Children, grandchildren welcomed

On a recent Sunday, Mary V. Shead had the opportunity to visit with Donna Douglas at Community Christian Church in Fort Scott. Donna is the niece of Molly Lee of Hume, Mo. Molly Lee was a roommate of Mary Virginia at Mercy Hospital many years ago when they both were having gallbladder surgery.

Mary Virginia Shead recently spent some time with her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Vickie Shead, while her bathroom was being remodeled. Jeremy Hoover's Construction was the carpenter doing the remodel. Dauben Plumbing of Fort Scott did the plumbing. J.R. Tile of Tulsa, Okla., installed the tile.

Jeremy Hoover is related to many former Arcadia residents. Mike Dauben also has relatives with an Arcadia connection. J.R. Tile is owned by Joel Ray, who is married to Mary Virginia's granddaughter, Mitzi (Shead) Ray.

The newly configured bathroom is now in use.

Ralph and Cindy Shead, of Carl Junction, Mo., joined his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Vickie, to welcome Mary Virginia back to her house and new bathroom.

Billy Joe and Mandy Bridgewater, Arcadia, are pleased to announce the birth of a daughter, Peyton Ann Bridgewater, at 10:44 p.m. Dec. 27, 2012, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.

Maternal grandparents are Jim and Sharon Casey of Arcadia. Paternal grandparents are David and Carol Bridgewater of Arcadia.

Coach Mike Watt reached 500 wins as a baseball coach during the 2011-2012 school year. Win No. 500 came in a 3-2 victory over Frontenac in Game 1 of a high-caliber Crawford- Neosho-Cherokee League doubleheader at JayCee Ballpark. Watt coaches for Colgan in Pittsburg. Watt has a connection to Arcadia through many relatives who grew up there.

Mary L. Wynne, 79, of Mulberry and formerly of Frontenac, passed away at 9:05 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at the Girard Medical Center in Girard. Bedene Funeral Home of Arma handled the arrangements.

In 1963 (50 years ago), Nancy Brown submitted a news item from Arcadia. It is as follows: "The new Arcadia Laundromat, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McMillin of Arma, was a busy place Saturday, its opening day. Free washes and soap were given to the first 25 customers. Paul Rourk, of Garland, was the first customer. A turkey was given as a door prize and was won by John Meacham. Coffee and doughtnuts were served."

Anyone who grew up in or around Arcadia will remember that 50 years ago, Saturday night was the night for the weekly merchants' drawing. The whole downtown area was crowded each Saturday night until after the drawing had concluded.

Former Arcadian Ron Eldridge, Uniontown, is happy to announce that he has a new grandchild. Ridge Timothy Newton was born at 5:01 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott. Parents are Josh and Trisha Newton.

Siblings are Ryder Thomas and Rush Tennyson. Ridge weighed 9 pounds, 7.5 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Ron and Susan Eldridge, Uniontown. Maternal great-grandparents are Kent and Marilyn Holt, Uniontown. Paternal grandparents are Paul Joe and Sondra Newton, Fort Scott. Paternal great-grandparents are Cleland and Mary Allen.

Bonnie Mae Smith, 91, of Pittsburg passed away at 7:09 a.m. Jan. 9, 2013, at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. She was born Oct. 31, 1921, in Weir, Kan. On July 6, 1938, she was united in marriage to Fred Smith. He preceded her in death in 1975. She was a member of the Open Door Fellowship Church in Arcadia. Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg handled the services.

Katherine Farmer, Liberal, Mo., joined her daughter, Kathy McWilliams in Arcadia for a Christmas Day luncheon.