Ridgeway Community Betterment Association

Friday, September 25, 2026

Ridgeway News -- September 23, 2026

VOLUNTEERS requested for painting at the Ridgeway Park on Thursday, October 1, weather permitting. The picnic tables and play equipment are in need of a refresh, so RCBA members will begin painting around 4 pm. If you can help, please come to the park that evening and be sure to wear old clothes! This has been rescheduled from tomorrow night due to possible bad weather.

MARKET DAYS: The Ridgeway Farmers & Makers Market WILL be open on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 6 pm in Centennial Park next to the Ridgeway City Hall. Come out to shop, chat and enjoy the evening! Kids can play on the new playground. Vendors welcome! Contact Kaylee McGovney for more information.

BINGO: The next Bingo Night will be October 5 with a Halloween Costume/Fun Fall Outfit contest for both youth and adults. It will be held in the old Ridgeway Hall across the street from City Hall rather than in the Community room. Snacks will include chili dogs, hamburgers, nachos and more! A free will donation is accepted for snacks and food..Donations of snacks are always appreciated. There are always three winners per game and lots of great prizes for all ages. Fun for the whole family! Bingo is sponsored by the Ridgeway Community Betterment Association.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT: RCBA is asking for community members to join the fun of Halloween by decorating a trunk and handing out treats during the annual Trunk-or-Treat event. The event will take place along the west side of Main Street starting at City Hall on Saturday, October 24, with trunk-or-treating beginning about 5:30 pm after the costume contest. Average youth attendance is about 110. Participants are asked to back their vehicles in so that their trunks will face the sidewalk. Your help is greatly appreciated! If you would like to provide a trunk, please text or call 660-425-4900. Trunks will be judged and a prize award for the best trunk!

SCHOOL NEWS: The Ridgeway Owls will host the Title 1 Family Literacy night in the cafeteria on October 7 starting at 5:30 pm. There will be games, snacks and Boba drinks by Poppin’ Tops.

Grandparents' Day was successful with a great turn-out, per the school Facebook page.

The high school softball team will play at Jamesport against Gilman City tomorrow at 5:45 pm. They will also play in the Dave Niemeyer tournament in Princeton this weekend (times TBA). Come out to root for them on Tuesday, 9/29 when they play at Ridgeway against Pattonsburg at 5:30 pm! Go Team!

SOCIETY: Morris Chapel Lord's Acre Sale will be Saturday, October 3 with full buffet lunch served 11 am to 12:30 pm freewill donation. Crafts, baked goods, candy, and more are priced for sale. Carryout meals available.

Members of the Ridgeway United Methodist Church are selling raffle tickets for a Walmart gift card. The winner will be drawn at the annual Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner on October 31. Contact a member for more information or to purchase a ticket.

CLOSING: If you know of any events or plans around town that you would like to see shared with others, please send me the details by Sunday evening! Thank you for reading!

Upcoming Events

Sept 21 – Board of Aldermen meeting, 6 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Sept 22 – Senior Coffee & Cards, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Oct 1 – Painting the Park, 4 pm - ?, Ridgeway City Park, weather permitting

Oct 3 – Morris Chapel Lord’s Acre Sale & Meal, 11 am – 12:30 pm, Morris Chapel

Oct 5 – Bingo, 6:30 pm, Ridgeway Old Hall (across from City Hall)

Oct 8 – RCBA Meeting, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Oct 24 – Trunk or Treat, Ridgeway City Hall

* 4:30 – 5 pm – Costume Contest Registration
* 5 pm – Halloween Costume Contest
* 5:30 ish to 6 pm – Trunk or Treating

Oct 31 – RUMC Lord’s Acre Sale & Dinner, 11am – 1 pm, Ridgeway United Methodist Church

Nov 8 – RCBA Scrapbooking, 10 am to noon, Paula’s Sewing Corner, 408 Main St.

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 -- September 23, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated September 14, 1922:

Members of the Buchanan County Medical Society might have been slightly confused by two items. The first announced that a free clinic was being offered by the Noyes Hospital in St. Joseph during which members could receive free services for “diagnosis, treatment or operation” on September 19 and 20 In the Methodist Church notes, the same announcement was made, but the clinic was to be held at the Ensworth Hospital in St. Joseph. It is possible that clinics would be held at both, but that was not clear.

The Methodists also “closed its 41^st year of organized activity for the Master.” Of the original eleven trustees, three were “supposed to still be living”. They included John Opdyke, Jap Travis and Morris Sellers.”

The 1922 North Missouri District Fair was considered to be “success despite the fact that rain Friday night and Saturday put a finish to the program and the fair ended with the racing and free attraction Friday afternoon.”

The Rex Theatre was showing “Beyond the Rocks”, starting Gloria Swanson

Friday, September 18, 2026

Ridgeway News -- September 16, 2026

The Ridgeway BOARD OF ALDERMEN will meet on Monday, September 21 at 6 pm in the Ridgeway Community Room. The public is invited to attend. If you have an item for the agenda, please contact city clerk Brooklyn Scobee during office hours.

COFFEE & CARDS: The second Senior Coffee & Cards afternoon is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 22 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm in the Ridgeway Community Room. Bring a friend and enjoy cards, dice, dominos and conversation with your neighbors. For more information, call or text Joni at 757-439-9525.

VOLUNTEERS requested for painting at the Ridgeway Park on Thursday, September 24, weather permitting. The picnic tables and play equipment are in need of a refresh, so RCBA members will begin painting around 4 pm. If you can help, please come to the park that evening and be sure to wear old clothes!

TRUNK-OR-TREAT: RCBA is asking for community members to join the fun of Halloween and decorate a trunk and hand out treats during the annual Trunk-or-Treat event. The event will take place along the west side of Main Street starting at City Hall on Saturday, October 24, with trunk-or-treating beginning about 5:30 pm after the costume contest. Average youth attendance is about 110. Participants are asked to back their vehicles in so that their trunks will face the sidewalk. Your help is greatly appreciated! If you would like to provide a trunk, please text or call 660-425-4900. Trunks will be judged and a prize award for the best trunk!

SCHOOL NEWS: The Owls will get to show off their school to their grandparents this Friday, September 18 from 8:30 am to 11 am. They will meet in the school gym.

The next RCBA Scrapbooking meeting has been postponed to November 8 due to scheduling conflicts. The group meets from 10 am to noon at Paula’s Sewing Corner and have been creating a scrapbook of the Ridgeway Community Betterment Association events.

CLOSING: If you know of any events or plans around town that you would like to see shared with others, please send me the details by Sunday evening! Thank you for reading!

Upcoming Events

Sept 21 – Board of Aldermen meeting, 6 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Sept 22 – Senior Coffee & Cards, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Sept 24 – Painting the Park, 4 pm - ?, Ridgeway City Park, weather permitting

Oct 3 – Morris Chapel Lord’s Acre Sale & Meal, 11 am – 12:30 pm, Morris Chapel

Oct 5 – Bingo, 6:30 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Oct 8 – RCBA Meeting, 7 pm, Ridgeway Community Room

Oct 24 – Trunk or Treat, Ridgeway City Hall

* 4:30 – 5 pm – Costume Contest Registration
* 5 pm – Halloween Costume Contest
* 5:30 ish to 6 pm – Trunk or Treating

Oct 31 – RUMC Lord’s Acre Sale & Dinner, 11am – 1 pm, Ridgeway United Methodist Church

Nov 8 – RCBA Scrapbooking, 10 am to noon, Paula’s Sewing Corner, 408 Main St.

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 -- September 16, 2026

From the pages of the Ridgeway Journal in September 1932:

In both the September 15 and September 22 issues were a set of three pictures of babies and young children with the headline: “Do You Remember Them Then?” The mystery was solved in the September 29^th issue with this explanation: “The baby pictures which have appeared in the last two issues of the Journal have been recognized.” They were all members of the Ridgeway class of 1919 and were identified as Gemma Rakestraw, Joseph Loveless and Paul Grant in the pictures published on the 15^th and Garland Arvin, Garland Frost and Paul Grant again on the 22^nd. There were 14 in their class, but only eight had baby pictures available. The paper promised to print their senior portraits but I was unable to find them reprinted in the paper. However, you can find their class composite on the Ridgeway School website in the Alumni pages. The school website is www.ridgewayr5.net.

Friday, September 4, 2026

Bit of History -- September 2, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated September 3, 1931:

The Lewis Cafe building, owned by L. Y. Spragg, caught fire during the early hours of the previous Wednesday morning. Ridgeway fire fighters were called out early enough that the fire was brought under control quickly, despite the fact that the fire bell didn’t “function as it should and a lot of people didn’t even hear it.” The fire originated in the kitchen and was first detected by Mrs. Lewis who lived over the Cafe. “Presumably it caught from a defective flue or was the result of electric wiring.” After the fire, the Lewis family moved to the Linch Graham property.

After the fire, the editor wished that “the next time Ridgeway has a fire, it would happen before bedtime or about time to get up in the morning.” He would rather sleep than have to roll out of bed to fight a fire which “is not a pleasant pastime.”

“Two aeroplanes” flew around Ridgeway but “did not stop long enough to get acquainted.” They were from Trenton and also stopped in Blythedale.

The editor, Fred M. Sanderson, wrote a long column describing a trip he and his family took to see friends and family back home “in the county of Ray.” They stopped in Knoxville, Morton, Orrick and Lawson, visiting and collecting gifts of produce and chickens along the way. They enjoyed their visit, especially getting to see their youngest grandson.

The First National Bank, which had closed permanently eight months earlier, announced a second dividend of 15% which was to be paid to depositors. This was in addition to the 40% which had been paid earlier. “This is considered to be very good management on the part of the receiver, W. J. Gebhard.”

Friday, August 28, 2026

Bit of History -- August 26, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 24, 1911:

The Ridgeway public schools were scheduled to begin classes on Monday, September 4. The school superintendent, J. R. Hale, reminded parents of the new Missouri law for compulsory attendance for children between the ages of 8 and 14: “It is now made the duty of the school authorities to report violation of this law to the prosecuting attorney”. The school then, as now, would lose state funding for children not in attendance: “Hereafter the state public money will be apportioned according to school attendance. Every day that is missed is the loss of so much public money. Your children cannot afford to be irregular in attendance and we cannot afford to lose the money.”

The editors appreciated the efforts of D. H. Hatfield, the deputy state game and fish commissioner, “to stop the illegal seining of the lakes in the vicinity. Bean Lake was the one in question.” A raid on this lake resulted in the arrest of three men who were awaiting trial. Seining, a method of fishing by dragging a net through the water to catch everything in its path. It was legal with certain restrictions during the months of July through September, but these men were caught with “one of the largest seines used in Missouri at work.”

During a storm on the previous Friday evening, a small “cyclone formed south of town on Route 1 that did considerable damage.” It tore up the peach orchard at the Freeman Baker farm. It then went from there to the Prairie Chapel church and “lifted it up and set the west end about four feet off of the foundation and tore up several of the shade trees. After that, it moved to Albert Wooderson’s meadow and destroyed several hay ricks. It blew down a silo at Henry Leazenby’s and moved his barn off its foundation before disappearing.

Friday, August 21, 2026

Bit of History -- August 19, 2026

A few items from the Ridgeway community columns in the August 26, 1904 issue of the Ridgeway Journal:

Ridgeway got some rains that week: “They were badly needed and started fall pastures nicely and the great improvement in the outlook for corn is a general remark. The corn crop will be far better than it was last year.” In another comment about the weather: “It is nearly cool enough for frost. The corn crop will not be ready for a good frost for some weeks yet.”

In local news: “G. E. Ballad was exhibiting quite a curiosity. It was a white mouse that he bad captured in a grain box. The mouse was as white as snow and bad pink eyes. It was a very pretty little creature.”

Burglars hit the depot on the previous Sunday evening by forcing open a window breaking open a drawer for a few pennies: ‘Mr. Patrick says he can miss nothing else of value. The railroad detectives are working on the case and it is possible the burglar or burglars may yet be arrested.”

The editor had great things to say about some of the businesses in town, namely the lumber yards and the stock dealers: “In fact, the lumber business in Ridgeway is a great drawing card for the town. Also the live stock dealers of Ridgeway are doing a good work for the town by paying prices that cause farmers who live nearer other towns to make the longer drive to get better prices. Ridgeway is hard to beat as a market town”.

Friday, August 14, 2026

Bit of History -- August 12, 2026

A continuation of the stories on the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 4, 1921:

The Ridgeway school district was getting ready for the new year and planned to open on September 5. The school building has been undergoing extensive improvements, and has been thoroughly filled up to meet needs of the increased attendance which will result from consolidation” The article also announced that the high school tuition would be $6 per month (about $112 today). In addition, the “board of directors” were accepting bids for bus routes. There were eight routes for the 1921-22 school year, most were about 5-6 miles long.

The Rex Theatre was going to present “Sacred and Profane Love”, a Paramount picture starring Conrad Nagel and Elsie Ferguson that Friday and Saturday. The writer was most impressed with how Conrad could act the part of an out-of-control drunk and as soon as the director yells “Cut” then “Lunch”, “The drunkard returned to normal, ironed his features into a pleasanter guise, picked up a copy of “Julius Caesar” which he had been reading—and started home to help his wife feed the baby.”

City Marshal J. H. Pierce announced that he would be strictly enforcing the city ordinances relating to automobiles: “I intend to make a specialty of catching speedsters and "cut-out" fiends, and if you don't want an interview with the police court keep your "cut-outs" closed and observe the speed limit while in the city limits.”

Friday, August 7, 2026

Bit of History -- August 5, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 4, 1921:

The city council approved a special election to ask the voters to approve the issue of $12,000 of bonds to upgrade the city light plant. The residents had been pressuring the council members for “better light service, more day current, better street light service and an eighteen to twenty-four hour service the year round.”

The existing plant could not keep up with that kind of demand and in fact, couldn’t keep up with the demands of the time: “It is impossible to turn on the street lights in the evening until the load is lightened by the closing of the stores and a partial cutting off of the resident districts.” To upgrade the plant needed a larger 100 horsepower engine which would not leave the town in the dark for a week to ten days at a time. The old engine was expected to be repaired and kept to provide additional power as needed. The election was held on August 26, 1921 and the bonds approved overwhelmingly 184 to 19.

Friday, July 31, 2026

Bit of History - July 29, 2026

BIT OF HISTORY: From the Local Mention column of the July 27, 1893 edition of the Ridgeway Journal:

The editor, C. M. Jaqua, complained that “Very little is going on in the news line. The farmers are too busy in the harvest fields.”

The Christian Church bell was “out of place and those desiring to attend services there have to go by time instead of by the bell.”

The school teachers were expected to arrive in Ridgeway within a week. “They will be met at the depot by the committee and shown to suitable boarding places.”

Mrs. C. M. Jaqua, who wrote the Women’s Department column, had sage advice on the care and use of flat irons and how to economize during food preparation to get as much as you can out of the food. Among her suggestions: Remove as little skin as possible when peeling vegetables (“Taking a thick cut often carries away the best part, as is the case with potatoes”). “Apples are often costly”, so carefully pare and core them and cook the clean cores and skins to make jelly or “with sugar, make a fine syrup for layer cake and to use with warm bread.” The peelings could also be used to make vinegar. “Children should be taught to break only the bread they will eat.” She had lots of ideas for using “boiled meat” as well and wrote that “all meat broths, except from pickled meats, should be made into food.” It’s quite interesting reading.

There was a long article about the success of the W. C. T. U. picnic in the City Park which started with a parade and continued with a “literary program”, an address by Rev. Burrows of Cainsville and a speech by temperance orator Prof. Gantz: “He makes as good a temperance talk as we ever heard and when he comes to Ridgeway is always assured of a large audience.”

(The front page of Ridgeway’s earliest editions of the Journal was typically only ads and national stories. To get to the good, local gossip, you had to go to the Local Mentions page for Ridgeway. It is also where you would find the timetable for the C. B. & Q. trains.)