Friday, 23 July 1915--ITEMS FROM RUCKER--I. M. Porter of Perche and Mrs. Brown of near Sturgeon were married Sunday. Mrs. Lulu Gray of Renick is visiting her mother Mrs. Kate Byrum, who is very sick. Quite a number from here are attending the debate at New Hope church each night. Richards White's little boy fell from a horse he was riding Sunday and broke his arm at the elbow. The Moniteau bridge south of Higbee fell Monday with Aubrey White, and how he escaped being killed is a wonder. As it was, he got pretty badly hurt and the buggy was mashed all to pieces. The horse was hurt, but we don't know how badly, as they did not bring it home. Friday, 23 July 1915--W. H. Magruder of near Armstrong was here Tuesday on his way to Kansas City on business connected with a land purchase he made last week near Brownville, Texas, from the Rio Grand Land Co, and to which he will move this fall. He is not dissatisfied with old Missouri but will make the change on account of his health. Mr. Magruder was one of a big party to visit the land two weeks ago, and he brings back a glowing description of both land and climate, and brought back with him a sample of this year's corn as well as the soil, which is the color of emery dust. He also exhibited photographs of growing crops, among them being oranges, lemons and bananas. Mr. Magruder expects to return to Texas about August 1st to superintend the clearing of the land, and will remove his family later. Friday, 23 July 1915--If any of the racers at the Moberly fair beat the time made by a team belonging to H. C. Eubanks here Tuesday they will have to go some, for the team hit only the high places, and all who saw the runaway say it was the fastest they ever saw, indicating that the team has considerable racing blood. The horses were hitched to a wagon load of lumber for Mr. Eubank's new farm home and took fright at the lumber yard when a barrel was rolled in front of them, and started down Randolph street on a dead run, turned east on Division street, at the east end of which they came to a sudden stop where the wagon, a new one, struck a telephone pole. The bridles and collars were about the only thing in the way of harness left on the horses, while the wagon had only the tongue broken. The lumber was scattered all over the streets, the last piece going off as the wagon hit the pole. Friday, 23 July 1915--Misses Frances and Toinette Burkhalter are visiting at Madison. Friday, 23 July 1915--born, on the 20th, to Roy Compton and wife a son. Friday, 23 July 1915--Born, on the 21st, to Odra Humphrey and wife, a son. Friday, 23 July 1915--David Magruder is the owner of a new Ford, purchased Monday. Friday, 23 July 1915--The 19-year-old son of Press Oliver, colored, died at his home near Elliott on the 17th, on consumption. Friday, 23 July 1915--Vilas Evans, who at one time had charge of the telephone exchange here, died at the home of his brother, Sam Evans, in Armstrong last Saturday, aged 30 years. Friday, 23 July 1915--John May of Frazier, Iowa, was here the latter part of last week visiting old friends. It was his first trip to Higbee since moving away fourteen years ago, and of course he hardly knew the place. Friday, 23 July 1915--BRIDGE GOES DOWN--Farmers living southeast of Higbee are now in line, it is to be hoped, to get a new bridge, for which they had been kicking for the past two years of more, the structure that spanned the Moniteau creek near the farm of Warner Buckler, and which has passed for a bridge, going down Monday while Aubrey White and a young man named Fainter were crossing it with a horse and buggy. the men escaped injury but the horse was badly hurt. This bridge had long been a source of complaint by those who had to cross it to reach Higbee, and all will rejoice that it is now a thing of the past, as the county court will be compelled to take action and put in a new one. When the bridge just east of town was torn down and replaced with a concrete structure, those who had been kicking about the south bridge were told that they would be given a new bridge made from the dismantled one, and to that end the irons were placed on the ground and a big lot of rock crushed, but that was all that was ever done, the court seemingly having dropped the matter. Last Saturday Wm. Chapman was in town and informed us that one of the sills had given way and that the bridge was sagging a foot or more and that a person crossing on foot would cause it to shake. He predicted that it would go down about the first time anyone ventured to cross it with a team. He also stated that some half dozen or more farmers, rather than risk the bridge, went to Renick to do their trading. Now that the old bridge is gone, we hope the county court and others in authority will get busy and give the people in that section a new and safe bridge. Friday, 23 July 1915--Mrs. J. W. Newby of Kenneth, Mrs. Eliza Ashley of Sedalia, Mrs. Maude Ketchum and Mrs. J. B. McCausland of Fayette were called here this week by the serious illness of their sister, Mrs. E. M. Whitmore, whose condition was such Tuesday that it was not thought she could live through the week. She took a turn for the better Wednesday, and at the hour of going to press was about the same. Friday, 23 July 1915--Born, on the 22nd, to Perry ("Lob") Cable and wife, a daughter. Friday, 23 July 1915--W. C. Cleeton is the latest victim of the automobile fever, having purchased an Overland Tuesday. Friday, 23 July 1915--Virgil and Dora Ancel of St. Lois are visiting their grandparents, J. S. Warford and wife, of near town. Friday, 23 July 1915--Mrs. Katherine Maddox and granddaughters, Misses Minnie and Maude Williams, are visiting relatives in Moberly. Friday, 23 July 1915--Dr. Orville Pitney of Denver arrived Saturday to be with his mother, Mrs. E. M. Whitmore, who is dangerously ill. Friday, 23 July 1915--Willie Robb entertained a large number of his friends Friday evening of last week, the occasion being his 19th birthday. About fifty guests were present. A dainty cake and fruit luncheon was served. All remained until a late hour, when they departed, wishing Mr. Robb many more such happy days. Friday, 23 July 1915--TO BICYCLE OWNERS--All owners of bicycles are hereby warned not to ride bicycles on the sidewalks, as all such, from this date, will be arrested and dealt with as specified by the ordinances of the city. W. I. Williams, City Marshal. Kathy Bowlin Additions, corrections, comments welcome.