A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Jackson native and well-known Missouri educator, Robert R. Russell, died Sept. 25 at St. Louis hospital, following extended illness; born April 4, 1896, Russell was veteran of World War I, and received his bachelor of arts degree from Cape Girardeau Teachers College in 1923; in 1945 he received his master of arts from Washington University in St. Louis; Russell taught at University City High School from 1928 until 1965; prior to that he taught at Ferguson High School and Missouri Military Academy at Mexico.

On vote of 2-1, County Court Friday awarded excavation contract to Nip Kelley Trucking and Equipment Co. of Cape Girardeau to begin site preparations for construction of new jail on County Farm in Cape Girardeau.

With exception of estimated cost, Highway 72 relocation proposal around Jackson is unchanged from earlier submitted Missouri Highway Department proposal, District 10 officials at Sikeston say; estimated cost of project has increased about $5.8 million since it was submitted two years ago; highway officials hope that relocation hearing set for Nov. 7 will differ from one held on March 21, 1972; there was so much opposition expressed at that time, that department abandoned proposal.

County Highway Department employees will be put to work this winter tearing down old house just west of sheriff's office in Jackson to provide needed parking space; brick house was purchased for $15,000 by county in 1969 so that property could be used with existing jail site for new jail.

Petitions calling for vote on establishment of county health unit were presented to County Court Monday by members of County Health Advisory Council; proposal which will face county voters in Nov. 5 general election calls for 10-cent tax on $100 of assessed valuation.

50 years ago: 1949

Darrell, son of Supt. and Mrs. Edwin W. Sander, sustained broad cut across his ear and head Friday, when he accidentally fell striking his head against concrete step while playing at Needmore School, near Gordonville; he was brought to Jackson for medical attention, and 11 stitches were required to close wound; he was able to return to school on Monday.

Most elaborate Christmas decorations town has ever planned are being arranged, with Chamber of Commerce being assisted by other organizations and churches; program was outlined at chamber meeting Monday night, at which four ministers -- the Revs. W. Keisker, S.E. Stringham, T.A. Jaeger Jr., and Mrs. H.F. Borne -- pledged their cooperation.

Mary Lou Randall has been chosen as American Legion candidate of Altenthal-Joerns Post of Jackson for queen's contest to be held in conjunction with Cotton Carnival at Sikeston this week; Randall, 17, is senior at high school and was one of two hostesses to queen for Homecomers.

Workers have started city's project of constructing foot bridge over Hubble Creek; gravel and pilings have been moved to site and framing is well under way; 4-foot walk was declared necessity in eliminating traffic hazard, particularly for school children crossing bridge.

Pupils of school at Tilsit turned over to polio physical therapy fund donation of $5.87, remainder of money raised last year when pupils sponsored box supper; Maude Martin is teacher at school, which has enrollment of 21 pupils.

75 years ago: 1924

Robert Bean of Austin, Texas, stopped off at Jackson Thursday to attend Homecomers and to visit his father, Col. L.M. Bean, who has just celebrated his 81st birthday and is possibly oldest active civil engineer in state; he is also only survivor, so far as is known here, of Co. G of 39th Regiment, Third Division, Missouri State Militia, of Civil War times.

Immediate investigation of disappearance of nearly $20,000 in Liberty Bonds from Farmers Bank of Daisy, closed Thursday with estimated shortage of $10,000 in accounts of its cashier, will be made by prosecuting attorney's office; this angle of tangled accounts of bank, closed after cashier disappeared Monday, came to light Friday and will claim attention of authorities in latest investigation of cashier's alleged defalcations; formal charge of embezzlement of $5,000 of bank's funds, on which warrant for arrest of missing cashier has been issued, may be sidestepped for more serious charge of theft of Liberty Bonds.

Jackson is slowly returning to normal after hectic Homecomers week; Saturday night, when merriment was at its height, storm carrying gusts of driving, cold rain, descended on crowds, and in few minutes celebrating thousands had disappeared from public square; work of cleaning up and removing stands has commenced.

Thermometer at local weather observatory dropped to 30 degrees Tuesday night, and first ice of season was noticeable in shallow vessels standing on ground.

J.W. Gholson Wednesday removed his family and belongings from Jackson to Scott County; Gholson family had occuppied tenant house owned by Wilson Cramer.

Perfection Furniture Mfg. Co. at Wittenberg has been shut down, because of lack of material; 28 employees are temporarily out of jobs.