 1 ½ miles northwest of where Wilcox is now located. …
Sylvester Heflin became a pastor for several years and records show that preaching services were held regularly at the Griffith home, the Griffith schoolhouse or at Griffith’s grove, until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1862, when it became impossible to hold quarterly conferences or to keep records because of strong sentiment against the Methodist Episcopal Church, South — and particularly against preachers.
Jesse Bird, the presiding elder, was to hold a conference in Maryville, but was given orders by the governing militia to leave the state and not preach any more in the Military District. He did move his family away to prevent his imprisonment, but in 1866-67 the little groups were again permitted to hold their meetings and attend annual conference. …
The town of Wilcox was built in 1879 and a new schoolhouse also was erected. In 1881 the Griffith congregation was moved to Wilcox and became known as the Wilcox Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Services continued regularly at the schoolhouse until 1891, when the first church building was erected in Wilcox on the present church site.
100 years ago
The Maryville Daily Democrat-Forum, May 15, 1925
Eighth A Grade Wins Cup for Best Project
The Eighth A Grade of the Maryville Public School won the project cup presented to the grade that made the best project for the year. The grade is taught by Miss Mary Ford and the materials used in the project were salt and flour. The project is a relief map of the Panama Canal and the boys also made locks to demonstrate how the ships pass through the canal. The pupils began by studying the building of the first canal in the United States and went on through to the Panama.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 50- and 100-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
