100 years ago Oct. 19, 1923
• Federal narcotics agents visited Poplar Bluff today and arrested three doctors — Drs. Ira Seybold, C.W. Williams and W.S. Bailey — and two other pharmacy employees for alleged violations of the Harrison Narcotic Act. The five allegedly sold narcotics to drug addicts, while Williamson allegedly failed to keep records of narcotics prescriptions.
The evidence in the case was obtained by an undercover federal operative.
• In a front-page editorial related to the case, the Interstate American supported those arrested, saying “technically some of them may be guilty, but none of them are criminal in purpose.” The editorial went on to say when professional men give (not sell) opiates to the very poor and sell to those “going through the torture of the damned” when able to pay, they are not criminal in nature.
75 years ago Oct. 19, 1948
• After discussion at last night’s meeting (Oct. 18), the Poplar Bluff City Council plans to seek input from city residents about installing parking meters as a method to obtain additional revenue.
It was pointed out previous attempts to install parking meters in Poplar Bluff had met with wholesale protests from merchants and professionals, who thought the meters would lead people to not shop in Poplar Bluff.
The council also formally accepted the resignation of Mayor Clyde Richardson.
• The census report today shows 4,673 bales of cotton were ginned in Butler County from the crop of 1948 prior to Oct. 7, a decrease of roughly 6.5%. Last year, 4,998 bales were ginned by that date.
50 years ago Oct. 19, 1973
• A policy change to adjust student graduation requirements and preliminary proposals for the purchase of new high school band uniforms were on the docket when the Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education met last night (Oct. 18).
Poplar Bluff High School principal Tom Hoover recommended to the board that students be required to earn 19 credits — as opposed to the current 17 — in order to graduate under the early release program. Hoover requested the change because the state Department of Education has increased the amount of credits needed to graduate.
Representatives of two band uniform suppliers were introduced by PBHS band director Bil Salyer. They explained features of current marching band uniform styling and agreed to furnish samples made to school district specifications.
• Paul Eugene Ballard, 26, of Ellsinore was injured Thursday evening when a tractor-trailer loaded with pallets overturned on Highway A about two miles east of Williamsville.
Ballard said he lost control of the vehicle when the load shifted as he rounded a curve. He was taken to Lucy Lee Hospital with possible shoulder, neck and hip injuries.