A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Democratic hopeful for clerk of Common Pleas Court at Cape Girardeau, James J. Below, had highest campaign costs of any candidate for county office in Aug. 6 primary elections; candidate affidavits filed in office of County Clerk Rusby C. Crites show Below spent $1,131.84 for primary, compared to expenditure of $291.33 by incumbent Lillian E. Stehr, Republican.

County Court met Thursday afternoon with George F. Rouse, operator of Cape County Private Ambulance Service Inc., to begin negotiations for new contract that would provide continued ambulance service in county.

Mayor Carlton Meyer extended greetings to Immaculate Conception Church at parish's centennial banquet and ball Saturday night; Melvin Lichtenegger, president of Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and Thurston Taggart, vice president, followed mayor in congratulating parish on 100 years of existence; responding to greetings were Milford Kirn, president of parish, the Rev. A.L. Stevens, church pastor, and the Rev. Bernard Law, bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese.

Petition for writ of prohibition which would halt construction of new county jail on controversial County Farm site in Cape Girardeau has been filed with Missouri Supreme Court by Jackson City Attorney Kenneth L. Waldron; Waldron said petition was filed because no bond issue has been approved by voters of county to provide funds for jail's construction and county doesn't have funds on hand to construct new complex; pending ruling on writ, there will be no work done at farm site.

Request by Cape Girardeau County Council of University of Missouri Extension Division for additional funds to meet office rent prompted County Court inquiry about possibility of reduction in division's office staff; associate Judge J.Ronald Fischer raised question after two members of council requested that court appropriate additional $211 for each of last three months of this year to meet rent division pays for basement of Jackson Post Office; court agreed to pick up cost of rent, but hinted that it may not increase council's 1975 budget.

50 years ago: 1949

Earl Savers, 40, mechanic for Young Motor Co., sustained painful injuries Monday afternoon when automobile he was working on slipped off jack and fell on him; he suffered bruised hip, head and shoulder injuries; none is thought to be serious.

Balance in city treasury at Monday night's council meeting was reported as $11,125.63; receipts for month were $16,869 and disbursements, $10,479.67; in other action City Council gave permission to high school for use of street between Main Street and First South Street, on South High Street, on Oct. 18 for band festival.

Dozens of chickens have been killed past week on Ben Schreiner farm near Old Appleton, evidently by animals; Schreiner reported that dead chickens were scattered over quarter-mile area.

Concrete basement at New Bethel Baptist Church, five miles west of Neelys Landing, has been poured, and workers are ready to start constructing annex to rear of church building.

City workers have investigated damages of water to deep culvert on North High Street and have declared that culvert is being undermined and is traffic hazard; on Highway 25 near Cape County Implement Co., it has been pointed out that loaded truck or bus hitting weak spot at fast speed might result in disaster; there will be further investigation.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Sperling have purchased Mrs. D.C. Hope's house near high school; they expect to move there presently, and their former home will be occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Howard.

75 years ago: 1924

The Rev. H.B. Colter, pastor of Baptist church, will tender his resignation next Sunday to accept call of district superintendent of Cape Girardeau Baptist Association.

Republican headquarters opened Saturday in rooms over Cape County Savings Bank; Mrs. Lillian Milde is in charge of office and will make visitors welcome at all times.

Fifty cents in change and small quantity of tobacco, cigarettes, revolver and two bags of flour were stolen by thieves who late Friday night broke into general store operated by E.G. Wellman at Pocahontas station, north of Jackson; no trace of robbers has been found.

This week is known as County Welfare Week, and special efforts are being made to get together the wherewithal with which to relieve suffering of destitute in this county this winter, with particular attention to those children within county who have not sufficient clothing to attend school; among more than 8,000 children of school age in county, very small percentage are suffering from want of clothing and are undernourished.

New bridge on Highway 9 was opened last Sunday and stream of visitors passed over it all day; this road to Fredericktown is very popular with Jackson folks, as it is beautiful road all way through.

At regular monthly meeting of City Council Monday night, nothing but routine business was transacted; sewer ordinance, providing for sewer system in block southwest of public square, wasn't yet ready to be acted upon; council now awaits call of mayor to pass on the ordinance at special meeting.

Shoe factory is closed down for indefinite period because of breaking of an engine.