A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1975

Proposal to enact special tax levy to finance and maintain residential facility for adult handicapped and to finance operation of Cape County Sheltered Workshop likely will be submitted to county voters in April; board members of workshop, known as VIP Industries of Cape Girardeau, appeared by County Court Thursday to inform court of board's intention to submit tax levy issue to voters and to learn what steps should be taken to bring proposal to vote.

Cape Girardeau County's Land Subdivision and Mobile Home Park Regulations became effective Thursday upon adoption of resolution by County Court; long-proposed ordinance drawn up by County Planning and Zoning Commission will be sent to all incorporated cities and villages in county and will be filed with county recorder of deeds; purpose of ordinance, which ultimately will become part of county-wide zoning, is to establish rules and standards to guide subdivision and mobile home park developments within unincorporated areas of county.

One new face on County Court could drastically alter county politics and might mean $75,000 already spent or obligated on new County Farm jail site will go down drain; Presiding Judge Ervin Hobbs, who took office Jan. 1, expressed his opposition Monday to spending $700,000 to build county jail and sheriff's office complex on County Farm in Cape Girardeau; Hobbs says he believes new county jail could be built in Jackson for half that cost.

Flood-plain management ordinance which was adopted by City Council Monday will assure Jackson's continued participation in federal flood insurance program; by unanimous vote, council amended its existing planning and zoning ordinances to identify flood-prone areas in city and to establish standards for building in these areas.

50 years ago, 1950

Katherine Kennedy, newly-appointed Cape Girardeau County home agent, assumed her duties Tuesday; Kennedy, native of Greenwood, Ark., succeeds Ruth Crowley, who resigned to accept position as state 4-H Club agent in Columbia.

Between Monday and Wednesday, Jackson was visited by 6.46 inches of rain; in Tuesday night's downpour which started with thunder storm at 5 p.m., 4.65 inches fell, flooding creeks and causing much damage to unpaved streets in town; Supt. R.O. Hawkins, with safety of pupils in mind, dismissed schools Wednesday morning at 8:45 a.m., loaded children who were transported into school busses and started them homeward; buses made circle through business section with gleeful youngsters calling greetings to their friends on street.

Water on upper prong of West Hubble Creek, near Highway 25, reached back entrance of Lohman barbecue stand, and slight levee thrown up in rear of motel little farther north held, keeping water from motel rooms; basements were filled with water in Jackson; forecast is for freezing rain.

Dorothy Illers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Illers, was severely injured late Thursday, when sled on which she was coasting struck wooden barrier; she was removed to Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau; she and Mary Lou Niehoff were coasting on hill on First North Street, when accident occurred.

75 years ago, 1925

Women of Literary Club are appealing to general public for cooperation, not for funds; while funds seem to be ample, ladies are seeking moral support in establishment of small public library; for years, club has been working toward that goal; now club members feel that enough books and publications have accumulated to warrant opening of small reading room; plublic is being asked to aid in securing suitable place uptown, free of rent, if possible.

Workers are placing base for memorial to be erected in courthouse lawn to memory of Cape Girardeau County's soldier dead; on concrete base will be placed pedestal of white marble, on one side of which will be bronze plate bearing names of all county boys who died in service, either in action overseas, or in camp in this country; above plate will stand life-size figure of soldier "at rest," carved from white marble.

W.T. Dickey of Delta and L.A. Goodwin of Jackson have purchased land in vicinity of Delta, which was formerly owned by Frisco Railroad, and which includes most of property in the town, not purchased by individuals; property was acquired from B.W. Redfearn of Chicago; 400 acres of farm land, included in deal, will be cultivated this year and is considered highly productive.

City Council Monday night authorized purchase of new firefighting apparatus as it had been selected by committee of council and fire chief; purchase price of truck will be $2,350.

Lee Morris "Dick" Hoffmeister, musician in orchestra in Davenport, Iowa, but native of Jackson, is here visiting his mother, Mrs. Ida Hoffmeister.

A.D. Milde of E. Milde Bottling Works of Jackson and J.R. Hoffman of Milde Bottling Co. of Charleston Thursday consummated deal with W.E. McCarty of Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Cairo, Ill., whereby locals became owners of Coca Cola company's plant in Cape Girardeau; Milde and Hoffman likewise became owners of Coca Cola franchise in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties and in parts of Scott, Stoddard and Perry counties.