A LOOK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

Jackson R-2 School District officials have received some good news; remaining brick for new elementary school should be available to contractor by June 1, and school should be ready to occupy by Oct. 1; two weeks ago district received word that there could be as much as a five-month delay in getting brick.

Ralph W. Chaney, who pleaded guilty last week to murder of Lutesville Marshal Clive McGee, has been sentenced to life imprisonment on charge; Chaney also pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was give five-year sentence; sentences were handed down by Circuit Judge W. Osler Statler following pre-sentence statements by Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth W. Shrum and Defense Attorney Stephen N. Limbaugh.

City Council will appoint committee of Jackson residents to explore construction of municipal swimming pool; proposed pool would measure about 100 feet by 50 feet and, with dressing room and deck facilities included, would cost from $100,000 to $140,00; it had been suggested that bubble top for pool would extend its seasonal use, but Councilman Harry Hoffman is recommending against it; he says cities who have installed such bubbles found them to be targets for vandals and life expectancy of bubble appears to be about five years; bubble would add about $20,000 to cost of pool.

50 years ago, 1947

Jackson dress manufacturing plant on West Main is one of busiest places in town; there are 166 women engaged in manufacturing Dorsa dresses; plant began a night shift this week, enabling many mothers with small children to have employment; Mayme Bess is "floorlady."

One of Jackson's new stores built this year by Henry Birk is now open for business, housing modern electrical appliance business; neon signs have been erected across sidewalk in front of building, and in windows; on east side, Mrs. Birk will open beauty salon.

Jackson J Club is presenting scoreboard to high school, to be erected at northeast corner of stadium; constructed of iron pipe with steel front, board will measure 18 feet by 12 feet and will be equipped with electric wiring; small extended roof will protect face of board from direct weather and protected shed will be built at back for operators.

Warren M. Sarff, principal of Jackson High School, has tendered his resignation to Board of Education, to become assistant principal of Kirkwood High School at Kirkwood; Sarff has been principal here for one and half years, being also instructor of speech and coach of debate.

Two old deeds giving title to acreage in Cape Girardeau County were filed in recorder's office recently; in handwriting of justice of peace, one deed was written by Benjamin Shell in 1827, whereby John and Catharine Miller sold 89 acres to Henry Miller; justice's fee was 25 cents; other deed was in handwriting of Merry S. Bottom, a justice, and acreage was transferred by Jesse A. Miller to William Miller; described acreage partly was bounded by meandering Whitewater Creek.

75 years ago, 1922

Jackson is deserted most of time now, since farm work has begun in earnest; weather being ideal and ground in finest shape, the planting of corn is being pushed to completion with all possible speed; only marketing of strawberries, cream and eggs brings farmers in for occasional visit in city.

City Clerk O.C. Kiehne has accepted principalship of Gordonville public schools for next year, and will resign from office of clerk of city of Jackson.

Black baseball players of Jackson have become ambitious and are preparing to follow manner of white ball fans by organizing league of their own under leadership of J.C. Lucas of Lincoln schools.

Ryland Short has completed enumeration of children of school age in Jackson and territory embraced in Jackson school district outside city; according to his figures, there are 307 white boys and 358 white girls, 37 black boys and 38 black girls in district, making total of 740.

From proceedings of County Court, it is seen that court has paid contractor who is to erect soldiers and sailors memorial on public square $1,000 on contract; that money has been available for a year and contract was let long ago, but in spite of all efforts, county clerk has been unable to obtain complete list of all deceased sailors, soldiers and marines from Cape Girardeau County, whose names are to be put on bronze tablet on memorial.

Grading on Kingshighway north of Jackson has been resumed, but ground along west branch of Goose Creek is too wet for speedy progress.