JACKSON CLOSES CENTURY, MILLENNIUM WITH BIG YEAR

Pocahantas Lumber celebrated its 50th anniversary in April.

Jackson Noon Optimist Club earned national honors for its youth work. Here J. Wayne Smith, past president of Optimist Internaitonal, presented the award to Bev Nelson in April.

The grand opening of Jackson's Wal-Mart Supercenter in April was a highlight of 1999.

Dr. Howard Jones and Dan Norman were among the R-2 retirees in May.

Storm damage May 16 left trees down all over town.

"Spring Fling" was fun for merchants, shoppers.

Two JHS graduating seniors checked their caps May 29.

The Rev. Walter Keisker and Jim Nelson were honored at the annual Chamber Installation Banquet in June.

Dr. Ron Anderson, incoming superintendent of schools, met teachers and other friends of the R-2 School District when he visited town at the end of June.

Some 90 JHS students met to pray during the world-wide See You at the Pole Sept. 15.

Oak Ridge Marching Band members strutted their stuff at the 55th annual Jackson Marching Band Festival in October.

Tory Meyr and Lucie Lambert were crowned king and queen of the 1999 JHS Homecoming.

Santa's arrival marked the beginning of the 1999 Christmas season at the Girls Scouts' Festival of Lights.

Jackson closed out the decade, the century and the millennium (at least by the government's definition) with one of its biggest years ever.

Housing and commercial construction continued to explode and a number of changes were taking place within the business community, local government and local schools.

Spring

The early months of 1999 were marked by a flurry of construction. A $3.25 million Wal-Mart Super Center, $2 million St. Paul Lutheran multi-purpose room and a $496,000 Mercantile Bank branch were under construction. The city appeared likely to break records for housing units constructed, as well.

Wal-Mart finally opened its doors April 21. Rick Boyd, who had arrived at the former Jackson Wal-Mart a few months earlier, became the first manager of the new store.

Buccheit, a family-owned Southeast Missouri business spanning back into the Depression, also prepared to open a Jackson location. Meanwhile, Jerry Day took over as new Co-op manager and Les Crump brought 37 years experience as Scott City fire chief to the Jackson Fire Rescue Unit. He became an assistant chief under Brad Golden.

Area youth were busy with Jackson First Baptist's massive Disciple Now weekend, Feb. 19-21, while area churches put on lavish and not-so-lavish Easter productions.

March saw a surprise mini-blizzard strike. Nine inches of snow blanketed the area March 14. That month JHS students brought Shakespeare to the local stage, putting on a strong performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Also in March, Jackson resident Mary Brennac Peters discovered she had a long-lost sister and was reunited. The Cook twins, Sherry and Shauna, meanwhile closed out their organized basketball careers at Southeast Missouri State University seniors. The pair, daughters of JHS girls basketball coach Ron Cook, helped the Lady Indians have some of their best seasons and also saw the Otahkian program make great strides.

April elections saw Paul Sander re-elected to his fourth term as mayor of Jackson. Incumbent aldermen David Hitt, Valerie Tuschoff and Kerry Hoffman were also re-elected.

Pocahantas Lumber celebrated its 50th year in business in April -- although the roots of the business actually date back to 1889 in Pocahantas, Mo. Later in April, JHS alumnae Kia Kamp was named head women's basketball coach at Mineral Area College in Park Hills and current JHS student Jeni Zinner was selected to be a United States Senate page for Christopher s. "Kit" Bond and John Ashcroft.

Merchants "Spring Fling" in May, included a barbecue contest. A "Day in May" biathlon was held in conjunction. Brenda Crain, Ellen Lukens and Cathy Boyd, meanwhile, were named Jackson Chamber of Commerce's Educators of the Year. JHS students elected a new slate of Student Council officers for 1999-2000, including Zinner as president and Kerrie Gordon as vice president. Ground was also broken for a new Cape Girardeau County Justice Center.

May also saw JHS student Josh Pfefferkorn elected state president of the Future Business Leaders of America organization. The district lost four long-time educators, to retirement. Elementary teachers Shirley Reimann and Jane Boren and administrators Don Norman and Dr. Howard Jones all retired at the end of the school year. Emily O'Loughlin and Cory Daniel, meanwhile, were crowned 1999 JHS prom king and queen. JHS band students, meanwhile, brought home a whopping 10 1" ratings from state competition.

Wal-Mart honored veteran educator Helenmarie Koenig of St. Paul Lutheran School as "Teacher of the Year." Koenig was wrapping up her 51st year as a teacher. At the same time, dr. Ron Anderson, Jones' successor as superintendent of R-2 schools, was making his firs official visit to Jackson. Talk also began emerging of the need for a Lutheran high school.

In mid-May the community was swept by winds close to 90 miles per hour. Numerous trees were mauled and power knocked out May 17. With power knocked out, the Jackson Board of Aldermen met in a park gazebo. This was one day after the community lost one of its most beloved senior leaders. Alice Faye Thompson a highly-respected community leader, died May 16 at age 72.

At Oak Ridge High School, co-valedictorians Sarah Wilke and Dawnelle Meyr and salutatorian Jan McLane led a graduating class of 25 seniors. Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, then executive vice president of Southeast Missouri State University (now president) gave the commencement address.

Dozens of Christian music acts turned out for the Heartland Homecoming Talent Search at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland in late May.

JHS saw 330 graduates turn their tassels May 29. Long-time JHS faculty members Karen Kight and Jean Schweain gave a dual commencement speech. Valedictorian was Chrissi Glastetter. Jennifer Horst earned salutatorian honors.

Summer

In June the Jackson Web marked its two-year anniversary of being on-line. Now maintained by Lisa Smith of FAQulty and Staff, the web site was seeing more and more use by locals and others.

The Jackson Chamber held its annual installation banquet in late June and also honored the Rev. Walter Keisker. Keisker, who later turned 100, highlighted d the evening with a number of remarks. James s R. Nelson, long-time Jackson High School principal, was named winner of the R.A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award.

Concern began to spread during the summer that the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway might be forced to fold. A number of individuals and groups rallied to support the steam train operation. A small film crew came to Jackson at the beginning of August and filmed a segment of a documentary on the life of author William Faulkner aboard the train. The railway opted to pursue non-profit status.

The Rev. John Rice meanwhile took over pastorship of New McKendree Untied Methodist Church. The Rev. Scott Lohsee left the post to take a St. Louis position.

Jackson celebrated it 91st Homecomers bash Aug. 17-19. The annual event enjoyed good attendance, even though the Miss Homecomers Pageant was called off due to a lack of contestants.

Fall

Area schools prepared to reopen their doors as August continued. The venerable JHS auditorium finished a summer refurbishing that welcomed students back in style. A police resource officer and heated controversy over a student prank-gone-wrong the previous spring also marked the beginning of the school year.

Oak Ridge High School, meanwhile, was marking its 125th year, with several new faces. Among them was Bill Bacchus, a retire Charleston administrator, who replaced Shirlie Wright as high school principal. Wright accepted a position in the Ste Genevieve School District.

The Jackson Noon Optimist Club received more honors in August for its Safety City. This time the bicycle safety program was named best Optimist program in the nation. Also winning big was Kelly Shields, an incoming JHS senior, who was crowned Miss Missouri Teen.

Nearly 90 JHS students gathered around the flag pole Sept. 15 as part of the international See You at the Pole event. The Jackson Fire Rescue Unit, meanwhile, began working toward obtaining a thermal imaging camera -- for use in heavy smoke and night rescue situations. Donations from area organizations and businesses began coming in.

Both of the local Optimist organizations installed 1999-2000 officers in September. Tom McNeely, East Missouri Governor, swore in President Chris McReynolds of the Noon Optimist Club and Dick Decker, president of the Jackson Optimist Club.

In September, as controversy over the aforementioned student "prank" controversy led to more than 400 concerned citizens attending an R-2 School Board meeting, 12 JHS student leaders met with the USA Signal to air their own views. The students urged area adults not to judge local teens unfairly and stressed that they still have fun at school. Involvement in school activities was one key they pointed to, for feeling a part of one's campus.

Debate continued over ways to aid downtown parking and traffic flow problems. A detailed plan calling for one-way streets in the downtown area was the topic of much discussion. September needed with a big turnout at the nearby East Perry County Fair.

The 55th annual Jackson Marching Band Festival saw more than 1,200 marching band members from more than 20 high schools participate in sparkling clear weather in early October. The month also saw Jackson Middle Schools students begin a SHARE program at Jackson Manor. Seventh grade life-skills students visit the center every other Tuesday.

Phase One of the Main Street Extension Project was also completed in October, opening min street from Shawnee Blvd. to Oak Hill Road. Shortly thereafter, Jackson High School celebrated it s1999 Homecoming Senior Tory Meyr was crowned king, while foreign exchange student Lucie Lambert of Lyon, France, was crowned queen.

The Jackson Rotary Club was applauded by District 660 Governor Tom Gooch in mid-October when Gooch addressed the club's weekly noon meeting.

JHS students put on student-directed one-act plays Nov. 9-10, in eh first production the newly-refurbished auditorium. The annual Altenburg Home Tour was held Nov. 13, with a number of historic and newer homes open to the public. The Jackson Swim Team later sponsored a Christmas Home Tour of its own. Nov. 13 also saw Sikeston's Merideth McDowell named Miss Jackson. Local contestant Chrissie Icaza was second runner-up.

The fall sports season was a spectacular one for Jackson. The football Indians went 9-2 and returned to the state playoffs. The softball and volleyball lady Indians both just missed Final Four berths, while the soccer Indians and cross country runners enjoyed strong seasons.

Winter

The annual Girl Scouts' Festival of Lights was held in early December, kicking off the Christmas season in Jackson. The annual Jackson Christmas Parade Dec. 4 also put locals and visitors in the holiday spirit.

Meanwhile, Amy Evans, executive secretary of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, left for an American Cancer Society job. Linda Wilson, a long-time Jackson resident, assumed the job's duties in early December.

Later in December, Jim Maevers was honored with the Sam Walton Small Businessman of the Year Award. Maevers is part owner of Maevers Foods, Inc. and Super Video, as well as a manager for Maevers Management Co., Inc.

A number of JHS choir and band students earned all-state honors and work began in preparing to launch a Jackson youth tackle football league for 2000. The annual toy and food drive were highly successful again, as well. The holiday season was capped off by the annual Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste, put on by the JHS Choral Department, Dec. 9-11.

The year 1999 was a big one for Jackson. It seems to have been an appropriate way to close out a huge century and decade (not to mention millennium) of change in Jackson.