A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1974

Transcript of Nov. 7 public hearing in Jackson on proposed relocation of Highway 72 around Jackson is nearing completion and is expected to be submitted to Missouri Highway Department headquarters at Jefferson City in about two weeks; upon receipt of transcript, it will be reviewed by department officials at state headquarters before being sent to state Highway Commission for its approval; unlike March 1972 hearing on proposal, little opposition was expressed at Nov. 7 hearing; there was so much opposition to relocation at first hearing that commission rejected plan.

Steven E. Stovall, son of Earl W. Stovall Jr. and Mrs. LaFern Stovall, both of Jackson, was recently awarded four-year scholarship from Navy ROTC Unit, University of Missouri, Columbia; he is freshman at university majoring in forestry and is active in ROTC band and rifle team; Stovall plans to join Marine Corps detachment of unit as soon as possible in order to receive commission as second lieutenant in corps upon graduation.

Ordinance establishing cable television franchise to Jackson Cable TV Inc., was adopted Monday night by City Council; 15-year franchise, which has been under negotiations for several weeks, is subject to approval of Federal Communications Commission; franchise provides that firm may charge rate of $6.75 monthly for one customer outlet and $1 for each additional outlet; it also provides for installation charge of $10 for first outlet and $5 for each additional one.

Warrants authorizing transfer of $67,202.65 in 1974 tax collections to county's two special road districts were issued Monday by County Court; Cape Special Road District will receive total of $54,984.81 and Byrd Special Road District will receive $12,217.84; money represents portion of 1974 tax revenue that goes to special road districts.

50 years ago, 1949

Plans have been made by local Optimists as soon as Christmas season is over to begin rehearsal for minstrel show to be staged Feb. 3 in school auditorium; talent within club will be used.

Shelled black walnuts have been selling for $1 per quart to Jackson housewives for Christmas baking; one person has had unusually good return from nuts from one tree and wishes there were more about the place; so far she has picked and sold 30 quarts, and in bin at home there will be enough for five or six more quarts.

Two fair-sized crowds, one afternoon and other evening, were present Sunday for Jackson Choral Club and combined church choirs of Jackson, for presentation of "The Messiah," George Frederick Handel's oratorio; Leroy F. Mason directed and Mrs. G.M. LaPierre was organist.

Number of persons from Bethel Baptist Church community, east of Pocahontas, were at First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon, where candidates by faith were baptized by the Rev. A.J. Langston, who recently concluded revival services at Bethel church; having no baptistry in Bethel church, local facilities were used.

For educational program among school children by State Highway Patrol, troopers have been paying visits to number of county rural schools; each trooper is given time on day's program to explain purpose of Highway Patrol; number of safety signs are being placed at dangerous road crossings and bus stops in county, as safety measures for children boarding and leaving buses.

City Council has voted to give special reduction of 10 percent to all consumers of water and light, for one month; meter readings subject to decrease will be from Dec. 14 and 17 to Jan. 14 and 17.

One-hundred and forty-four punchboards were removed from upper floor of courthouse by Sheriff Alvin F. Klaus and Deputy Otto Sperling; boards were confiscated several months ago and had been stored in prosecuting attorney's office; that space has now been made into vault for Magistrate Court, heavy steel vault door being hung and section of windows opening into hallway removed; punchboards are now stored at jail.

75 years ago, 1924

Those radio fans who sat up until midnight Thursday, and then tuned in on WOC, were rewarded by hearing splendid concert at Davenport, Iowa, by Carl Evans Orchestra; among musicians in that aggregation is Lee Morris Hoffmeister, violinist and son of Mrs. Ida Hoffmeister of Jackson.

Thermometer dropped to 11 degrees above zero Thursday night; rain in early part of evening turned into frozen precipitation, and ground is covered with sheet of ice which is being covered with snow.

Berry W. Redfearn of Chicago, who has been associated with L.A. Goodwin of Jackson in real estate transactions in and near Delta, has laid out in town lots about six acres near that village; he has prepared plat and filed it in recorder's office; new addition will be known as Redfearn Addition to Delta.

Machinery at power plant, which had been broken down for several days, was put in working order again Monday; during period of darkness, many Jackson residents for first time realized that they couldn't get along without electric lights at all.

Plans are being made now for biggest rural basketball tournament ever held in Cape Girardeau County to be staged next December, following success of last week's tournament which was won by Whitewater; tourney was held at Jackson High gymnasium and closed Saturday night; in winning cup, Whitewater five was forced to go to limit to beat Gordonville, managing to nose out runners-up by one point, 21-20; in girls' division, Delta won championship, trimming Fruitland team 16-7.

Several inches of snow covered ground Wednesday, making this a white Christmas, and adding materially to happiness of youngsters.