A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

covering week of April 27-May 3

25 years ago, 1972

Kenneth J. Unnerstall of Cape girardeau has been appointed chairman of Cape Girardeau County Welfare Commission by County Court; welfare commission acts in advisory capacity to Division of Welfare office in Jackson; serving with Unnerstall are Delos Sebaugh of Daisy, Clarence Schlimpert of Jackson and Dr. R.C. Holliday of Cape Girardeau.

In emergency situation last night, City Council approved $30,104 construction contract without competitive bidding, for initial work on electrical expansion project; Robert Schmidge of St. Louis, consulting engineer for plower plant expansion, appeared before council and recommended acceptance of emergency construction contract plus two major purchases without competitive bidding; Schmidt said in planning for building which will house two new generating units, it was discovered there are water mains that carry water for cooling present generators that will have to be moved; rather than tear these lines up and go to expense of making temporary connections to old cooling tower, Schmidt recommended council go ahead with construction of new cooking tower facility immediately; Jackson Excavating Co. was awarded contract.

Southeast Missouri Medical Center Inc. elected board members Tuesday night and reelected present officers; officers elected were president, Richard G. Davis; vice president, T. Ronald Hahs; treasurer, L.A. Nowak, and secretary, Lee G. Cochran.

50 years ago, 1947

Harold "Gus" Bollinger, shortstop from St. Louis Browns farm at Pine bluff, Ark., was in Jackson recently visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bollinger; he has been assigned to the Hannibal Pilots.

New ordinance enacted in lieu of previous ordinances by city council, on April 21, will increase salaries of city officials with issuance of checks this week; increased wages will be for police department, fire department, and street and sewer men; by provision of ordinance, city marshal will receive $150 plus $2 for each conviction in police court, increase of $40 per month; fire chief will receive $5 per call if booster equipment is used and, if necessary to connect hose to hydrant, $7.50; he will receive 50 cents per hour for all extra work and 75 cents per month for attendance at meetings.

Mrs. George Friedrich has started work as abstracter for Vandivort Abstracting Co., to fill vacancy left when Charles Fluegge resigned to accept position with a trucking firm; Mrs. Friedrich resided in Colorado until she married Friedrich in January.

Committee of First Baptist Church is working on financing $3,000 project; improvements at church would include education wing on south side of church.

One of largest sales of white oak timber on record took place in Cape Girardeau County during April; trees, of exceptionally good quality, brought in average of $70; landowner had 31 excellent oak trees to sell; average sized trees sell from $30 to $50; most all the timber will be cut into staves.

75 years ago, 1922

Professor August a. Koch, principal of Lutheran parochial schools, is confined to his home with fully-developed case of pneumonia; his condition is not considered serious or dangerous, however.

Federal Farm Loan Association of Jackson is becoming very active, and is gradually taking over some of choicest real estate loans in county; rate of interest is 6 percent, and principal and interest is being paid in semi-annual installments on same plan as a building and loan association.

Light of 1,000 candle power has been installed upon pinnacle of courthouse, and Friday night for first time it illuminated public square and center part of city for several blocks around

Annual meeting of Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau and attending picnic here was unqualified success in every way; not only was weather ideal and crowds great, the program good and dinner sumptuous and plentiful, but spirit of cooperation and good feeling manifested was unusual and encouraging; city of Jackson was indeed in hands of ruralist all day, and every business man strove to show his appreciation.

Tuesday was moving day at county farm, between Cape Girardeau and Jackson; guests of county moved household effects from ancient house to an improvised house which is to serve until new building is erected; workers immediately began task of tearing old brick building away; when new building is occupied, farm will be cleared of all the old buildings, except brick house just remodeled, which will be used for farm storage purposes.