A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

Fire in gas stove threatened to burn down home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Allen near Millersville Friday morning, but was put out by sheriff's department deputy before major damage was done.

With tolling of clock at midnight Sunday, terms of 11 Cape Girardeau County officials elected in November begin; out of 11, only three are new to county office, seven are officeholders who simply move into new term and one is former officeholder returning to his old job; new to office are Stanley A. Grimm, elected as circuit judge for Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties; George F. Rouse, elected coroner, and Bessie J. Ownbey, elected public administrator.

Total of $1,428,288 was paid to Cape Girardeau farmers this year in major farm programs; in addition, some $73,714 was paid in cost-share on conservation projects under Rural Environmental Assistance Program.

Completion of Interstate 55 is believed more responsible than anything else for drop of over 500 in new criminal cases being filed in Magistrate Court this year; court handles felony cases in preliminary stages, but bulk of its cases are misdemeanors and most of these are traffic charges; with opening of I-55, number of careless and imprudent driving charges has dropped to practically nothing.

Budget calling for expenditures of $3,707,079 in next 12 months has been approved by City Council; budget is essentially as proposed and lists anticipated receipts at $1,607,614; largest item of expense will be power plant expansion and extension of distribution lines.

50 years ago, 1947

Lilly Seabaugh, who sustained broken shoulder in fall two months ago, is improving, the member having been taken out of traction device; Seabaugh is employee at shoe factory and has been away from work during the entire period.

Fifteen Boy Scouts and members of troop committee plan to attend winter camp at Camp Lewallen on St. Francis River first part of new year; members of troop committee who will be present for weekend stay are Raymond Willer, Dr. D.L. Mowery, Dr. Vinyard Kies and Woodrow Godwin; scoutmaster is F.S. McClanahan.

The Rev. Joe H. Wagner of Salisbury is in town visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin H. Wagner.

Clark Electric Co., owned by W. Marvin Clark, has been awarded major electrical installation on several of industrial buildings being constructed in Jackson; company will have charge at Schaper supermarket; from Landgraf Construction Co., Clark has been awarded contract for materials and labor for frozen locker plant, the work to begin Jan. 2, and through Penzel Construction Co., Clark will wire medical arts building under construction by R.A. Fulenwider.

Recorder Arthur A. Schade issued 421 marriage licenses during past year; on record also during year were placed 4,025 chattel mortgages, several hundred deeds of trust, and more than 1,000 warranty and quit claim deeds.

Based on declared value in permits issued for construction, new buildings in Jackson during 1947 cost $375,135; this includes remodeling projects; number of buildings started late in 1946, including Lincoln (Negro) School costing $18,000, were completed this year, another of these projects being $27,000 addition to Jackson Hosiery Mill.

75 years ago, 1922

Fifty-five cases are docketed for trial at January term of circuit court, which convenes Jan. 2; 26 of these are criminal actions, two are divorce cases and remainder are civil suits; four murder cases are set for hearing at this term; there are 10 charges of larceny, six of felonious assault, two liquor charges, one forgery, two carrying concealed weapons and one of criminal negligence.

Colds, sore throats, influenza and grippe are widespread in Jackson; some are still quite sick, while others are still able to be out.

Irene Caldwell is spending holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Caldwell; she is teacher in Oran school.

Professor Ed Howard left Friday for his home in Clarendon, Ark., after spending few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Howard, and his sister, Mrs. Charles Jaeger; Howard is superintendent of schools at Clarendon.

George Grant and family will move from Al Rice farm, south of town, next week into house across from Presbyterian Church.

County court met in regular session New Year's Day and William A. Sander took his place as presiding judge; C.A. Vandivort, who had been presiding judge, moved to place occupied for three terms by G.J. Keller, associate judge of district No. 2, which embraces Cape Girardeau; Sander carried on business of court as though he had been member for a long time.