Out of the past 2/9/12

25 years ago: Feb. 9, 1987

Construction is underway at the site of a new extended care facility at North Main Street and Park Drive; the 16-bed center, which will treat alcohol and drug addiction, will open by the end of April or start of May.

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Commission decides to place a quarter-cent capital improvement sales tax on the April 7 ballot; it would help fund the operation of the county landfill while county officials explore more long-term waste-disposal options.

50 years ago: Feb. 9, 1962

Sheriff John C. Crites is investigating the beating of a contractor at the site of construction of Highway 177 on the west side of Trail of Tears State Park; Gordon H. Parsons, 41, the contractor, blames the beating on labor differences.

Robert Peetz, 23, of Jackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Peetz, is hospitalized with cuts and bruises after being attacked at his farm home by a 6-year-old bull; the family will sell Jester the bull because of the incident.

75 years ago: Feb. 9, 1937

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The investigation of the Jan. 30 barge disaster, in which at least 24 levee workers lost their lives near here in the Mississippi River spillway, has been completed; a coroner's jury called to investigate the tragedy didn't fix blame for the deaths on any particular person but declared that inefficiency of the government's levee organization and negligence on the part of the workers for their own safety caused the deaths.

Foundation work has been started and concrete will be poured within the next few days for the building of a 70-foot ramp and a brick building on the west end of the present building of the Rueseler Motor Co., 221 N. Fountain St.; the building will be used as a wash rack and tool room.

100 years ago: Feb. 9, 1912

The Supreme Court at Jefferson City, Mo., issues a preliminary writ of prohibition that stops Judge Shepherd from taking any further action in drainage matters relating to the Little River Drainage District until the final jurisdiction of the circuit court is determined by the high court.

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County is to have a new courthouse; the building will cost $80,000 and will be built by the McCarthy Lumber and Construction Co. of Farmington, Mo.; architect H.H. Hohenschild of St. Louis drew the plans.

-- Sharon K. Sanders