A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Nineteen-member committee appointed by former Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge J. Osler Statler to examine administration of justice in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties has recommended to County Court that it acquire land for construction of county law enforcement complex on Cape Girardeau-Jackson axis "in close proximity to Interstate 55."

Home of rural Cape Girardeau family was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon because Jackson Fire Department didn't respond to fire report; fire that leveled home of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Knaup off Highway 61 was cited by some rural residents as another example of need for rural fire protection district in county; city fire officials say they would have responded to report had county sheriff's office informed them of exact location of blaze.

Dr. Dale M. Blankenship announced Friday Cape County Medical Society has voted to support proposed public health unit for Cape Girardeau County.

Second house fire in rural Cape Girardeau County in 24-hour period has destroyed home of Carroll Walker, dean of students at Southeast Missouri State University, on Route 1 northwest of Cape Girardeau; fire in 1 1/2-year-old, two-story frame home began about 3 Friday afternoon in laundry area on main floor.

Reporter's question in County Court Monday of when court expects to decide on location for proposed county law enforcement complex sparked debate between associate judges Edwin W. Sander of Jackson and J. Ronald Fischer of Cape Girardeau; debate was over issues involved in court's forthcoming decision on controversial site.

Request for city refuse collection service outside Jackson city limits -- item not protected for closed discussion under Missouri's open meetings law -- was topic during closed session City Council following opening meeting Monday night.

Long-discussed Cape Girardeau County Public Health Unit went down to defeat for third time Tuesday; while it received majority of yes votes, it didn't get required two-thirds majority; supporters say issue will likely be on ballot a fourth time next year.

50 years ago: 1948

Flag on courthouse stood at half staff Friday and Saturday, honoring two soldiers, Pfc. Cletus M. Runnels and 2nd Lt. Richard O. Birk, whose bodies arrived here after being buried in cemetery in north Italy; Runnels' funeral was held Saturday and Birk's on Sunday.

Mrs. T.C. Doak of Osceola, Iowa, is here visiting indefinitely with relatives, including her sons, Cleman and Lloyd Engleman, at Oak Ridge; while here, Doak plans to sell her 97-acre farm north of Jackson.

City workers began job of decorating streets and whiteway of Jackson for Yuletide on Tuesday; strands of wiring to hold colored lights were brought from tower room of courthouse.

Only partial order has been restored by removal of Jackson Public Library into its new quarters; Bess Litzelfelner, librarian, is supervising replacement of all books into stacks.

Removal of wooden partitions at A.M. Sander Hardware Store is one of improvements made in business district during November; removal permits increased floor space and better interior lighting.

Myrlene Werner was crowned Jackson High School football queen Friday at semi-formal dance; she was escorted to her throne by Dave Gohn, and crowned with proper ceremony by Charles Bunting, captain of squad.

75 years ago: 1923

Mrs. Theresa C. Wallace and her daughter, Eula, were in Jackson this week visiting relatives; they came here from their home in Arkansas for short visit before leaving for Los Angeles, where they will make their home with C.D. Wallace, son of Mrs. Wallace, who is in business there; Arthur C. Wallace, another son, came down from his home in Farmington to bid them farewell; they all formerly lived on old W.F. Wallace homestead at Pocahontas station.

John Dickerson and family moved Friday from F.D. Hines property on Main Street to former Evangelical parsonage on same street.

O.D. Wilson has sold his interest in billiard and pool hall on South High Street to Hunter brothers.

As result of unfavorable report given by Board of Visitors, County Court has decided to conduct County Farm on different plan; no longer will superintendent be expected to run farm as well as almshouse; instead, new superintendent, Charles D. Randol, and his wife will be responsible only for the running of the almshouse; operation of farm will be in hands of County Court.

W.H. Seabaugh, whose right wrist was broken by backfiring automobile several months ago, had similar misfortune again Monday morning; wrist is badly injured, if not broken again.

Wilson Morton has moved from Fruitland to Oak Ridge and is working on new school building going up in that little city.

Emory Harris, whose store burned at Daisy some time ago, moved Tuesday to Oak Ridge into property he purchased from Gertrude Conrad; Conrad bought Frank Clippard property in south part of town; Harris will open new store at once.