After almost two weeks of searching, one of three drowned fishermen is recovered in 1949 on Lake Wappapello. The men vanished on March 21 while boating in inclement weather. Other news on this date focuses on city and county elections.
100 years ago
April 2, 1924
• Today, Poplar Bluff files a complaint in Jefferson City against Union Electric Light and Power Company. The city’s petition accuses the company of charging unequal rates, “granting undue and unreasonable preference and advantage to certain of its customers,” which violates the rules of the State Public Service Commission.
• Republicans swept city elections yesterday, winning all four contested alderman seats. Accusations against the local Democratic party panned when the alleged sabotage to the school board race never materialized. The race has been held on the Republican ballot without issue for 20 years, but one party member stirred up voters at a recent meeting by claiming there was a plot to push the nominated Republican candidates out of the race. Democratic leaders denied this.
75 years ago
April 2, 1949
• One of three missing fishermen was found dead this morning, 12 days after disappearing on Lake Wappapello. His body was not immediately identifiable.
The missing men are E.F. Hammett, E.A. Walker and J.H. Squires. They visited Lake Wappapello for a fishing trip on March 21 and were last seen taking their boat out on rough water. All were presumed drowned after days of fruitless searching and the recovery of their capsized boat. The body was found by a grove of willows in the same area as the boat.
In a previous article, authorities stated the lake’s cold temperatures could keep bodies from surfacing for several days. Recovery efforts continue for the remaining victims.
• The primary contests in city elections this year are for mayor and police chief. Mayoral candidates are F.B. Hanks (R) and E.W. Robinson (D). Running for police chief are N.H. Massie (R) and Lester Massingham (D).
Other contested races are city attorney, district judge, county collector, county treasurer and county assessor. Voting is later this week.
50 years ago
April 2, 1974
• Jerry Pruett, an opera singer from Poplar Bluff, has signed a two-year contract as the lead tenor in the Vienna Volksoper (Vienna Folk Opera) of Vienna, Austria. Pruett, his wife Jackie and their two daughters will move to Austria in August. The family currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
Pruett is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Troy Pruett of Poplar Bluff, and a former teacher at Poplar Bluff High School. Before entering professional opera, he was an assistant voice professor at Iowa State University.