Two families narrowly escape death when a gas furnace explodes, igniting their house in 1974. Also on this date, finances dominate school board meetings as the Poplar Bluff district seeks a balance between thrift and provision.
100 year ago
April 12, 1924
• Poplar Bluff Police Department records show officers collected $2,536 in fines during the last 11 months. The highest-fining month was February 1924, with $339.
75 years ago
April 12, 1949
• The Poplar Bluff Board of Education’s mass meeting last night revealed there was no opposition to a tax levy on the April 5 ballot. Rather, it was overshadowed by other interests, and a prior article noted many voters left the question blank.
The need for an extra levy was brought about by “exceptionally low assessed vaulation of property in the city,” the Daily American Republic reported. Poplar Bluff’s assessed valuation per pupil is around $2,500, compared to over $5,000 in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.
Board President C. E. O’Neal told community members the district has reduced costs wherever possible to keep tax rates low. Its 94 teachers receive “very moderate” compared to other communities and some school buildings are deteriorating. The 95-cent levy was the lowest the district could ask for and, if enacted, would only leave around $1,000 in the bank after meeting school needs and debts.
The tax measure is expected to carry at another election later this month.
• E.W. Robinson was sworn in as mayor of Poplar Bluff during a special city coucil meeting last night.
• A tragedy in California has made the entire country leery of abandoned wells, Southeast Missouri included. Kathy Fiscus, a toddler from San Marino, died after falling through the cover of a forgotten well this month. Wayne County residents are now speaking up about unmarked wells and cisterns in Old Greenville, a riverside ghost town frequented by hunters, fishermen and local children. One former Old Greenville citizen estimated there may be 300 pits within its boundaries. The site is now owned by the federal government.
50 years ago
April 12, 1974
• Stodard County Court has approved plans for six ambulance districts. Elections for trustees will be held June 6.
• The Poplar Bluff R-I School District held its first post-election meeting and raised teachers’ starting pay by $700. The move came after discussions with teachers organizations. The two entities are still discussing pay for unused sick leave, a switch from monthly to bi-weekly pay periods, and a limit of 25 students per clasroom.
• Two families narrowly escaped a gas furnace explosion and fire last night. One person was hospitalized.
Homeowners Jerry and Jean Proffer were hosting their daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Bobby Seawright, plus the couple’s one-month-old baby last night at their home on Highway 53. Both families were awakened by the gas furnace exploding at 5:30 a.m. today.
The Seawrights were sleeping in the same room as the furnace, and Bobby Seawright said the carpet and drapes immediately caught fire. Both families fled before the fire spread to the rest of the house. Bobby Seawright was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and Cindy Seawright received minor burns on her feet from running on the burning carpet. Their baby was unharmed.
The house was fully engulfed when the Butler County Fire Department arrived on the scene. Jean Proffer said she appreciated the efforts of firefighters, even though the home was a total loss.
The Proffers are both employees of the DAR.