Ridgeway News -- January 28, 2026

CITY NEWS: The Ridgeway Community Betterment Association will host Bingo on Monday, Feb 2 at 6:30 pm in the Ridgeway Community Room in City Hall. The theme is “Groundhog Day!” Snacks will be breakfast foods and wear your PJs to get a free card. There are always three winners per game and there are lots of great prizes for all ages! Donations of snacks are appreciated and a free-will donation is accepted for snacks and cards, with the proceeds going to support RCBA’s community events and projects. Bring the family and have a great time with your neighbors!

RCBA will hold their monthly meeting on Monday, Feb 9, at 6 pm in the Ridgeway Community Room. They will hold officer elections and begin planning for the new year. The January meeting was cancelled due to schedule conflicts. The next RCBA events will be the Spring into Homesteading event and the Easter Egg Hunt. If you enjoy RCBA events, please consider attending this meeting to learn more about how you can help!

The Ridgeway Board of Aldermen will meet on Tuesday, Feb 17 at 6 pm in the Ridgeway Community Room. Please note the time change. If you have items you would like to have added to the agenda, please contact city clerk Toni Storms. All Ridgeway residents are welcome to attend this public meeting.

Save the date for the second annual Spring into Homesteading event on March 28, 2026 in the Ridgeway R-V school gym! We are hoping to have more demonstrations and vendors this year, so if you are interested in vending and/or demonstrating, please contact Paula Scott at 660-872-6500 or Susie Rollheiser.

SCHOOL NEWS: The Dodgeball tournament sponsored by the PTO has been cancelled.

The school will hold a student Talent Show on Friday, Feb 13 at 1 pm in the Ridgeway School Gym.

The East Harrison Bobcats have been playing in the Gilman City basketball tournament this week.

SOCIETY: Condolences to the family and friends of Ronald Gibson who passed away last week.

CLOSING: Hope you have a great week and try to stay warm. If you know of any events or plans around town that you would like to see shared with other, please send me the details by Sunday evening! Thank you for reading! Wave to your neighbors!

Upcoming Events

Feb 2 – Bingo Night, 6:30 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Feb 9– Community Sewing Group, Ridgeway Baptist Church, 1pm – 4 pm

Feb 9 – Ridgeway Community Betterment Assn officer elections & business meeting, 6 pm,

Ridgeway Community Room

Feb 17 – Ridgeway Board of Aldermen, 6 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Mar 12 – Farmers’ Appreciation Dinner, TBA

Mar 28 – Spring into Homesteading, TBA, Ridgeway School Gym

April 4 – Easter Egg Hunt, Ridgeway City Park, 10 am

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.

You can find every Bit of History item as well as flyers for upcoming events on the RCBA website: ridgewaycba.blogspot.com

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

Bit of History -- January 28, 2026

 I am back this week with a few editorial comments about the weather in the February 5, 1904 edition of the Ridgeway Journal. All of these were on page 5 under the “Local Mentions” column.

The editor wrote that there were some confusing forecasts with the scheduling of Easter and the groundhog's annual prediction: “Easter Sunday comes early this year, which is an indication that the warm weather will come early. At the same time the confounded groundhog insisted on seeing his shadow last Tuesday, which is a sure sign of six more weeks of winter weather.” He went on to add that since neither prediction was ever wrong, he could presume they would have cold weather one day followed by hot “unless some other never-failing sign is brought forth. “

Next up was a complaint about the “signal service” getting a little hasty about predicting a cold wave a day too early on a Tuesday: “But the predicted cold wave failed to arrive and Wednesday morning was bright and warm. The signal service had better hurry and be on time. The people do not care for forecasts one day late.”

Finally, the cold and snow of that year did have one enjoyable side effect: “After the cold spell and snows of last week, sleighing was fine and greatly enjoyed. It is not often that such fine sleighing is had in this section-at least it has been several years since it has lasted more than a few days at a time.”

Ridgeway News -- January 21, 2025

CITY NEWS: The Ridgeway Community Betterment Association will host Bingo on Monday, Feb 2 at 6:30 pm in the Ridgeway Community Room in City Hall. The theme is “Groundhog Day!” Snacks will be breakfast foods and wear your PJs to get a free card. There are always three winners per game and there are lots of great prizes for all ages! Donations of snacks are appreciated and a free-will donation is accepted for snacks and cards, with the proceeds going to support RCBA’s community events and projects. Bring the family and have a great time with your neighbors!

Save the date for the second annual Spring into Homesteading event on March 28, 2026 in the Ridgeway R-V school gym! We are hoping to have more demonstrations and vendors this year, so if you are interested in vending and/or demonstrating, please contact Paula Scott at 660-872-6500 or Susie Rollheiser.

SCHOOL NEWS: The East Harrison basketball teams will be busy over the weekend and into next week. On Friday, they play at Cainsville against Tri-County at 6 pm. This is Cainsville’s Senior Night and Homecoming. Next week, they will play in the Gilman City tournament. The first games will be on Tuesday with the girls playing at 4:30 pm and the boys playing at 8:15 pm. Go Bobcats!

The Ridgeway PTO presents Music Bingo Night tomorrow night (January 22) from 6 pm to 8 pm in the school cafeteria. Prizes will be awarded to as many as three winners per game with additional prizes for black out. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

The PTO will also host a dodgeball tournament on February 7 at the school gym to help raise money for the PTO and their activities. The games will be played with teams of 6 and you can sign up with a team or individually to be placed on a team. You must have clean tennis shoes and be over the age of 18 to play. To sign up, text or call 660-868-2166 before January 31.

SOCIETY: Condolences to the family and friends of Neoma Wilcoxsin who passed away last week. A Celebration of Life will be held for her at the Ridgeway United Methodist Church on Saturday, Jan 24 at 11 am.

Condolences also to the family and friends of Judy Logan, who also passed away last week. Her service was held January 19.

The community sewing group will meet at the Ridgeway Baptist Church on Monday, January 16 from 1 pm to 4 pm. All are invited to attend – you do not need a sewing machine or experience, only a willing heart and hands.

The Ridgeway United Methodist Church opens its doors every Thursday afternoon at 1 pm for coffee, tea and fellowship. All are welcome to come. During these cold months, the congregation is holding worship services in Jackson Hall.

BIT OF HISTORY: There is no Bit of History again this week. Dear husband is getting better and is back home. I may be back on schedule next week, but could use your help in finding more items of Ridgeway history to share. If you have anything you would like to send in for this section, please email it to me and I will add it to next week’s News. Thank you for understanding.

CLOSING: 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! Wave to your neighbors!

Upcoming Events

Jan 22 – Ridgeway PTO “Music Bingo” Night, 6pm – 8 pm, Ridgeway School Cafeteria

Jan 26 – Community Sewing Group, Ridgeway Baptist Church, 1pm – 4 pm

Feb 2 – Bingo Night, 6:30 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Feb 7 – Ridgeway PTO Dodgeball Tournament, 6 pm, Ridgeway School Gym

Feb 9 – Ridgeway Community Betterment Assn meeting, 6 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Feb 16 – Ridgeway Board of Aldermen, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Mar 12 – Farmers’ Appreciation Dinner, TBA

Mar 28 – Spring into Homesteading, TBA, Ridgeway School Gym

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.

You can find every Bit of History item as well as flyers for upcoming events on the RCBA website: ridgewaycba.blogspot.com

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

Bit of History -- January 7, 2026

In the January 10, 1918 issue of the Ridgeway Journal, readers were given information about their new obligation to pay income taxes.  The income tax, dormant since after the Civil War,  had been reinstated in 1913 when the 16th amendment was ratified. But until 1917, most people earned less than the standard exemption of $3000 and didn’t have to worry about filing a return.  (The average American worker earned about $800 per year in 1914, which would be just under $26,000 today).  With the cost of World War 1, the government needed money and lowered the standard deduction to $1000 for a single person and $2000 for a married couple.  This meant most people would now have to figure how much they owed Uncle Sam and send in a payment.

To help lessen the confusion, W. A. Miner, one of the officers of the First National Bank of Ridgeway, arranged to have an income tax officer come to Ridgeway on January 18, 1918.  He had “his headquarters at the First National Bank and he will be ready and willing to assist persons subject to the tax to make out their returns without cost to them for such service.”  The writer of the article thought most people would appreciate the efforts of Mr. Miner “as it will give all in this vicinity a chance to interview the officer without making a trip to Bethany or Blythedale.”  

Bit of History -- December 31, 2025

 

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated December 30, 1915:

The Rex Theatre was planning to present “The Man Who Found Himself”, a five part photo-play based on George Broadhurst’s drama “The Mills of the Gods".

Sheridan Henry opened a feed warehouse in the rear of the old Johnsons blacksmith shop. He promised that he would “keep on hand at all times baled hay and straw, oats and corn and will sell for cash only.”

Shared from the Galesburg, Ill Press Dispatch: “A marriage license was issued here to John Ennes, Ridgeway, Mo., 82 years old, and Mrs. Margaret Hale of Galesburg, 66.”

The Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Church planned to serve dinner at the City Hall on News Year’s Day. The public was invited. They also held an apron sale: “All ladies interested are requested to bring one or more aprons.”

Bit of History -- December 24, 2025

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated December 19, 1940:

The grade school children of Ridgeway were presenting a Christmas Pageant in the school auditorium. The chorus would include sixty grade school children. Among the “stars” of the cast were Juanita Stockwell, who played Mary. Joseph was played by Marvin Scott, Gerald Bake and Darryl Dale (not sure why it took three boys to play Joseph.: Kenneth Wise, David Jincks and Junior Roberts. Betty Jean Polley was the Herald Angel and Heralds by Billy Williams and Bryce Polley.

In other school doings, the first graders “wrote a letter to Santa Claus inviting him to visit their room tomorrow Friday” and Gerald Dean Nible brought us a big Christmas tree. The girls and boys decorated it.” Meanwhile, the third graders had Santa Claus flying through the air in an airplane in our hall. We hope he lands next Friday. The fourth grade class “studied Christmas trees and how to tell the difference between fir, spruce, hemlock and cedar.”

Bit of History -- December 17, 2025

From the Ridgeway Journal dated December 14, 1893:   

“Old Aunt Em” and her family had what was probably the shortest residence on record in Ridgeway.  She moved from Bethany with her husband, children and household goods and the next day, she had to move back to Bethany.  “As soon as our people learned the next morning that she was in town, the marshal interviewed her and she promptly departed south for the town of iniquity from which she came.”  She was strongly encouraged to leave Ridgeway once the officials learned she was a prostitute and had run a house of ill repute for fifteen years in Bethany.  

While Ridgeway officials were glad for Bethany in that they were trying to “wipe the evils from their town”, they didn’t appreciate that those evils were moving into their own town.  “We are glad that at last Bethany has a set of officials who are making an honest effort to wipe the evils from their town, and we think all the good citizens, all over the county should encourage them in the work...Let the good work go on down there and if that town will ship them, we are sure none of the other towns of the county will harbor them.”

Bit of History -- December 10, 2025

In the December 7, 1893 edition of the Ridgeway Journal, the editor made what was probably a contentious suggestion: “It has been suggested that the Sunday schools unite and have a union Christmas tree at the Kern hall.” The writer thought this would be an excellent idea as “A large majority of the people would like to attend both trees, and the way it always has been, both churches were crowded and no one could take any comfort.” By combining the Sunday Schools of both the Methodist Episcopal and Christian churches and holding the program in Kern Opera House, there would be plenty of room and “would also be a good thing to bring the schools closer in a social relation and make them work more in harmony.”

Despite the editorial encouragement, the Methodist church continued with having its own program, complete with a Christmas tree and arch filled with gifts, a full program and a meal. The Christian Church held its program on the same night in the Kern Hall. After the night of festivities, the paper published a brief item mentioning that both programs had been well attended and enjoyed by many, but were interrupted by a fire alarm for a home in East Ridgeway. “A splendid program had been prepared but its effect was spoiled by the alarm of fire and a stampede was narrowly averted”, however “The tree was well laden with presents and all had a good time.”

Bit of History -- December 3, 2025

In 1920, the Ridgeway Journal dedicated an entire page of its December 20 holiday edition to stories about the Ridgeway school. The reporter from the Journal who wrote the article didn’t have a by-line so I have no way of know if the reporter was male or female.

The reporter visited every school room and described the room and what the students were doing that day. In room 1, the reporter was delighted by the décor: “the dainty curtains at the windows, the well chosen pictures on the walls, the string of Japanese lanterns and the flowers in the windows.” In every classroom, the students were hard at work with lessons in reading, arithmetic, geography, and more. The reporter also noted that “in all the rooms visited, the ample lighting, heating and good ventilation and single seats contributed to comfort and the pictures, flowers and curtains pleased the eye and the books added a charm of their own.”

“While we are proud of every branch of our school, yet we look with especial pride upon our High School.” In addition to the general education classes such as algebra, history, English and Latin, the high school provided teacher and business education with classes in typing and shorthand and prepared many students for college educations. As of the date of the article, seventeen Ridgeway graduate were enrolled in higher education with nine at Missouri State University, three in the University of Kansas, two in the Kirksville normal school (now known as Truman State University) and three in the Warrensburg normal school (now known as the University of Central Missouri.) The article then went on to describe the education program and the business courses. It ended with “The people who are now enjoying the benefits of the school should be, and are, very grateful not only for the persistent efforts of the various school boards which suggested and the people who voted for our magnificent school building, but to the efficient and unending efforts of the various teachers who have from time to time had charge of the different departments.”

Bit of History -- November 19, 2025

he November 18, 1909 edition of the Ridgeway News listed a few new ordinances that Ridgeway residents were expected to obey. “To conform with the new laws passed by the legislature last winter the city council recently passed a new misdemeanor ordinance, several sections of which are new to the citizens of our city and for their enlightenment we quote here three sections.”

Section 35 prohibited “Any person who shall slide or coast upon any hand sled, coaster-wagon, or skates in any manner, upon any sidewalk in the city” and those caught doing so could be fined no more than $10 dollars.

Section 37 declared that anyone caught doing this would be charged with a misdemeanor and fined from $1 to $25: “Any person who shall, in this city fix, tie, or attach in any manner, to the tail of any dog, cow, horse. or other animal, any tin can, poping match, or other thing calculated to make a noise, or excite such animal, or scare other animals, or shall put upon any such animal any turpentine or other substance calculated to injure or excite such animal” (I don’t know what a “poping match” was – it may be a typo.)

Section 100 decreed that a person over the age of 10 and under the age of eighteen was banned from smoking or use cigarettes on any public road, street, alley, park, or other land used for public purposes, or in any public place of business or amusement” and could be fined no more than $10.