A LOOK AT THE PAST

25 years ago, 1975

Reversal of County Court's decision last year to build jail on County Farm in Cape Girardeau would be hazardous and would expose county to additional litigation because there is no legal cause or reason for reversing prior decision and because money has been spent as result of original order; this is one of five conclusions reached by County Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier in detailed, 31-page opinion written at request of County Court and presented to two of its three judges Thursday; Seier concluded that proposal submitted by city of Jackson to trade property it owns here for site of present county jail and lot adjoining it "is not a good and legal document"; prosecutor's opinion rules out possibility that six-acre tract outside both cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson could be used as new jail site.

As indicated by Thursday's session, two members of County Court haven't slightest desire to represent county at Southeast Missouri Regional Planning meetings in Perryville; despite urging by Cletus Hunt, director of local planning assistance for commission, and County Clerk Rusby C. Crites, both Presiding Judge Ervin Hobbs and Associate Judge Edwin W. Sander declined to designate themselves as representatives; Associate Judge J. Ronald Fischer is on vacation.

Springfield man who was sentenced March 3 to five years in Missouri Penitentiary escaped from county jail second time Friday night or early Saturday; sheriff's deputies are seeking 22-year-old man, who is believed to have hidden outside his cellblock after being let out with others to take shower; he later made his way through second-floor window; officers discovered him missing late Saturday morning.

County Court judges Monday declined to comment on Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier's opinion to answer court's questions pertaining to site selection for new county jail.

50 years ago, 1950

Occupants of Kibler dwelling on East Main Street barely escaped with their lives from burning home Sunday morning, when Peggy Gilder, sleeping downstairs, awoke after hearing crackling noises and hearing something fall; six persons sleeping in rooms on upper floor were able to come down smoke-filled stairway to safety, clad in their night clothing; large six-room dwelling was gutted by flames.

Begley's gift shop has added china display balcony near rear of store, with china and crystal stock exhibited in particular; more floor level display space is now available; carpeted stairs lead to balcony.

First coal shipment after end of strike is expected to arrive in Jackson by Thursday; plans have been made by coal dealers to send coal first to those who are in greatest need; type of coal isn't known, but should it be stoker fuel, some will be sent to courthouse, where supply is dwindling.

Fourteen petitions for street paving in Jackson have been filed with City Council after publication that paving would be done this year; longest is stretch of three blocks.

Two members of Board of Education, W.O. Statler and J.C. Hoffmeister, are finishing terms this year, and on April 4 at school election two will be elected; it is reported that both incumbents are willing to re-file; Hoffmeister is president of board.

R.K. Wilson was named president of Jackson Building & Loan Association at Tuesday's meeting; Wilson is beginning his 10th year as president; A.D. Milde was renamed vice president.

Courthouse received four tons of stoker coal early Thursday, one dealer having received a car; car of regular coal is expected to arrive Friday; another dealer was able to haul in truck load, which he doled out by 100-pound lots to desperate customers.

75 years ago, 1925

Spelling contest for Liberty Township, held by Supt. J.T. McDonald at Whitewater Wednesday, was well attended, and rural schools of districts of Council Ridge, Poplar Ridge, Cross Roads, Stroderville, Moore, Whitewater and Maple Grove participated; first place was won by Lilly McCullough of Whitewater district and second place by Cleota Hartman of Poplar Ridge District.

Cornelius Hawn, young farmer of neighborhood of Scopus, in Bollinger County, while driving unruly team of horses last Thursday, became entangled in gearing and sustained fractures of bones in one leg.

New market for whole milk has opened in Jackson for dairy farmers; heretofore, cream separator was very important on dairy farm, but now it seems that separator will be relegated to junk heap as obsolete; price of milk is regulated by percentage of butter fat it contains; average price is more than 20 cents per gallon.

Local ice factory will soon be supplied with new machinery, improving its capacity for refrigerator purposes.

Robert Schaefer, who joined Navy few months ago, is here on furlough, visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Schaefer.

Largest walnut log marketed here in years was shipped out Wednesday; log measured three feet at small end, which is considered large for that kind of timber in this section of state.

Wednesday was second anniversary of cyclone that wrecked central part of Jackson, doing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage to buildings; most remarkable feature of storm was miraculous escape of all who inhabited wrecked and damaged buildings; no one was seriously injured.