A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Elmer Reisenbichler of Shawnee Township has been elected to replace Robert Nitsch on Cape Girardeau County Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service Committee; three-year term of Nitsch expires Jan. 1; he was chairman of committee.

Proposed $8,500 budget for County Planning and Zoning Commission and overspending of budgeted amounts for food and supplies by sheriff's department were discussed by County Court Thursday; Planning and Zoning Commission's proposed budget includes $7,200 toward cost of master plan for county.

Soil tests that are to be made on two potential sites of proposed County Law Enforcement Complex will delay decision on controversial question of site selection until near the end of the year.

Sheriff Ivan E. McLain said Friday cost of feeding prisoners in county jail is considerably lower than in other county jails in state when computed on annual average cost per day per prisoner; he also said he requested that County Court authorize hiring of professional cook, preferably a woman, who would know the kinds of food items that would suffice at lowest cost, but court hasn't done so; McLain rebutted objects raised by court Thursday to high cost of feeding prisoners during November.

Fifth rural Cape Girardeau County fire within past two weeks destroyed home of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe McLain off Highway 177 east of Leemon Sunday night, leaving couple and their two children without clothing or furniture; county has been without rural fire protection for nearly a year.

County Park Board request to erect signs regulating traffic in Klaus Park and establishing closing of park one hour after sundown was granted Monday by County Court; Edward L. Downs, member of park board, said signs closing south entry road to park between Cape Girardeau and Jackson are necessary because of problems encountered when sheriff's officers investigate frequent beer drinking parties; by closing lower road, there will be only one road by which young people can leave park.

City Council Monday granted requests by Jackson Retail Merchants Association to leave city sanitary landfill open until 3 in afternoon and to allow meters on parking lots to be covered through Christmas.

50 years ago: 1948

Attractive holiday lights were turned on for first time Saturday night, including street decorations and window displays; Chamber of Commerce planned the decorating and has arranged for first visit of Santa Claus Wednesday; art students of high school arranged scenery for courthouse lawn and shop windows; music from tower bells of McKendree Methodist Church played Christmas carols and will continue to sound twice each day until Christmas.

Margaret LaPierre has been named president of Pow-wowers, Jackson High School pep squad; Martha Priest is secretary-treasurer; as additional feature at basketball games, Pow-wowers will perform maneuvers on gymnasium floor.

W.P. Caruthers, county treasurer, is in receipt of payment of $24,142.40, "special" appropriation to be distributed to school districts in county on basis of number of teaching units; based on number of teachers, the town schools will receive $16,052.80; Cape Girardeau, $10,491.20; Jackson, $2,654.40; Delta, 1,264; Oak Ridge, $379.20; Fruitland and Randles each $379.20; Millersville, $252.80; Old Appleton, $126.40, and Burfordville, $126.40.

Thursday was largest day in history of Jackson Light & Power Plant, according to George McClard, chief engineer; plant has been in operation 40 years; Thursday plant generated 20,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, using 1,420 gallons of fuel oil; usual day's operation of all city units and residential use is between 15,000 and 16,000 kilowatts.

Television experts from St. Louis will be in Jackson in few days testing this area for possibilities in television; men are working between Memphis and St. Louis; they will set up their equipment at C.H. Sander Sales store, where units may be viewed by interested persons; there are two television sets now in Jackson, owned by E.C. Raines and Mrs. Roy E. Goodwin.

75 years ago: 1923

Pete Felhauer, who has been on Missouri-Pacific Railroad, Belmont branch, for several years with Jackson as his home, has been transferred to Poplar Bluff, with Doniphan as terminus of his run.

Mr. and Mrs. William Huskey, who have been staying with their daughter, Mrs. Eakins, for past three months, have returned to Cape Girardeau to home of their son, Louis, for a while; Mr. Huskey is past 100 years of age and his wife is in her 80s.

J.P. Sachse came from Appleton last Saturday and purchased one of J.W. Green's fine hogs.

Mr. and Mrs. Earle Williams of Oklahoma, Manning Williams of Baltimore, Md., Miller Williams of Ann Arbor, Mich., will all spend Christmas with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.D. Williams, south of town.

Twenty inmates of Cape Girardeau County Farm moved into their new quarters in new $40,000 county almshouse on Cape Girardeau-Jackson road Tuesday, nearly a year after building was completed; moving was unaccompanied by any kind of ceremony; each of 20 inmates was given change of clothing and bath before being allowed to take his place in new structure; all are to eat together, with exception of Negroes, who will have separate table; all will share same food.

Installation of newly-elected officers of Order of Eastern Star took place Monday night, with Mrs. Rosena Neal, District Deputy Grand Matron of 49th District, as installing officer; new officers include Worthy Matron, Annie Cobble; Worthy Patron, John Sachse; Associate Matron, Lulu Brenneke; chaplain, Freda Ruff; secretary, Althea Puls; treasurer, Rose Sachse.