A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

On Monday, Judge Marshall Craig ruled that County Court can build proposed county law enforcement complex on County Farm in Cape Girardeau; Craig, in his ruling, indicated that County Court has authority under law to decide upon site for county jail and isn't restricted in its decision to site within city of Jackson, which is county seat.

City of Jackson has decided it will appeal Circuit Judge Marshall Craig's ruling Monday that proposed county jail may be built on County Farm in Cape Girardeau; council, meeting in closed session Monday night, accepted recommendation of City Attorney Kenneth L. Waldron to appeal decision to Missouri Supreme Court.

With talk of building county jail in Cape Girardeau common, question of returning county seat of justice back to that city from Jackson has once again surfaced; question has long been underlying issue any time controversial law complex location was discussed among residents here and in out-county, who are opposed to its construction in Cape Girardeau.

Little business was conducted during open part of Jackson City Council meeting; prior to going into closed session, council passes resolution providing agreement between city and Algier, Martin and Associates for engineering services for waste water improvements.

Cape Girardeau county native, John P. Lichtenegger, is directing campaign of State Auditor John D. Ashcroft for his full four-year term; Lichtenegger, 26, is attorney in Jefferson City.

Jackson Ready Mix Co. president, Clarence Lee Shirrell, spoke Tuesday morning when Jackson Chamber of Commerce dedicated its new building at intersection of Highways 61, 72 and 25; he presented chamber President Melvin Lichtenegger with symbolic key to building that can be used as long as chamber needs the facility.

City of Jackson will be "Bicentennial City" in American Bicentennial celebration of 1976; word of acceptance was received Monday from 10th District Rep. Bill D. Burlison, D-Cape Girardeau.

50 years ago: 1949

There were 205 boys and girls graduated from Cape Girardeau County rural schools Saturday in commencement exercises at grade school; Professor O.M. Skalbeck of State College was speaker; County Supt. Edwin Sander gave two awards, both for perfect attendance, to Dorothy Fluegge of Tilsit and to Billy Bowers of Burfordville.

In effort to rid Cape Girardeau County of Army worm infestation which is damaging crops, County Agent A.D. Arnhart has made arrangements through Consolidated School of Aviation to have crop-dusting plane available; plane was flown here Monday morning from St. Louis, and John T. Seesing, field manager at Municipal Airport, has gone to St. Louis to obtain necessary chemicals.

Eighty-seven high school seniors are planning to make annual pilgrimage out of class of 90 members; approximately 92 persons, including adults, will make trip, leaving Jackson morning of May 30 and returning June 3; schedule will be same as last year, to cities in South, school buses taking them first lap to Memphis, Tenn.

Farmer visiting in Jackson Monday complained of number of fox hunters operating in county; in some cases, he said, 20 to 30 dogs are unleashed for hunt, which sometimes lasts all night.

Mrs. Hinkle W. Wilson purchased interest of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Martin in Begley's gift and florist shop Monday; she will be co-partner with her son-in-law and daughter, Mrs. and Mrs. Ray A. Begley Jr.

Annual baccalaureate service of Jackson High was held Monday evening, with the Rev. L.A. Green Jr., pastor of First Baptist Church, delivering address.

Striking 20 minutes before storm at Cape Girardeau, tornado at Oak Ridge late Saturday demolished Tom Miller dwelling at south edge of town, damaged two-story dwelling of Mrs. Addie Crites and wrecked Guth brothers garage on Highway 25 near Hanks' Place; injured were Mr. and Mrs. Tom Miller, who were treated at Cape Girardeau hospital, then dismissed; also hit and damaged was dwelling of Clyde Martin.

75 years ago: 1924

Graduation exercises of school were held Thursday and Friday nights and were very interesting; audience both nights was very large; the Rev. T. Lehman, pastor of Evangelical Church, made address to class, which was appreciated by all; Helen Penzel was valedictorian for eighth grade; Rush H. Limbaugh's speech held his audience spellbound.

Seven aspirants for appointment to office of postmaster at Pocahontas will soon take civil service examination at local post office; term of D.C. Thompson, present postmaster, will expire shortly.

Tom Taylor was agreeably surprised few days ago when his son, Ernest, who drives cab in McClure, Ill., came to visit him; about 26 years ago, Tom Taylor became separated from his family and lost track of his three sons; Ernest, upon his visit here, told of existence of another of his brothers in Jonesboro, Ill., and father, accompanied by two of his sons who live in Jackson and by Ernest, his new-found son, and by James Taylor, his brother and son of James, motored to Jonesboro; there they found other son, Bert, married and father of three children; that was first time Tom Taylor knew he was grandfather.

Agitation has been started to provide for fitting celebration in Jackson of Memorial Day next week; civic and commercial, as well as religious organizations, are to be appealed to to join in making day what its name implies; Sons of Veterans and American Legion are to take lead in organizing observance.

F.A. Obermiller, native of Jackson but now resident of Tulsa, Okla., is here visiting relatives; he is recovering from injuries received several weeks ago when car struck him and ran over him.