25 years ago: 1974
Two tax proposals -- one-cent city sales tax and additional two mill tax for city parks -- were submitted Monday night for consideration by City Council; Mrs. F.E. Keene, chairman of City Park Board, said additional 20-cent tax per $100 assessed valuation would raise about $20,000 additional revenue for park operations to help finance development of existing and additional park acreages; in submitting one-cent sales tax proposal, Mrs. Robert S. Todd, chairman of Community Betterment Association, presented list of eight reasons special community betterment committee believes city tax is necessary for city; enactment of both tax measures would require voter approval.
Recently-appointed Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce port authority committee will work with County Court in advisory capacity in attempt to establish port authority in the county; county will also recommend that Scott County Court also appoint advisory committee to follow through with planning for port authority; members of county courts from both counties met at Benton June 20 to discuss possibility of planning jointly for port authority and tentatively reached agreement to strive for its location at Diversion Channel mouth of Mississippi River south of Cape Girardeau.
Resolution opposing proposed rate increase of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and ordinance providing increased electric rates during periods of peak usage were among items approved by City Council Monday; court unanimously endorsed resolution opposing telephone company's proposed rate hike and in so doing permitted City Attorney Kenneth L. Waldron to file petition with Missouri Public Service Commission requesting city of Jackson be allowed to intervene.
Increased steel costs likely will result in construction of only jail portion of proposed county law enforcement complex and it might cost as much as had been estimated for entire project, Associate Judge J. Ronald Fischer of County Court said Wednesday; he noted the whole structure can't be completed for $750,000, and jail alone will cost that much or more.
50 years ago: 1949
City ordinance regarding cleaning of vacant lots in Jackson will be enforced after July 15, according to posted notices, with property owners to cut weeds and grass; city mower is in use each day along streets and alleys.
All-time high mark for membership --710 veterans of two wars -- was announced Monday by Altenthal-Joerns Post of American Legion; new total eclipses previous record of 691 members in 1946 and is considerably above 579 who were post members last year.
County Court Monday passed along to Board of Equalization order received last week from State Tax Commission ordering 40 percent increase in assessments on hogs on county farms; individual assessment of hog raisers will be raised 40 percent by order to increase valuation by $86,052, as stipulated by state tax authority.
Settlement of contract was made between International Federation of Grain Millers (A.F. of L.) and Cape County Milling Co., Tuesday, ending six-day strike; picket line was suspended Monday night and 25 workers called back to work Thursday; Earl Bowman, manager at mill, says it may be 48 hours before grain can be received, but just as soon as possible buying will be resumed.
Corn on bottom land on Big Whitewater, west of Millersville, suffered severe damage from Sunday's rain; water swelled stream so that corn stood in 2 feet of water most of Monday; rain was cloudburst in north end of county.
At its meeting this week, school board laid down rules under which school property may be used by community organizations and groups when not being used for school purposed; under plan, written application for permission must be made to superintendent 30 days in advance; each request must be approved by board; fee of 10 percent of gross receipts, and not less than $6, will be charged for use of gymnasium and auditorium; fee of $2 will be charged for each rehearsal.
Excavation for Immaculate Conception Catholic School was started Wednesday; building, of yellow brick, will be located on east side of Highway 25, in block south of church, and estimated cost will be $42,000; Phillip Elfrink is contractor; previous plans to construct church and school have been abandoned at present because of high construction costs.
75 years ago: 1924
Fewer than 100 veterans of World War have taken advantage of free service offered them by American Legion Post in assisting them in making out their compensation or bonus blanks; Margaret Obermiller has been employed by local post for that purpose, and has been in farm bureau office since Monday.
State highway department has force of men working along highway No. 25 to locate gravel deposits of kind needed and in close proximity to highway, so that haul is as short as possible; highway doesn't traverse the part of county where gravel is plentiful, as it is in hills along Mississippi, where entire mountain ranges were composed of nothing but road material, which would be worth millions were it accessible; 60 percent gravel and 40 percent clay binder is proportion wanted, and "river hills" have just about that kind of composition; but this gift of nature is more than 10 miles away from highway No. 25.
Farm home of Jake Proffer near Burfordville and all its contents were destroyed by fire Friday morning; fire originated from defective flue; only some of family's clothing was saved; only heroic effort of neighbors saved nearby barn.
Henry A. Aufdenberg has sold his blacksmith shop at Burfordville to G.T. Allen; in trade, Aufdenberg acquired a threshing outfit, which he will operate as soon as weather conditions become favorable.
In near future, chairman of Chamber of Commerce will call special meeting of all business men for purpose of making drive for new station at terminal of Jackson branch of Missouri Pacific; old station house is not only unsightly, but wholly inadequate to take care of increasing business; statistics provided by National Stock Yards show there are more head of livestock shipped out of Jackson during year than from any other point in Missouri.
County Court has that buildings on County Farm be provided with lightning rods for protection against fire and damage by electric stroke; rodding was done by H.C. Seabaugh of Jackson under contract; rods are not only protection, but ornamental as well.
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