A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

No new date has yet been set for public hearing on relocation of Highway 72 around Jackson; hearing on relocation originally had been scheduled for June 20 in courthouse, but it was temporarily canceled when Missouri Highway Commission decided it wanted to re-examine recommended corridor and consider alternatives.

Owner of Cape County Private Ambulance Service has requested that County Court allow him to raise his ambulance service rates $5 per patient; in letter from George F. Rouse, court was informed rate increase is needed "as a result of the recent costs of gasoline, tires and oil"; court tentatively approves increase, pending agreement by cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

County Court is awaiting opinion from Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier before it decides whether to submit bond issue proposal this year for construction of 40 new bridges in county; court wants to know whether or not countywide bond issue can be held to finance construction of new bridges within Cape County Road District and how Cape and Byrd special road districts would be affected.

Claire E. Weis, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Earl E. Weis, and Barry N. Stone, son of Dr. and Mrs. Nelson Stone, received respective honors of salutatorian and valedictorian at Jackson R-2 commencement program Thursday night.

The $4,000 raised was far from $25,000 goal, but promoters of Saturday's auction for restoration of historic Oliver House are pleased with results; although bids totaling $4,000 on more than 1,000 items was $21,000 short of goal, auction was considered success because proceeds will enable city to qualify for federal grant.

City of Jackson has petitioned Missouri Supreme Court for reversed decision on county law enforcement complex judgment; in jurisdictional statement, city is seeking to have high court rule on matter on grounds that County Court has violated sections of Missouri Constitution by authorizing indebtedness of $750,000 or more.

50 years ago: 1949

Extensive remodeling is nearly completed by Mrs. J.E. Schmuke on Kroger store building on South High Street; entire interior has been changed, main entrance now being to side and extension of 30 feet was put on back of building; Curtis Clippard is manager of store, which will open again for business this week.

William Shelton of Neelys Landing, son of late Leach Shelton, has been appointed rural mail carrier for Route 1 out of Neelys Landing, same route of his father, which includes homes as far north as Love Joy Hollow.

At meeting of City Council Monday, report of water main committee was approved for future reference in that all persons outside city limits desiring water shall connect water mains from city limits under supervision of water and light department, the pipe to conform to city specifications and consumer to bear entire cost of installation.

Valuation of property in Cape Girardeau County for tax purposes increased $1,203,399 in past year, it is shown in report made by County assessor, John L. Wescoat; total assessment of both real and personal property in county, made this spring, is $26,810,735.

Miniature golf course at intersection of highways 25 and 61 will be opened Thursday night for season; there has been extensive improvement on course by manager Kenneth Kasten, including improvements to lighting system.

Johnny Daume, local musician, returned Monday from 15-day trip to Hollywood, where he signed two-year contract with Southern Music Publishing Co. as staff songwriter; his composition, "All I Need Is Some More Lovin'," now out on Columbia records by George Morgan, and on Victor records by Montana Slim, has been one of top sellers in field of hillbilly music for past several weeks.

County Court made call to near Whitewater Friday afternoon to inspect site of new bridge; sit is near Mrs. E.F. Ford place; they were accompanied by County Engineer Charles Bollinger.

National Guardsmen will return Sunday from Little Rock, Ark., where they served as honor escort for President Harry Truman, who attended 35th Division reunion; those making trip were Raymond Statler, Ervin Sieck, Howard Jaeger, Eugene Wilson, Paul Story, Nelson Sievers, Gene Rastl, Walter Crites, James Bowman, Milton James, Milford Seabaugh, Robert Englehart, Eldon Selves, Jerry Hitt and Larry Matthews.

75 years ago: 1924

Store of C.A. Macom, recently purchased by John R. Talley and Dewey Talley, is closed while inventory is taken; this old stand on corner of Main and Court streets has been mercantile establishment for nearly a century; it was formerly known as Henry Boss Store, and then Macon & Spradling, until recently C.A. Macom became sole owner.

Councilmen A.M. Sander, Sherman Haupt and F.H. Schrader, with Fred Sander as chauffeur, motored to St. Louis Monday to meet C.F. Schnaare, superintendent of local power plant, who went up Sunday; men, acting as committee appointed by City Council, is looking over some new equipment for plant here; from St. Louis, it will motor to Farmington and Fredericktown to inspect power plants.

Leon Bowers of Oak Ridge was declared winner in competitive examination held at Jackson last week, in which six Cape Girardeau County boys tried for honor of representing rural schools of this county at State Fair in Sedalia this year; Bowers is son of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Bowers.

New temple of Excelsior Lodge, A.F. & A.M., was dedicated Thursday by Grand Master Joseph S. McIntyre during evening ceremony; banquet followed dedication; new building is at South High and First South Streets.

On June 23, Intermediate Sunday School Camp will be opened in picturesque surroundings of Ozarks of Cape Girardeau County, sometimes known as "River Hills," on banks of Indian Creek on old Oliver homestead; here boys and girls of county Sunday schools will enjoy outdoor life under supervision for several days; simple camp duties will alternate with hikes, hill-climbing, swimming, fishing and sun baths; but main object is fostering of the "get-together spirit"; registration fee is $1.50.

Lightning struck house belonging to William Renne on Second South Street during one of electric storms which passed over Jackson recently; considerable damage was done, but inmates escaped without injury; house is occupied by Mrs. C.C. Gladish and her two daughters; damage done consisted of holes in roof of house, destruction of light fixtures, tearing up of telephone, melting of lightning rods, and ripping up of concrete around cistern.