A LOOK AT THE PAST

25 years ago, 1975

Board of directors of Cape County Savings Bank in Jackson has announced appointment of Edwin R. Puls, vice president, to position of president and chairman of board to succeed Louis H. Schrader, who has announced his retirement effective April 1; Puls is second member of his family to head the bank; his father, late Henry Puls, was president from 1940 to 1950.

Salary increases ranging from 6 to 9 percent for teachers in Jackson R-2 School District were unanimously approved Tuesday night by Board of Education; board accepted 1975-76 teachers salary schedule which contains base pay increases of $500 over current schedule.

Missouri Highway Commission, meeting Wednesday in Jefferson City, unanimously approved relocation of Highway 72 from Interstate 55 interchange between Cape Girardeau and Jackson to just west of Highway 34 intersection west of Jackson; commission's action puts project, estimated to cost over $16 million, on State Highway Department's five-year right of way and construction schedule.

Amid harsh accusations from Jackson City Attorney Kenneth L. Waldron concerning Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier's opinion on controversial county jail matter, city of Jackson Thursday made its most generous property offer yet to County Court in hopes it would be accepted as site for long-proposed jail; city submitted proposal that county purchase its 48,139-square-foot lot bordering Washington and High streets for $1 so that new county jail "shall, with all deliberate speed, be constructed on property to be sold and transferred to the county by the city."

On suggestion of Associate Judge Edwin W. Sander, County Court Presiding Judge Ervin Hobbs Thursday agreed to designate himself as active member of Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission to attend commission's monthly meetings at Perryville.

A $4,000 grant has been approved by bicentennial commission to help finance Oliver House Jackson Museum; bicentennial organization has also applied for $1,000 grant to be used in museum project, but that grant is still pending before commission.

County Court has opposed request of city of Jackson that it be given extension of 15 days in which to file briefs in city's Missouri Supreme Court appeal of Circuit Court decision on location of new county jail; County Court voted unanimously Monday to instruct Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier to inform high court that county is opposed to city's request for additional time to file briefs.

50 years ago, 1950

Bids will be opened Thursday for proposed new St. Paul Lutheran School, and there will be special meeting called Sunday night to discuss bids and take final action; representative of Bonsack-Pearce architectural firm in St. Louis will be present at time bids are opened.

New officers elected for Randol-Sieck Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars are: Commander, Loren Abbott; senior vice commander, C.C. Crain; junior vice commander, Roy Yancey; quartermaster, Glenn Lohmann; judge advocate, N. Burton Short, chaplain, the Rev. F.L. Auer, and trustee, Fred Sander.

Payment of bills for repairs to courthouse roof, board for jurors, and repairing record books constituted main business of County Court Monday; L.R. Pratt has been at work several days rebuilding books, cost of which will be $407; Vernie West of Cape Girardeau guaranteed his work and materials in painting courthouse roof which had been leaking; bill of $310 was paid.

Professor L.H. Strunk, director of Training School in Cape Girardeau, said that while subject has been broached to officials, plan to transport pupils from Fruitland and Pocahontas districts to school in Cape Girardeau couldn't be worked out; one of problems with plan is that Training School is filled to capacity at present and can't handle more students; another factor is nearness of two schools in Jackson, which run buses into northern part of county; Training School doesn't wish to go into that territory, said Strunk.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Ludwig of Fruitland have moved to home of his father, north of Oak Ridge; Ludwigs sold their 65-acre farm, known as Alex McNeely place, to Howard Bretz.

Richard F. Dabney, director of teacher education for Missouri, spoke to members of rural Cape Girardeau County school boards at annual meeting Thursday; he spoke of work being done by state with handicapped children.

75 years ago, 1925

City campaign is warming up as spring election draws near; only one candidate for office of collector has announced: Mrs. Frieda Gockel; it is first time in history of Jackson that woman has aspired to any municipal office; vying for office of marshal are Henry A. Voges, William J. Macke and Pink Niswonger; Voges has held office in past, Macke is present incumbent, and Niswonger has walked beat as patrolman and as substitute for others.

Land deal of more than ordinary proportions was consummated Friday, when Hunter Land & Development transferred to Bailey Wilkinson of Charleston, 1,910 acres of land in Sections 17, 18 and 19, south of Delta; while consideration given in deal is nominal, it is understood that true consideration was between $108,000 and $110,000.

Wreck, caused by defective track, occurred on Jackson Branch of Missouri Pacific Railroad Saturday, when four cars, one full of brick, one loaded with hay, and one express car and one empty were derailed two miles south of Jackson; no one was hurt, but wrecking crew worked all day Saturday to clear track.

Dr. E.R. Schoen, county coroner, reported he has discovered several cases of scarlet fever in families living near Gordonville.

Police are being swamped with complaints about truck drivers employed on road construction jobs near here; not only are several driving trucks without licenses, but complaints of speeding and "road-hogging" are made daily; general round-up must result.

Wagner Brothers are installing additional machinery in their bakery, to make their establishment more efficient and up-to-date.