A LOOK AT THE PAST

25 years ago, 1975

Missouri Highway Patrol Cpl. Norman W. Copeland went to Jackson Rotary Club meeting Tuesday under pretense of hearing his commanding officer speak; but he left with club's 1975 Police Officer of Year Award; Copeland, 20-year member of patrol, became fifth recipient of award, given annually by club.

Requirement of Missouri Highway Department that culvert on State Route D in Jackson be extended has threatened future of proposed fishing lake in expanded city park; Glen F. Boyel, retired Soil Conservation Service engineer who is in charge of Jackson Rotary Club lake project, said Thursday that department's District 10 headquarters at Sikeston has rejected plan to fill dirt around road culvert and use rip-rap to stabilize shoreline.

Assessor Ed Blumenberg says his office will levy 10 percent blanket increase in Cape Girardeau County assessments this year despite recommendation of Missouri Tax Commission that assessments in all Missouri counties be equalized; appearing Monday before County Court, Blumenberg said his office doesn't have time this year to equalize real and personal property assessments, method suggested by commission of enacting required 11 percent blanket assessment increase in state.

The Rev. Richard C. Lamb, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, will receive postgraduate degree of Doctor of Ministry at Eden Theological Seminary's 125th commencement service; ceremony will be held at May 23 at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church.

"Get Happy," musical production of 1930s, will be presented by Jackson High School stage band and stage choir May 15 at Jackson Grade School Auditorium; band and choir will present musical scores by Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin.

50 years ago, 1950

Beginning Monday, city delivery of mail in residential districts will be reduced to one delivery daily, while business district will have two deliveries; beginning Saturday, window service at post office will close at noon on Saturdays; postmaster is Charles G. Macke.

Jackson Chamber of Commerce met Monday night for dinner at Immaculate Conception School, where President Kurre Allen presided at business session to discuss means of providing for company now operating in Cape Girardeau, which would open new factory in Jackson; Chamber voted to start campaign to raise approximately $50,000 for building.

County Court on Monday, receiving no bids for construction of 3.9 miles for Greens Ferry Road from corporate limits of Jackson to new farm-to-market road on east, directed county highway engineer, County Bollinger, with county equipment, county force of men and together with commissioners of Byrd Special Road District, to proceed with construction; work is expected to start at once.

Charles Bollinger, county highway engineer, toured county Wednesday checking for damage to roads following recent heavy rains; because rain fell gradually, there wasn't too much damage; bridge near New Wells held and at Wilkinson's mill, water was on highway 18 inches; Big Whitewater was out of its banks and appeared to be nearly as high as at any time this year.

Rodney O'Connor, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. O'Connor, was winner of Optimist Club oratorical contest Tuesday evening and won free trip to Columbia May 19 and 20, where he will deliver his oration, competing with other contestants of Eighth District, composed of Southern Illinois and east half of Missouri.

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry McMullin of Columbia are planning to move to Jackson as McMullin has been named vocational agriculture teacher; Mrs. McMullin is niece of L.W. Bingenheimer and H.H. Bingenheimer.

Workers have about completed job of moving house from First Baptist Church lot to its new location in Knox Addition; building is now resting on hoisting jacks above new foundation; work was done by Portageville firm which has experience in moving buildings; house will be rented by Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Statler.

75 years ago, 1925

Another large rock quarry will be opened next Monday near Neelys Landing by Rice Construction Co.; large number of men will be employed on this job; it is on Frisco Railroad, and stone is taken from limestone deposits along riverbank.

George Grant has badly-fractured right arm as result of "kick" from a Ford.

Fire alarm late Wednesday evening gave department chance to try out new fire truck, and it worked "like a charm"; home of C.W. Hoffmeister was threatened by fire that originated in kitchen and had made good headway; chemical extinguisher on truck soon had fire under control, and it was extinguished without use of water.

Ernest H. Vogel and L.C. Lorberg, both of Gordonville neighborhood, have resigned from executive committee of Farm Bureau, after several years of service; both give as reason for resignation the pressure of other work.

F.G. Schroeder was chosen street commissioner of Jackson at special meeting of council Thursday night; appointment of night patrolman was again deferred, one of main reasons for delay being that each of five applicants for positions has petition signed by residents, and each petition bears practically same signatures; so councilmen, who wish to appoint man people want, are at loss to know which of five men is people's choice.

August F. Bartels of near Tilsit Thursday purchased from A.J. Flentge and his wife the old Oliver homestead, corner of First South and Second East streets; Mr. and Mrs. Flentge and daughter have moved to Cape Girardeau.

Workers are overhauling lighting system in courthouse, which had been out of order for some time; somehow wires became or crossed, and practically all metal fixtures and pipes in building became "charged"; Friday night fire, caused by short circuit, originated in wash room in basement, but no damage was done.

Grand jury was convened Tuesday to investigate law violations in Cape Girardeau County; Judge Frank Kelly, in three-minute instruction to jury, stressed rigid investigation of all violations, calling special attention to laws covering gambling, violations of fish and game laws, violations of state dry law, practicing medicine without license, sale of cigarettes to minors, and operation of slot machines.

Judge P.C. Kasten, William P. Voges and N.D. Browning Tuesday made trip of inspection over Byrd Township Special Road District, of which they are commissioners; these men take personal interest in roads, and see to it that funds, amounting to about $10,000 annually, are judiciously spent; State Highway Department has taken over about 13 miles of road in district, which fact helps program for road-building considerably.