__75 years ago__
Aug. 5, 1948
• A storm of hunters began protesting today over the Fish and Wildlife services decision to cut the duck hunting season down to 30 days.
Dr. Clarence C. Cottam, assistant director of the Fish and Wildlife Services spoke about the protests saying, “Although many sportsmen complain about this injustice, none have suggested a better system of regulated hunting.” Despite protests, the change in days available to hunt waterfowl stayed at 30.
No print editions Sundays, Aug. 5, 1923, and Aug. 5, 1973.
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__100 years ago__
Aug. 6, 1923
A 9-year-old trouble maker is held for stealing mail and opening it. The boy had been taken in two weeks prior on account of stealing an automobile. He had been driving the stolen vehicle around all day long before he was caught. The boy was found walking the streets opening mail and discarding it. He admitted that he was on his way to catch a train to Corning, Arkansas, to cash a stolen check for $89. The boy was taken to the county jail where he is to await trial in juvenile court.
__75 years ago__
Aug. 6, 1948
• Olympic history is made today as the first American woman, Victoria Manalo Draves, took the gold medal for the 10m platform dive. 17-year-old American Bob Mathias was honored for best all around athlete of the 1948 Olympics.
__50 years ago__
Aug. 6, 1973
• President Richard Nixon signs legislation authorizing $3.2 billion to be put toward the Law Enforcement Assistance Association crime fighting funds for the next three years. The legislation was passed in an attempt to lower crime rates across the states.
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__75 years ago__
Aug. 7, 1948
• A boy from Camdenton, Missouri, is arrested on behalf of a $50,000 extortion demand to his employer.
The story reports that 17-year-old Billy Joe Cross anonymously sent a note to Lawrence Bailliere, owner of the Ozark Fish Hatchery, explaining that he must place $50,000 in a sack and place it in the front of Pritchard school at 7:30 p.m. exactly. The note said if he failed to do so, his house and hatchery would be filled with dynamite and blown to smithereens.
Authorities were contacted and officers spent two weeks planning to arrest Cross. They successfully did so by delivering a dummy package. Cross was arrested on site as he was going to pick up the dummy package.
__50 years ago__
Aug. 7, 1973
• Dr. Owen K Garriot becomes the first solar physicist to fly in space. Garriot and the astronauts aboard the Skylab set a record for the longest space walk ever recorded at the time after a six and a half hour excursion outside the ship to work on problem areas of the ship.
Garriot said his main mission working in the field of solar physics is to learn more about nuclear fusion within the sun. Garriot says that if we can unlock the full power of nuclear fusion, then we will be able to provide the planet with an endless source of clean energy.
No print edition Aug. 7 1923.
Editor’s note: This is part of a new regular series looking at today in Poplar Bluff’s history through the pages of the Daily American Republic and its early predecessors.