A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Total of $9,145 was received from Cape Girardeau County's auction of surplus equipment at old Civil Defense building Saturday; old fire engine used by Civil Defense until its pumper broke down brought highest amount, $3,150; it was purchased by Bollinger County, which will assign truck to its Civil Defense unit.

Detailed emergency-readiness report for Cape Girardeau County was submitted to County Court Thursday by John F. Eveler, assistant community planning officer for State Disaster Planning and Operations Office at Jefferson City; Eveler also met with Cape Girardeau and Jackson officials and Sheriff Ivan E. McLain, who has been appointed by court to serve as coordinator for plan once it is implemented; Eveler urged court to appoint nine-member emergency preparedness board to develop and coordinate plan.

The Missourian's first news agency to be established outside city of Cape Girardeau is changing hands, marking end of nearly a half century of dedicated newspaper delivery service by Gilbert H. Sievers and his family; agency, established about 1907 and operated since 1925 by Sievers, has been purchased by Wayne Kight, who began management of deliveries in and around Jackson on Saturday.

If State Milk Board agrees, County Sanitarium Marvin E. Campbell will expand his milk inspection duties to periodic checks of inbound milk shipments from outside county under renewed contract likely to be approved between board and County Court.

County Court Monday decided to appoint Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council to consist of representatives from all incorporated areas of county, but took change of heart after about 30 minutes of discussion; Associate Judge J. Ronald Fischer of Cape Girardeau, who suggested that council be appointed as recommended in state-prepared emergency readiness report, later changed his mind and apparently changed those of other two judges as well; "Why should we appoint them to tell the sheriff, police chiefs and fire chiefs in the county to run their own business?" asked Fischer.

Approximately $20,000 will be used to purchase equipment for county sanitary landfill operation under federal revenue-sharing budget established Monday by County Court; court authorized county auditor to budget remaining $237,587 to be received during fiscal year 1975 for portion of cost of proposed county law enforcement complex and construction of new bridges.

50 years ago: 1949

Traffic has been terrific, according to one resident living along Highway 25, who has noticed that in last week there has been scarcely a minute, day or night, when there hasn't been three to six cars in view; heavy traffic is attributed to people going to Cape Girardeau to view tornado damage and for Memorial Day holiday.

Moderate-sized crowd gathered Monday morning in courthouse yard to hear Memorial Day address by Lt. Col. Frank A. Lowery of Cape Girardeau; flag was flown at half staff during day, honoring war dead.

Speaking for Jackson Board of Education Friday, J.C. Hoffmeister, in brief address at commencement exercises of high school, explained to parents of districts sending pupils to high school two measures which will govern entrance into Jackson High School for year 1950-51; present plan of charging tuition and of providing bus service will be continued one more year; then, unless some unforeseen relief is available to free up classroom space, school system will adopt one of following measures; first, eliminate some districts geographically because of bus service, or require aptitude test to take those who are most deserving of high school training.

Mrs. Freda Gockel retired Tuesday as city clerk of Jackson after serving 23 years continuously in efficient manner; she will be succeeded by L.H. Schrader.

Gooseberries have made their appearance on local market and are selling for 40 cents per quart in grocery stores; by gallon, direct from berry raisers, they are selling for 50 cents.

Dr. Eugene McDonald is moving into offices formerly occupied by Dr. A.M. Estes, from Jones Drug Store building; Dr. and Mrs. McDonald will occupy residential part of Estes house presently; Dr. and Mrs. Estes have moved to their new home in Cape Girardeau, and he will be associated with Dr. Charles Wilson in offices on Broadway.

75 years ago: 1924

Flags, used for first time, all new and bright, were placed in front of practically every business house in Jackson Friday morning, Decoration Day; memorial exercies were held in courthouse and city cemetery, with American Legion in charge; delivering patriotic addresses were minister P.A. Kasey, T. Lehmann and J.C. Hines; music was furnished by city band, and high school chorus performed as well; ladies of D.A.R. decorated graves in morning, as is unfailing custom.

Lee Morris "Dick" Hoffmeister is at home with his mother, Mrs. H.L. Hoffmeister, after prolonged absence; he has with him Jimmie Cannon of Davenport, Iowa; both are members of Tony's Iowans Band, which is furnishing music on steamer Capitol this summer.

Six boys took competitive examination last Saturday, which is necessary to make selection among applicants for honor of representing this county at Boys' School at Sedalia State Fair next fall; boys were tested for their knowledge of agriculture, geography and arithmetic; contestants are Robert Riggs, Roy Welch and Herbert Haman, all of Cape Girardeau, and Edward Miller, Willard Goodson and Leon P. Bowers, all of Oak Ridge.

Jackson Chamber of Commerce held its regular meeting at Hotel Jackson Tuesday night, having fine dinner and number of prominent guests; Jackson is greatly interested in future of state highway leading from here to Appleton, via Fruitland, and invited Division Highway Engineer Frank B. Newton to explain status of road work in Cape Girardeau County.

Dr. J.H. Hall, well-known physician, for years located at Fruitland, has been compelled by ill health to retire from active practice; he and his wife now reside with Mrs. J.F. Oliver near Neelys Landing.