In today’s Dash to the Past, a man recently released from jail tries to break back into the facility, another man decides to have some “Christmas fun” by setting off dynamite in east Poplar Bluff and the American flag is hoisted to the top of the under-construction John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
100 years ago
Dec. 20, 1923
• It is a very unusual thing for a man to be released from one jail and attempt to break into another, but this actually occurred today. Jim “Red” Tally, a drug addict, was arrested last night (Dec. 19) at the Missouri Pacific station for loitering. He was released from jail this morning after being fined, but shortly after he was released, he tried to break into the Butler County jail.
Officers state he said he would get in jail if he had “to kick all the windows out of the courthouse.” Tally reportedly wanted to be jailed so he could be treated by the doctor and have access to drugs.
• M.C. Williams, 23, is being held on the order of Butler County prosecutor R. L. Cope for possession of dynamite, fuses and dynamite caps, believed to be a part of the materials used in a mysterious blast set off in a vacant lot at 144 S. B St. Tuesday night (Dec. 18). The explosion shook nearby buildings and caused great excitement. Williams reportedly told Cope today he decided to have a little Christmas fun with the dynamite and detonated it in the vacant lot.
75 years ago
Dec. 20, 1948
• The Alport-Carlo Construction Company, builders of the new Poplar Bluff Veterans Administration hospital, reached a very important part of the project today when work was completed on the uppermost part of the structure.
To mark the event, the American flag was hoisted on top of the building by John Wanek, general superintendent of the construction company, and F.E. Clary, engineer in charge for the U.S. Corps of Engineers of the Little Rock District. The uppermost portion of the main building is the roof over the main elevator shafts, eight stories or 103 feet from the ground.
• Out of town judges will drive through the streets the night of Dec. 22 and decide which of the city’s homes has the most interesting and attractive Christmas decorations, a spokesman for the Jaycees said today. To be eligible for judging, homeowners should advise Harold Lacy at the Grapette Bottling Company of a desire to be entered in the contest, giving their names and addresses so the judges can view the entries. First prize is $25.
50 years ago
Dec. 20, 1973
• Charles DePriest, a discharged Poplar Bluff Junior High School science teacher, was given an administrative hearing before the Poplar Bluff R-I school board last night (Dec. 19). His fate was not decided at the hearing, which stems from an incident involving a minor.
• National energy czar William E. Simon asked the driving public today to limit itself voluntarily to 10 gallons of gasoline per week. But Simon avoided imposing any mandatory restriction at this time, adding full public compliance with a 10-gallon limit would make gas rationing unnecessary.