A LOOK AT THE PAST

25 years ago, 1975

County Court Thursday was brought to task by retired Jackson man who, during more than hour of scolding, labeled it a "do-nothing" court because of its failure to resolve long-standing county jail controversy; Sewell S. Wood, who year ago appeared before former County Court to urge it to decide controversial question of location of proposed jail, charged that three county judges are doing nothing more than "sitting up here in your own little pew arguing, fussing and discussing" without making any decisions; judges Presiding Judge Ervin Hobbs and associate judges Edwin W. Sander and J. Ronald Fischer didn't respond to Wood's accusations.

Catherine Ann Hecht won Missouri Farmers Association college scholarship awarded to members of this year's graduating class of Jackson High School; daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Hecht of Altenburg, she plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, where she will major in computer science.

There is no possibility in immediate future that State Highway Department will consider taking over county road from Route N to Route A south of Whitewater as had been requested in petition signed by about 400 residents of area; Lionel T. Murray, chief highway engineer of District 10 at Sikeston, told delegation of about 25 persons in County Court Monday that department doesn't have funds to take over route or any other off-systems route in state.

50 years ago, 1950

County Court Monday reappointed Marvin Campbell of Cape Girardeau as county sanitarian at salary of $3,500 per year; Campbell has been sanitarian since milk inspection program for county was started three years ago; before court acted on appointment, Presiding Judge R.S. Cunningham announced his withdrawal as applicant for post, and then made motion that Campbell be reappointed.

Wading pool at City Park, constructed as project of Optimist Club, was tested on Monday and in next few days will be ready for tots; pool was made on the highway terrace, just in front of swimming pool dressing rooms and office; there will be no charge for use of wading pool.

Brick for large apartment under construction by Mrs. Malinda Allen were taken to site on Hope Street Tuesday, and brick masons will be laying brick latter part of this week; basement walls are out of forms, and basement floor will be poured presently.

L. Carson Wagner Jr., will report to West Point Military Academy on July 5 for entrance; Wagner, who was valedictorian of high school in May, will give his regents' scholarship to Dolores Masa for year's schooling at State College in Cape Girardeau.

Wheat is beginning to come in, some fields being fully ready for combining; main threshing rings are due to start next week.

Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Welker are ready to give to first person who calls swarm of black bees which arrived at their house on Wednesday and went through cracks of weatherboards to take possession of attic; baby in family has already been stung twice; small black bee is one of best honey gatherers.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hoffmeister bought Wib Lohman Drive-in on Friday; place is on Highway 25 north of Jackson and specializes in barbecue; business was opened late last summer, and Mr. Hoffmeister has been working there for several weeks.

75 years ago, 1925

W.C. Burke, representing Edward Flad Co. of consulting engineers of St. Louis, met Thursday with voters of Jackson who still have many misgivings concerning $65,000 sewer bond issue.

Certificate of increase of capital stock of American Gauze and Cotton Co. of Cape Girardeau has been filed for record at Jackson; it provides for increase of capital from $150,000 to $200,000, and 50 percent of paid up increase is held in $100 shares by C.L. Harrison, A.W. Harrison and R.D. Harrison.

E.P. Kiesler, Perryville banker, has been appointed special deputy commissioner to liquidate affairs of Bank of Oak Ridge, which was closed two weeks ago with alleged shortage of $21,000; his appointment was filed with recorder at Jackson Tuesday, and he immediately went to Oak Ridge to confer with State Bank Examiner H.G. Harrison, before taking active charge of Oak Ridge institution.

St. Louis police have been notified to watch for caravan of three Ford trucks operated by three brothers, who are believed to have left Jackson Tuesday in that direction, leaving in their wake some $6,000 or more in unpaid bills owed to local merchants; brothers are alleged to have secured $900 in oil and gasoline on worthless credit during past three months; trucks they are traveling in were also secured on credit from Groves-Snider Motor Co., local Ford dealers.

Voters Tuesday approved $65,000 bond issue to install sanitary sewers in Jackson by majority of more than seven to one;s work on project will begin just as soon as bonds are sold and contract let.