Ridgeway News -- August 20, 2025

CITY NEWS: The Ridgeway Community Betterment Association met last Monday in the old Lions Hall to plan events and projects for the remainder of the year. They still hope to get some, if not all, of the street sign posts repainted. They also discussed the finishing touches needed for the new basketball court and started making plans for October Bingo, Trunk-or-Treat and Christmas events.

RCBA is asking for old quilts for a project at the old Lions Hall. To help deaden some of the loud echos, particularly when a large group of people is using the hall, the group wants to hang quilts along the walls to absorb some of the sound. If you have some older, but still nice-looking old quilts that you no longer want, please let the group know. You can drop off quilts at Paula’s Sewing Corner at 408 Main. Please do not donate quilts that are heirlooms, are valuable or have sentimental value. 

RCBA is also taking donations of working Christmas lights and outdoor décor to transform the City Park for Christmas. If you have something you would like to donate, please contact Shelly Lovitt or email ridgewaycba@gmail.com.

There will be no Bingo in September, but mark your calendar for the October Bingo night on Monday, October 6  at 6:30 pm in the old Lions Hall. Be sure to dress up for the annual Halloween costume / Fall Outfit contest! Donations of snacks are appreciated and for October, the theme for snacks is fall flavors and colors.  There are always three winners per game and lots of prizes for all ages.  A free-will donation is accepted for snacks and cards to help RCBA work on projects and events around town. 

Save the date for the next Spring into Homesteading event. The members of the Ridgeway Community Betterment Association are already planning next year’s showcase of practical demonstrations, information booths and vendors. Last year, they featured a talk about raised bed gardening and a demonstration of using sour dough to make delicious baked goods. Spring into Homesteading is planned for Saturday, March 28 in the Ridgeway school gym. If you would like to participate as a vendor or demonstrator, please contact Susie Rollheiser or Paula Scott or email ridgewaycba@gmail.com.

SCHOOL NEWS: The Ridgeway Owls are back in school! Please remember to watch for students walking to and from school and also always stop for buses that are loading or unloading children. Good luck to all in the new school year!

SOCIETY: Walter Plant will share his music talent and faith stories at Morris Chapel on this Sunday, August 24 at 4 pm. Please join us for homemade ice cream, snacks and fellowship after the concert. All are invited!

The Ridgeway Baptist Church sewing group met at Paula’s Sewing Corner last Monday and completed 18 little bears for the Christmas shoeboxes and make progress on several more. They also completed several drawstring bags which will also be added to the shoe boxes. The group will meet again next Monday, August 25, from 1 pm to 4 pm to continue their work. All are invited to join the work – you do not need a sewing machine or sewing knowledge to help!

CLOSING: Hoping for cooler weather after this hot, hot weekend!  Hope you have a great week and don’t forget to send me any items for the paper by Sunday evening! Thank you for reading!

Upcoming Events 

Aug 24 – Walter Plant at Morris Chapel, 4 pm

Aug 25 – Sewing Group meets at Ridgeway Baptist Church, 1 pm to 4 pm

Sept 8 – Labor Day

** No Bingo or Scrapbooking in September due to Labor Day.

Sept 15 – RCBA Meeting, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Sept 20 – Ridgeway Car Show, Ridgeway City Park, TBA

Sept 22 – Board of Alderman Meeting, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Oct 4 – RCBA Scrapbooking, 10 am, Paula’s Sewing Corner, 408 Main St.

Oct 6 – Bingo, 6:30m, Old Lions Hall

Oct 25 – Trunk-or-Treat, City Hall 

Ridgeway News Updates

To send in an item for the Ridgeway News or subscribe to the email list, send an email to RidgewayCBA@gmail.com.  Emailed copies are sent out Friday mornings at 6 am.  

For the most current updates, follow RCBA on Facebook!  Find it by searching for @RidgewayCBA.  

Bit of History -- August 20, 20205

A funny little feature story published in the Ridgeway Journal on August 9, 1934, Hershey Goodwin and his cow famous nationwide. Hershey kept his cow in a pasture on the northwest side of town and every morning and evening he would drive in his “motor car” to milk her. He would then honk his horn to call her. “No matter where bossy is in the pasture or whether she can see Mr. Goodwin or not, she heads at once for the southeast gate to be milked.” Mr. Goodwin didn’t explain how he trained her to come at the sound of his horn but “several veracious witnesses attest that she does”

The news wires picked up this little story and over the next couple weeks, the Journal staff got letters from Ridgeway folks in far off cities telling how they read about the cow in their local papers. People first read about the cow in Des Moines and the story spread nationwide: “Mrs. Sam Whitehead received a letter from a friend in Shreveport, Louisiana, in which she related seeing the story of Mr. Goodwin's cow in their local paper, and telling how surprised she was to see an item under a Ridgeway date line down in Louisiana.” Mr. Goodwin got a letter from Long Island, NY from someone who had read about his cow and Dr. Lake Brewer got a letter from Raymond Kearny of New Jersey who found the story in the New York Evening Sun and “was surprised to see an account of Hershey Goodwin's cow under a Ridgeway head line.” (Ridgeway Journal, Aug 30, 1934.) 

Ridgeway News -- August 13, 2025

CITY NEWS:  The Ridgeway Board of Aldermen will hold their next meeting on Monday, August 18 at 7 pm in the Community Room at City Hall.  If you have an item that needs to be added to the agenda, please contact city clerk Toni Storms.  All Ridgeway residents are invited to attend.

SCHOOL NEWS:  Ridgeway R-V will hold a Back to School Bash on Wednesday, August 13 from 4 pm to 6 pm.  This open house will allow students to tour the school and meet their teachers.  Snacks will be provided by the Ridgeway Community Betterment Association.  The first day of school will be Tuesday, August 19 with an early dismissal time of 12:45 pm.  You may find the classroom supply lists on the school website at https://www.ridgewayr5.net.

When the students return to school, they will get to meet new district superintendent Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick who has come to Ridgeway from Kansas.  We wish him and all the students, teachers and staff of Ridgeway R-V school district all the best for this coming school year.

SOCIETY: Our condolences to the family and friends of Rhonda Price who passed away last week.  She lived in Ridgeway as a child and returned here to teach at the school. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Save the Date!  Walter Plant will share his music talent and faith stories at Morris Chapel on Sunday, August 24 at 4 pm. All are invited! 

CLOSING:   Good luck to all students, educators and staff returning to any school!  Hope you have a great week and don’t forget to send me any items for the paper by Sunday evening!  Thank you for reading!

Upcoming Events 

Aug 18 – Board of Alderman Meeting, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Aug 24 – Walter Plant at Morris Chapel, 4 pm

Sept 8 – Labor Day

Sept 15 – RCBA Meeting, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

** No Bingo or Scrapbooking in September due to Labor Day.

Sept 20 – Ridgeway Car Show, Ridgeway City Park, TBA

Oct 4 – RCBA Scrapbooking, 10 am, Paula’s Sewing Corner, 408 Main St.

Oct 6 – Bingo, 6:30m, Ridgeway Community Room

Oct 25 – Trunk-or-Treat, City Hall 

Ridgeway News Updates

To send in an item for the Ridgeway News or subscribe to the email list, send an email to RidgewayCBA@gmail.com.  Emailed copies are sent out Friday mornings at 6 am.  

For the most current updates, follow RCBA on Facebook!  Find it by searching for @RidgewayCBA.  

Bit of History -- August 13, 2025

In 1899, the Ridgeway school was scheduled to open on September 4.  Superintendent Mark Burrows placed an advertisement in the Ridgeway Journal on August 31, 1899 touting all the improvements that had been made to the school and what students could expect from their education:   “The High School course of study has been extended into a full four years' course. Over $200 has been spent in improving the library.”  The state had increased the requirements for teacher certificates so that a student who wanted to become a teacher needed to take literature and algebra to be able to earn a second grade teaching certificate.  To earn a first grade certificate, the student also had to take a one branch of science, which may be either botany, zoology, physics, or physical geography; and in one branch of history, either ancient, mediaeval, modern, or English.”  

The students had to pay $1.75 per month for their tuition which was “lower than that of any school offering equal advantages.”  The article went on to describe the subjects that a student could expect to study over the course of the four years which would enable prospective teachers the knowledge they needed to pass the certification exam to teach.  

Bit of History -- August 6, 2025

From August 31, 1911 edition of the Ridgeway Journal:  

The A. G. Scott family (no relation) held a huge family reunion in the Ridgeway city park.  Sixteen brothers and sisters were able to get together for the first time since their mother had passed away fourteen years earlier. “Six states were represented, as it were, by those who came from a distance. There was Charley from Chicago, Illinois; Ota from Towner, Colorado,: Minnie from Chase, Nebraska: Zenith from Washington, D. C. Edna, from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Eva from Topeka, Kansas, the balance of the family living ere There are sixteen in all and every one is enjoying the best of health.”  The next day, 140 more family members joined them for a day of picnicking, games, music and stories from Uncle Bill Graham who told of how “he had marched into the battle of Gettysburg to the tune of "Smithton" which they had just played” and if the call came again, he would gladly join up again to serve his country. 

The afternoon had a variety of entertainment including a family ball game in which Ol Scott “in a heartrending effort to make a home-run, went on on all fours between third and home, his wind about gone.  He made a brave effort to reach the goal on his hands and knees but put out ten feet from the plate.”  There was also “an interesting foot-race between Aunt Rachel Robb, age 82,  Kenneth Scott, age 12. Mrs. Robb easily won, and undoubtedly holds the record for one of her age.”

Altogether it was a great day for the family and made many memories.

Bit of History -- July 30, 2025

The August 8, 1953 edition of the Bethany Republican-Clipper carried a story about the no-good, very bad day for the Wesley V. Hallock family in Ridgeway.  This poor family had three separate accidents to family members within four hours, resulting in three separate trips to the Reid Hospital in Bethany.

The first trip to the hospital was for Mrs. Hallock after she was bitten by a dog.  Later, her son William, age 6, was playing “airplane” with a visitor, Elaine Johnson, age 9. “Elaine lay on her back, William Stanley took his seat on her feet, and she propelled him into the air. The final landing was not perfect, and both bones of William Stanley's right arm were broken.” The family headed to the hospital a second time to have the bones set.  

The third trip to Reid Hospital was for son Gary Hallock, age 10, who “was caught between a truck being backed by his father, and the hot engine of a tractor”.  The poor boy suffered painful I burns down his back, but thankfully no broken bones.  He was able to come home after being seen.  

Bit of History -- July 23, 2025

In 1929, the two lumber yards operating in Ridgeway merged to become one, officially changing the name to the Ridgeway Lumber company.  The two lumber yards were the Miner & Frees yard, which operated along the railroad behind the hotel and the Crossan-Zingerle Lumber company, which had started out as the Cadle lumber yard in Ridgeway’s early days.  Both yards were a vital part of Ridgeway’s economy for many years. The yards were purchased by M. R. Smith of Kansas City who also owned yards in Blythedale, Eagleville, Lamoni and Ford City as well as owning three lumber mills in the state of Washington.  Mrs. Martha A. and Charles F. Miner kept some interest in the yards and he planned a cooperative business where the employees would become part owners as well.  “It is not known yet whether the sheds will be torn down or the yard goods moved across the street to the new company or whether both yards will be operated.”  (Ridgeway Journal, July 25, 1929) 

Bit of History -- July 16, 2025

In 1910, the arrival of Halley’s Comet was heralded in the Ridgeway Journal as early as January 27. You could already see the comet on a clear night and as “This comet only appears about every seventy-six years so you had better watch the skies, for, in all probabilities, few of us will live to see it again.” The paper noted that astronomers told everyone that the comet would be at its brightest in May, so there was still time to see it. The article went on to add: It would be interesting to our readers to read its history, but it is too lenghty (sic) to publish in this issue of the Journal.”

On April 21, 1910, the Journal did publish a much longer article about Halley’s Comet with a great deal more detail about the most recent journey around the Earth at the time. The comet was expected to be at its closest to the Earth on May 18 when it would be the most visible in the evening sky. At the end of the article, readers were told “The thing to do is to hold tight, don't lose courage, and keep your eyes open. For you're likely to see things you can tell about to your grandchildren.”

The comet returned in 1986 and a new generation turned out to see it. My husband, Tracy, told me that he and the other members of the senior RHS class of 1986 went out to Tim Williams home to view the comet. They went out to a field far away from any lights to view the comet with their advisor Mr. Leeth. Tracy thought the whole experience was “very cool” and unforgettable.

Bit of History -- July 9, 2025

A few articles in the July 4, 1902 edition of the Ridgeway Journal may have piqued the interest of the paper’s readers.  The paper reported that a new set of hitch racks had been installed just north of Grinstead & Gee’s store.  “The new posts are very heavy and should last a long time. A chain had replaced the old rails to tie to.”  The editors suggested that more improvements like this would be a “good thing.”

The paper also reported that the Board of Aldermen had passed two new ordinances.  The first was that all residents must pay a tax for each dog on their premises.  The tax on male dogs was $1 and the tax on females was $2.  Dog owners were required to go to the City Collector to pay the taaxes.

The second ordinance also regarded taxes:  “all telephone companies, or all owners of said phone lines, with. in the corporate limits of the said City of Ridgeway, are required to pay a license of $10 per year, and also every telephone pole within the corporation of said City are taxed twelve and one-half cents per year.”  Anyone with questions needed to call the mayor and “become familiar with the laws.”.  

Bit of History -- July 2, 2025

On June 1, 1915, the men in Ridgeway and the surrounding area celebrated a funny kind of event:  Road Dragging Day.  The business men in town called area farmers asking if they would come to town and help drag the local roads coming into Ridgeway to smooth them out.  The farmers agreed and “They came, they dragged, they were furnished free entertainment and went home happy.”  

Sixty-nine men and boys brought seventy-five teams and about 45 road drags and scrapers showed up to help with the work.  They represented seven townships:  Jefferson, Union, Marion, Madison, Trail Creek, Sherman and Grant.  They got their dinners from the Switzer and Winkler restaurants and the good people at the Lazear livery fed and cared for the horses.

After the dinner, the workers were entertained with music and a “movie” show at the Rex theater.  They could also play at the box ball ally.  J. W. Leazenby spoke and  “made a cracking" good roads speech which was much appreciated and received with marked attention.  Photographs were taken of all the men as a group and individuals with their teams and drags.  

“Before returning home, the ‘men with the drags’ decided that we city folks did not keep our streets in the proper shape and proceeded to show us how the trick was done. They dragged Main street until it was as smooth as glass, they dragged down Popular street and back on Pine, up on maple street and down on Vine”  until all the streets in Ridgeway were in a “most excellent shape.”  (Ridgeway Journal, June 8, 1915).