100 years ago Oct. 12, 1923
• An overnight fire of undetermined origin destroyed the store and home of John Kittredge at the corner of Alice and Parthenia streets. The loss is expected to reach $19,000. Practically the entire stock of the store was lost, as only a piano and a small amount of clothing were able to be salvaged.
Mrs. Kittredge reportedly discovered the fire at about 12:20 a.m. this morning. She was awakened by the crackling and falling of burning timbers in the store. Both the store and the house were connected, leading to the destruction of both.
• Dwight H. Brown, editor of Poplar Bluff’s Interstate American and Citizen-Democrat, will deliver an address Tuesday, Oct. 16, to the Group Six Missouri Bankers Association in Cape Girardeau. Several Poplar Bluff bankers are expected to attend the event.
75 years ago Oct. 12, 1948
• One of the heaviest voter turnouts in city history was expected today in the special election on the proposed change to council-manager government. At noon, turnout was described by judges as “pretty heavy” and last-minute voting later today is expected to bring the total to as many, if not more, votes than have ever been cast in a city election.
• The Porter-DeWitt Construction Company of Poplar Bluff was the low bidder on the Pine Street widening and concrete sufacing project, the state highway department announced in Jefferson City this morning. Porter-DeWitt officials said work on the project would start immediately upon receipt of authorization by the Federal Bureau of Highways.
50 years ago Oct. 12, 1973
• A contract for construction of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s new Troop E headquarters has been signed and a pre-construction meeting will be held Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the current headquarters.
Col. Sam S. Smith, MSHP patrol superintendent, announced David Ross Construction Company of Independence, Missouri was the low bidder for the project a few days ago. The firm’s total bid for the project was $524,611.
• Following a bizarre series of events, Street Shaw, 49, of Corning, Arkanas was fatally shot last night (Oct. 11) in the Clay County jail by Deputy Sheriff Jim Earl Droning, who also was wounded in the incident.
Shaw’s son allegedly came to the jail to ask about a friend who was being held at the jail and got in an argument with Droning and allegedly assaulted him. After the younger Shaw was arrested, Street Shaw came to the jail with a gun and allegedly shot Droning before the latter shot Street Shaw in the chest.