A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Missouri Highway Department would retain maintenance of Highway 61 from Interstate 55 to Highways 61-25-72 intersection at Jackson, while local authorities would assume maintenance of existing Highway 72 westward under Highway 72 relocation proposal that is to be submitted at public hearing Nov. 7; members of Transportation Committee of Chamber of Commerce and city officials met Wednesday with Gary Chegwidden, district chief designer of department's District 10, for further insight into nine-mile relocation proposal and to plot course for testimony to be presented at hearing.

County Court agrees to postpone adoption of County Planning and Zoning Commission's proposed ordinance regulating mobile home parks and subdivisions in county, pending examination of proposal by Cape County Board of Realtors.

Petitions calling for submission of 10-cent tax levy proposal to establish and maintain Cape Girardeau County Public Health Unit contain number of signatures necessary to bring issue to vote, according to County Clerk Rusby C. Crites.

County school districts will share total of $160,640.05 in county foreign insurance taxes this year, $5,165.20 more than was received last year; of total amount, Cape Girardeau School District No. 63 will receive most, $100,037.24, while second largest amount, $42,440.39, will go to Jackson R-2 School District.

Missouri Supreme Court has turned down petition of city of Jackson to halt construction of long-proposed county law enforcement complex on County Farm property in Cape Girardeau; however, matter is far from settled; another Jackson appeal to Supreme Court is still pending, and court may not rule on that one until next year; meanwhile, Nip Kelley Trucking and Equipment Co. of Cape Girardeau was given go-ahead Monday to begin site preparation work.

50 years ago: 1949

Large crowd attended dedication service of new parsonage for St. John's Evangelical Church north of Jackson Sunday; during three years when no pastor served church except on supply basis, Church Council arranged for construction of new building; in September the Rev. J.L. Hertel became pastor; new parsonage has six rooms on main floor, with two bedrooms upstairs.

W.P. Caruthers, county treasurer, has received from state treasurer $31,404.27 and has distributed this amount to city and county schools on basis of $3.52 per child; this money goes directory to school book fund in all schools and is known as county foreign insurance tax fund, derived from insurance companies operating from out of state; amount received is $5,792.48 more than last year.

Marvin Clark, manager of Clark Electric Co., has been informed that firm has been awarded contract for electric work for new building Southeast Telephone Co. will construct at Kennett; at present, Clark workers are at Farmington on job to be completed latter part of November.

With 25 out of 26 clubs represented, over 200 members of county's Home Economics clubs attended Women's Achievement Day held in Jackson Tuesday; Ruth Crowley, home agent, welcomed members, and Mrs. Alfred Limbaugh, president of County Council, presided.

Big Whitewater River went on another rampage Tuesday night, following another heavy rain in northern section of county and Bollinger County; water covered bottom land for fourth time during crops season.

Mr. and Mrs. W.C. King's 110-acre farm on Highway 25, north of Jackson, was sold Thursday to Mr. and Mrs. Otto Leier of Bismarck; Kings expect to take extended trip before buying new place.

75 years ago: 1924

Hundreds of farmers from Cape Girardeau County were present Saturday at closing of Farmers Institute held by business men of Oak Ridge; considerable farm stock was on exhibition, while farm products judged on Friday were considered of high class; special speakers were Noel Hall, poultry expert of State University; J.A. Adams, extension worker from College of Agriculture, and Sam Jordan, noted orator from farm extension department of university.

County Court has finally decided to erect memorial to Cape Girardeau County soldier dead; monument, beautiful statue of white marble, representing doughboy in full uniform and equipment, has been reposing in local marble works shop for several years; it is now to be placed on courthouse lawn on appropriate pedestal, on which will be placed bronze plate bearing names of Cape Girardeau County boys killed in World War.

Carroll Knox of Jackson, who had extensive contracts on State Highway No. 34, announced that entire project has been completed, and that road was opened to traffic Friday; this means that road from Jackson to Marble Hill is now one of best highways in state.

Hundreds of members and friends of congregation of Christ Lutheran Church at Gordonville attended services Sunday marking 25th anniversary of founding of church; three of four pastors who have served church are present for observance.

Deputy Game and Fish Wardens F.M. Bass of Perryville and Enoch Underwood of Fredericktown staged roundup of violators of fish and game laws in Cape Girardeau County, and as result four young men were caught and landed in jail here Saturday night; all four are charged with killing fish in diversion channel of Little River Drainage District using dynamite and other explosives.