__Wednesday__
__100 years ago__
Nov. 22, 1923
• Dr. Joseph Robinson, director of rural sanitation in Missouri, Dr. R.L. Russell and Dr. J.L. Goodwin of the trachoma clinic now working in Poplar Bluff were the chief speakers at a smoker given last night (Nov. 21) by the Butler County Medical Society at the Masonic club. Roughly 20 physicians and dentists attended the event.
The visiting doctors’ topics were chiefly on state and federal health matters. The importance of a Health Unit for this county was emphasized. Local physicians, who endorsed the Health Unit at the time it came up about a year ago, assured the visiting physicians an effort would again be made to establish a unit.
• Mayor G.N. Davis stressed the importance of two public enterprises that are in session today and tonight in Poplar Bluff. He emphasized the free trachoma clinic that is being held today and Friday (Nov. 23) and also the night session being held from 7-8 p.m. today at Poplar Bluff High School and Central school.
“The night session is a splendid thing and parents should avail themselves of the opportunity to visit the schools,” Davis said. “It is expressly arranged for parents who cannon take time off from their work in daytime to visit the schools and in appreciation of this special effort on their behalf, they should turn out in force.”
__75 years ago__
Nov. 22, 1948
• Ralph Fry, 41, is being held at the Carter County jail in Van Buren on charges of first-degree murder in the death of his brother-in-law, Theodore Wilmer Holderbaum, Carter County Sheriff J.W. Rhea said today. According to witnesses before a coroner’s jury, Fry allegedly shot Holderbaum when he interfered in an argument between Fry and his sister, Holderbaum’s wife.
• Five attractive prizes are being offered for the best deer heads from animals killed in the district this season by the Haag Sporting Goods Company. Winners will be selected on the basis of points, spread, length and conformity of the horns by competent judges. No entry fee is required, but participants must register at the Haag Sporting Goods store by 5 p.m. Dec. 5 to be a part of the contest.
Prizes include a 22-bold action rifle, shells, hunting coat and pants, Hoppe gun cleaning kit, a gun case and more.
Nov. 22, 1973 — No editions available; it was Thanksgiving Day that year.
__Thursday__
__100 years ago__
Nov. 23, 1923
• Three Piedmont city officials are under arrest here today following a political fight of several months over questions of law enforcement and politics. Mayor W.E. Hammacher and alderman Roy Thomas were charged with entering into an illegal contract with the city. In addition to their elected duties, Hammacher is president of the electric light company, while Thomas is secretary. Both claim the charges are trumped up
• In an unrelated case out of Wayne County, Claude F. McLane of Lowndes was arrested today and taken to Poplar Bluff on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. McLane was arrested because of a complaint by the Bank of Poplar Bluff, which alleged misrepresentation in McLane’s statement and also that he gave a chattel mortgage on 50 head of mules and 82 head of cattle, which apparently do not exist. McLane previously was the vice-president of the bank at Lowndes.
__75 years ago__
Nov. 23, 1948
• Poplar Bluffians will have a great opportunity to watch a great and sensational science circus at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at the high school auditorium when the Jaycees present Bob Brown and his Science Circus. The circus consists of scientific electrical demonstrations and their uses.
Subjects are so highly charged with electricity they can light cigarettes with sparks out of their mouths. About 400,000 volts will be used, Brown said, but it will be of the high frequency variety, which is entirely harmless if taken into the body in the right manner.
• More than 300 pounds of elk, deer and bear meat were served at Monday’s (Nov. 22) Southeast Missouri Sportsmen’s Association meeting. Approximately 275 people attended the meeting. One member who returned the large pan of elk meat for his second helping remarked, “We would not have had more participants if it had been free.”
The meat was donated by Russell Evans, who killed the elk and deer on a recent hunting trip to Jackson Hole in Wyoming.
__50 years ago__
Nov. 23, 1973
• Heavy rains continued to drench Butler County today, causing flash floods on city streets and swelling ditches, branches and creeks to overflowing. At 9 a.m. today, the rain gauges at the Daily American Republic weather station had already recorded 2.42 inches of precipitation since the rain started early this morning. Wappapello had received 2.69 inches of rain as of this morning, while Puxico sat at 2.47, Dexter 2.13 and Fisk 1.70.
• Dr. H. Tudor Westover, president of Three Rivers Community College, has submitted his resignation as president of the Missouri Association of Junior Colleges. He will remain president of TRCC.
In his resignation letter to the MAJC, Westover said his resignation was because of his health. He suffered cardiac arrest in August, and while he is making satisfactory progress, his physician has advised him against assuming any additional activities.