LOOKING BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

City of Jackson is interested in trading its recently-acquired land abutting Washington and North High streets for Cape Girardeau County's property containing county jail; Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer and City Administrator Carl Talley appeared before court Thursday, informing judges that city would consider such trade on footage basis; county then could use newly-acquired land for construction of proposed county jail and sheriff's office.

More opposition to construction of new county jail on courthouse lawn was received Thursday by Count Court; letters of opposition were received from Jackson Community Betterment Association, Mrs. Laverne Lorenz of Gordonville and Mrs. Truman S. Miller of Millersville.

Police are crediting Jackson man with saving life of neighbor who was overcome by carbon monoxide while working on car in his garage Sunday; William Schaefer administered mouth to mouth resuscitation and treated victim, Junior B. Randol, for shock until ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.

Cape Girardeau county Circuit Judge Stanley A. Grimm said Monday he expects to rule "within a few weeks" on Cape Girardeau's motion to intervene in Jackson annexation suit; city of Jackson proposes to annex approximately 3,400 acres to its present 2,100 acres.

Joe T. Kurre Jr., former Jackson R-2 school board member, has been appointed to fill unexpired term of Gene E. Wills on that board; Wills resigned to become director of Cape County Savings Bank.

50 years ago: 1948

Mildred Esters, employed at Baer & Buchheit quarry near Old Appleton, escaped possible serious injury recently when charge of dynamite exploded near him, showering him with earth and rocks.

With estimated 4,800 persons in attendance, 14 bands of Southeast Missouri High School Band Association held their annual marching festival in Jackson high stadium Tuesday night; program was preceded by parade in business section at noon; special guest at festival was Karl L. King, noted composer and director, and now head of municipal band at Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Workers will complete outside of new house for Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Mowery, on Highway 25, this week; shortage of cement has delayed pouring concrete floor and installation of furnace; house is of sandstone, brought here from quarry at Waynesville, where it was hand quarried.

Featuring end runs and aerial attack which struck in every quarter of game, Cape Girardeau Central High Tigers downed Jackson High Indians 46-0 Friday night at Jackson; it was Big Eight Conference tilt; coach for Tigers is Bob Beard, and Indians are piloted by Wallace Hicks.

Receipts of auction sale at Methodist Church at Oak Ridge Saturday will be over $1,300, when all donations are totaled; members held harvest sale, with Jack Strickland acting as auctioneer, and funds raised will go toward construction of new church; present edifice will be torn down and as much lumber as possible will be salvaged for use in new church; pastor is the Rev. W.V. Gastian.

75 years ago: 1923

It has been found that no special election will be necessary to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Police Chief Robert Reed; state statutes provide that, when vacancy occurs within six months of general municipal election, mayor shall appoint some suitable person to take office until election.

Workers hadn't finished replacing roof on courthouse when rain set in, dumping 3.43 inches in five-day period; as consequence, auditorium of circuit court was flooded and rugs and carpets, as well as furniture, were ruined or damaged.

Out-fighting and out-playing their bulky opponents, Cape Girardeau Central High Tigers defeated Jackson High Indians 13-0 on muddy field at Fairground Park in Cape Girardeau Friday; Jackson, flushed with decisive victory over Sikeston week ago, presented big team that worked nicely, but Tigers had zip that wins football games.

John J. Turner, prominent ruralist of Apple Creek Township, was in Jackson few days ago and reported that large bridge over Byrds Creek on Jackson-Oak Ridge road is getting unsafe for travel; bridge, on Highway 9, is one of largest in county and has served for number of years; it rests on high piers and spans considerable space; if large truck or other heavy vehicle should crash through and drop to creek bed below, fearful disaster would be inevitable.

Tax Collector George H. Meyer has started on his annual tour of county, receiving taxes; he was at Dutchtown Monday, at Allenville Tuesday and at Whitewater Wednesday.

Luther Spradling is acting chief of police in absence of Robert Reed, who has resigned and gone to St. Louis to accept lucrative position with International Harvester Co.