A LOOK AT THE PAST

25 years ago, 1975

Allocation, not higher taxes that are likely to have rippling effect on consumers' budgets or rationing system that has little guarantee of success, is most feasible answer to solving nation's energy problem, says National Congress of Petroleum Retailers; and at least five million consumers feel same way; Larry Talley, Jackson service station owner and operator and member of Missouri affiliate of national group, joined 27 other dealers from Missouri in Washington Tuesday to present petitions containing signatures of 150,000 Missourians favoring allocation system.

Weather warning system hopefully can be established in Cape Girardeau County for spring tornado season, which has just begun, says D. Brian Miller of Jackson, newly-appointed director of County Office of Disaster Planning and operations; Miller says system being organized would utilize existing tone alert radio system in county sheriff's office.

Long-awaited municipal swimming pool complex for Jackson City Park was approved by City Council Monday night, as was resolution authorizing city to apply for $600,000 in federal funds for construction of multipurpose community building; council approved preliminary plans for pool complex, which includes 25-meter long, 53-foot wide pool and adjoining junior and wading pools of 376 square feet and 64 square feet respectively; pool is to be located in portion of newly-acquired acreage to north of existing pool; it would be in abandoned Jackson Drive-In Theater parking lot.

Anton J. Sebek and Byron Foust of Buchmueller, Whitworth and Foust architectural firm were chosen Monday by County Court to prepare plans for renovation of County Courthouse, pending acceptance of proposed contract following examination by Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier; remodeling may cost $200,000, half of which would be financed with federal revenue-sharing funds.

50 years ago, 1950

Because of shortage of coal at Presbyterian Church, weekly choir rehearsal is held at home of Mrs. L.L. Luetje; church will sparingly shovel out remaining stock of coal in bin for church meetings, hopeful that it will last until miners' strike is over.

In recognition of the Rev. W.G. Langehennig's 40-year pastorate at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1898-1938, solid brass missal stand and pulpit Bible, appropriately embellished, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Louis W. Kasten, were presented to St. Paul Lutheran Church Sunday morning.

Jackson Chamber of Commerce held three-hour meeting Monday night, called for purpose of deciding if plans should go forward for proposed community building in City Park; in end, however, members also approved recommendation that plans be submitted to property voters of Jackson school district for floating $100,000 bond issue for adding needed facilities at Jackson High School to keep and enlarge all departments of work to meet state requirements; body also approved plan to build community building.

Temperature in county courthouse is being kept below its usual setting, and officials estimate supply of coal for building can be stretched into next week; at County Farm it is reported that only wheelbarrow load of coal is on hand, and that wood is being used to fire furnace; local power, however is unaffected by coal shortage; municipal plant generates electricity by use of fuel oil.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Priest, who came from Palm City, Calif., recently, are residing on Priest farm west of Jackson; workers are remodeling the kitchen; on Tuesday rigging for digging deep well was installed and boring was to begin immediately; this will bring adequate water supply for house and barn.

Two yearling heifers, their combined value set at $1,500, have died and three other animals in R.H. Meier Jr. Angus herd have been stricken by hemorrhagic septicemia, slow form of pneumonia; it is expected that three ailing cattle, bull and two heifer calves, will recover after receiving shots of vaccine sent from St. Louis and administered by Dr. John Adams and Dr. D.E. Crites.

Harold Bollinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Bollinger, is en route to Burbank, Calif., spring training ground of St. Louis Browns; he will play in Canadian-American League again this year, where he made good record last season as shortstop.

75 years ago, 1925

Dedication of memorial to Cape Girardeau County world war soldier dead will likely not be held on April 6 as first planned; after conference between members of local posts of Jackson American Legion and that of Cape Girardeau, it was proposed to hold dedicatory exercises on Memorial Day, May 30; this idea met with approval of majority.

Slowly, campaign for city offices is getting under way; so far only two persons have come out openly as candidates; Mrs. Frieda Gockel has announced as aspirant to office of city collector and Pink Niswonger is candidate for office of marshal; it is known, however, that there will be three or four candidates for each elective office to be filled, except for that of aldermen, four of whom will be elected on April 7; terms of W.G. Wagoner and H.H. Mueller Jr. on board of education will expire as well.

E.P. Stoddard, electrical engineer, is scheduled to arrive soon to install new machinery in municipal power house just erected; new plant should be in operation by April 1.

Dale Browning, one of commissioners of Byrd Township Special Road Districts, wants it know that those who "cuss" commissioners for condition of road north of Jackson are laboring under false apprehension; commission of district has repeatedly appealed to authorities, to division engineer at Sikeston, and even to state highway commission, and in every case were promised that relief would be brought soon, but nothing has changed; contractors have charge of this road now; travel of Kingshighway between Jackson and Fruitland has stopped entirely, even mail hasn't been carried over this road for weeks; no car can pass that way, and all traffic is detoured over Green's Ferry Road.

Alfred Browning of Arbor was in Jackson Monday and brought with him hide of largest wild cat seen here for years; Browning killed cat last week, after it was caught in trap; animal was nearly five feet in length from tip of nose to tip of stumpy tail, and had real lynx markings.