Poplar Bluff's new bus service launches amidst historical jailbreak

Two prisoners slipped out of a Poplar Bluff jail, becoming the latest in a long line of escapees in 1925. If they take the bus out of town, they could hitch a ride on Poplar Bluff’s new inter-city bus service.

Also on this day in history, the parks department bemoaned a grant mix-up and Dunklin County watched its levees.

100 years ago

Jan. 14, 1925

• A Poplar Bluff man is in trouble after breaking two prisoners out of the local jailyard.

Quince Coffman and Fred Evans were recently arrested for fighting and sentenced to break up rocks in the jail’s outdoor “bullpen.” Their friend Rosier Hartline threw them a long wire over the 20-foot fence, and they climbed out. Hartline was arrested and fined $5 in police court today for aiding the escape.

The Daily Republican said the bullpen is notoriously insecure. When prisoners escape, “Occasionally the officers are glad to get rid of them, thus saving the city treasury quite a little sum in food bills. Others, however, make their escape when officers try to keep them in the toils of the law for some more serious crime.”

• A new bus service received its first vehicle last night and put it on the road this morning. The Safety Motor Coach Company runs between Poplar Bluff and Sikeston. The six-door bus is “a monster in construction” built over a Studebaker chassis. A second has been ordered.

Prospective drivers must undergo rigorous testing and submit a $500 cash bond (just over $9,000 today). The bond is applied to stocks and is forfeited if the driver causes an accident.

75 years ago

Jan. 14, 1950

• Skies are clearing, but Dunklin County residents are once again eying their levees with unease. More rainfall pushed the overflowing St. Francis River a few inches higher at Kennett last night.

C.C. Redman, Dunklin County Drainage District No. 25 engineer, said the earthworks remained stable but he couldn’t guarantee they’d hold. Other district engineers from Memphis were standing by, and the U.S. Coast Guard had boats ready for evacuations in Kennett and Hornersville. The water has already displaced some rural families.

50 years ago

Jan. 14, 1975

• Poplar Bluff officials just learned their grant application got lost in a state agency mix-up.

Park department Superintendent John Lawson discovered that when a recent $900,000 grant request for a pool project was withdrawn, an application to cover a major land acquisition was tossed out with it. Staff at the Department of Natural Resources didn’t notice the documents were attached.

The agency apologized for the confusion and said had the application been kept, it would’ve been rated highly enough to be considered for funding. The resubmitted application was bumped up on the priority list.