A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1973

Louis A. Weiss of Cape Girardeau was killed in head-on crash of his car and another vehicle on North Kingshighway at Kurre Lane in Cape Girardeau on March 29; Weiss, 59 years old, was sixth-grade teacher at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson.

Dinner Saturday evening at Immaculate Conception School gymnasium for employees of Lenco Inc., and their families marked company's 25th anniversary; M.K. Prill, vice president, was master of ceremonies at dinner which fed 300 persons; Paul Leonard is president and one of founders of company, which began operations on April 1, 1948; Lenco now employs 150 workers.

Cape Girardeau County Court has picked 10 members for new county Planning and Zoning Commission, one from each of townships in county; Edwin W. Sander, county judge from 1st District, will serve as temporary chairman, and Otto M. Fluegge, county highway superintendent, is automatically member of commission; others appointed to board are Marvin Ludwig, Gene Nitsch, Earl James, Clyde Quade, Rudy Nussbaum, Daniel Stroder, Norman H. Weiss, Charles Engelhart, Jimmy Joe Below and Roy Robins.

Mayor Paul J. Leonard was defeated in his bid for re-election and first woman was elected to City Council by Jackson voters Tuesday; Leonard, who had filed for re-election just an hour before deadline March 23 and had carried on low-key campaign, was defeated by Councilman Carlton "Cotton" Meyer in two-way race for mayor; in Ward 2, where Meyer vacated his council seat, three-way race resulted in election of Daisy Long; in only other contested race, Larry Koenig defeated Robert Friedrich for Ward 4 seat.

50 years ago, 1948

Elmer Voges, 30 years old, fireman at Kasten Bros. Brick Co. plant, was fatally injured March 29 while at plant; his body, with clothing torn almost completely off, was found following morning by Walter A. Kasten, co-owner of company, when he went to plant for day's work; it is believed that Voges had been on top of giant kiln, which is 10 feet in height and 360 feet in length, to check on stokers which operate atop it, and in starting to descend ladder, in some manner fell across line shaft which runs parallel with kiln.

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jackson have sold their modern house with 1 1/2 acres, south of Oak Ridge, to Mr. and Mrs. Dean Marks of Jackson; in return, Jacksons have purchased Marks' property in West Jackson; country home was built by Mr. and Mrs. Matt Schuch.

Average tax levy in rural school districts will be increased this year from 56 on $100 valuation to approximately 70 cents, says County Supt. Edwin W. Sander; each district under new school law is required to submit budget before it is eligible for state aid and survey of proposed budgets showed general tax increases asked by various school boards; of 76 rural districts in county, 59 are operating schools, while 17 transport children to city schools or adjoining rural school districts; in county there are approximately 1,800 pupils, including 40 Negro children.

Clark Electric Co. has negotiated contract with International Brotherhood Electrical Workers affiliated with A.F. of L.; contract was signed Thursday night; this is only electrical shop working under union plan in Jackson; proprietor is Marvin Clark.

75 years ago, 1923

Virginia Wessell was crowned "queen" of Jackson High School Thursday morning in interesting ceremony; her "best man" was Lloyd Harris.

S.F. Rodgers has moved his household goods to home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brennecke; he will begin next week to tear down his home and rebuild on same site.

Peculiar fact has been uncovered; some statistician has figured out that only two of city's officers are "native sons"; they are H.A. Parr, city clerk, and J.R. Hoffman, alderman of fourth ward; each and every one of other aldermen, mayor, marshal-collector and city treasurer was born outside of Jackson, and most are farm-bred.

Insurance claims totalling nearly $20,000 have been allowed for damages resulting from tornado which swept Jackson March 11; claims have been approved in large measure and damaged buildings are being repaired.

Members of Baptist Church, in congregational meeting Sunday at courthouse, made definite plans to replace their church edifice which was wrecked by cyclone March 11 with new structure on same lot where ruins now stand; new building will be 40 by 70 feet with full basement and auditorium same size as building, and Doric portico with colonnade facing street; there will be no tower or steeple, and this will be first church in city to conform with new idea that church bell is useless and superfluous.

James R. Bowman was elected mayor of Jackson Tuesday, defeating his only opponent, Sam Vandivort, the incumbent, by small majority; Robert Reed was elected marshal-collector defeating Henry A. Voges in campaign in which Reed's friends worked faithfully for his election.