A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

Cape Girardeau County Court has given authorization for preliminary hearings in Magistrate Court to be conducted at Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau; Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier requested authority on behalf of Magistrate Jerry S. Estes; he explained that 80 percent of felonies in county happen in Cape Girardeau; this means when charges are filed and case reaches point of testimony, victims and witnesses have to come from Cape Girardeau to Jackson; he said from standpoint of efficiency, convenience and costs, magistrate should have authority to conduct preliminary hearings in Cape Girardeau.

Bids for radio monitors for sheriff's department were opened recently by county court, with Plecton of Steeleville apparent low bidder at $2,112.50 for 16 units; monitors are to be used to provided car-to-car communication between sheriff's department and highway patrol cars; it will become possible for deputies and highway patrolmen to communicate from car to car instead of having to go through relays from base stations in Poplar Bluff and Jackson.

Because of uncertainties in Jackson's electrical expansion program and pending evaluation of federal appraisers, no timetable has been set for acquisition of additional park land; City Administrator Harry A. Kollman said acquisition of one or more of four tracts of ground under option to city is still up in air; surplus funds in electrical fund will be used to purchase land; tracts include 39 acres owned by Gwen Winningham on Highway 61 north, 60 acres owned by Litz Brothers along Goose Creek, 201 acres owned by Robert Henderson south of Highway 72 west, and 60 acres owned by John C. Crites south of Route D and north of present park.

50 years ago, 1947

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Birk have moved to house they bought recently on Hope Street from Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Fox and will occupy some of the rooms; Mrs. Birk is managing beauty parlor, formerly know as LaFern Shop, in the home; Mrs. Fox and son, Neal Sander, expect to move to St. Clair, where Jesse Fox is superintendent of shoe factory.

Residents in neighborhood of Farmington Road and West Main are having second spring series of scares from stray bullets from rifles; Mrs. H.R. Meier recently heard unusual noise in front of her house but found nothing fallen; in evening, as her husband walked through dining room, he discovered glass on floor and rug and found that rifle bullet had passed through window and stuck in wall.

If federal subsidy is withdrawn March 31 as expected, Jackson School luncheon will continue to operate, as a plan has been worked out to increase price of meals from 15 to 20 cents, with additional cost of five cents for each half-pint of milk desired by the pupil; federal subsidy to luncheon has amounted to nine cents per meal and ranged from $650 to $700 per month; lunch room is feeding approximately 400 pupils each day.

Board of education is to receive bids until April 3 for purchase of Lincoln schoolhouse and outbuildings; this is exclusive of the lot and contents of school; Penzel Construction Co. expects to complete new, $12,000 Lincoln School by September.

75 years ago, 1922

There were some changes recently in personnel in local post office, result of competitive examination held few weeks ago; Eldon Roberts, formerly city carrier, is out; Estes Caldwell, who came out of exam as No. 1, now holds that position, and J. R. Kibbler, who came out second best, is substitute; all three are ex-service men.

Powerful searchlight, which can be seen 20 miles away, will soon adorn pinnacle of dome on courthouse; aside from its value as an illuminant within city, light has also sentimental or whimsical worth, inasmuch as it indicates seat of county's government; funds for light and its installation were raised by popular subscription by citizens of Jackson.

According to attendance reports, made monthly by teachers in rural schools in this county, there were approximately 4,000 cases of illness among children in rural schools since beginning of term in September 1921; just at present time, absence list in many districts is almost same as enrollment list; there are families in which five, six and seven members of household are in bed at same time, suffering from influenza and kindred illnesses; very few cases become aggravated and serious, and end in death.