Forum Flashbacks: Dec. 11-17
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, DEC. 11, 2000
25 YEARS AGO: Mr. and Mrs. Claus – Four-year-old Nicole Wilson tells Santa and Mrs. Claus what she wants for Christmas this year, during Santa’s visit to the Maryville Hy-Vee Store, Saturday. She asked the jolly elf for a Princess Bride Barbie™, real makeup and Poochie®(sic), the robot dog. She also got some Hershey’s Kisses ® from Santa.
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Dec. 4, 1975
New Radar Gun Makes Speeding Motorists Easy Prey for Police
The motorists’ motto in Maryville could well be — Slow Down and Save. If not a motto, it is at least good advice because a check of published municipal court records during the past few weeks shows a drastic increase in the number of speeding fines.
The local speeder’s downfall began Nov. 19 when the Maryville Public Safety Department received the RA-GUN Model 100, a handheld radar gun for determining the speed of a car. There were three speeding cases handled in court in the three weeks prior to receiving the new radar gun. In the three weeks following the receipt of the radar gun, there have been 126 speeding cases in court.
Lester Keith, public safety director, expects the rash of speeding tickets to taper off as local motorist realize that public safety officers are equipped with the more efficient device. …
The RA-Gun is ideal for use by a small police department such as Maryville’s. It is portable, resembling a big pistol with a digital readout on the rear section, and can be used by just one officer. It weighs only a few pounds and plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter for power and can be moved easily from car to car.
The public safety department even could obtain a battery pack for the RA-GUN which would allow an officer on foot patrol to use it.
75 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Dec. 12, 1950
Local Children Write Letters To Santa Claus
The Daily Forum’s correspondent at the North Pole stopped in to see Santa Claus the other day to find out if the boys and girls of Maryville and vicinity are writing him. Santa gave him several letters and told him to tell the children that he would be seeing them soon.
Dear Santa,
I want a bicycle, a toy sink, and a toy stove. I want a doll bathinet. That is about all that I want. My brother Lowell wants a toy station. He wants a little toy fire truck and a toy bulldozer, one that will raise and lower please. He wants a little toy saddle. Mother wants a wrist watch and a floor lamp. She wants an electric radio. Daddy wants some new stockings, a necktie, and a new handkerchief.
With Love,
Carolyn Houts
Ravenwood, Mo.
Dear Santa,
How are you? I am just fine. I am eight years old. In the third grade. I go to the Wilcox school. For Christmas I want two guns with two holsters and candy and nuts. Don’t forget Roy David Shell and all other little boys and girls.
Your friend,
Bennie Farrell,
Wilcox, Mo.
Dear Santa Claus,
I go to school. I am in the second grade. Please bring me a gas station.
Your friend,
Arlen Aaron Armstrong
114 ½ East Third St.
Maryville, Mo.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 75-year flashback is courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
