100 years ago Oct. 17, 1923
• The second day of the Missouri General Baptist Association convention in Poplar Bluff has been the climax of the meeting. The attendance is at peak point and the sessions have been “splendidly attended.”
One of the interesting developments of the Tuesday, Oct. 16, session was a resolution introduced by Dr. L.B. Arvin, the pastor of Watertown Baptist Church in St. Louis, condemning the teaching of evolution and so-called higher criticism in tax-supported schools and denominational college. The resolution was referred to the committee on resolutions.
• Rube Hays, 50, a farmer living south of Fisk, was injured this morning when a horse he was riding fell on him. Hays was riding along a country road near Broseley when the horse became frightened at a chicken which flew up and lit on a fence. The horse reared and threw Hays off, then fell on him, injuring Hays’ leg.
Oct. 17, 1948 — No editions available.
50 years ago Oct. 17, 1973
• Earth-moving equipment began moving 9,000 cubic yards of dirt this morning in preparation for Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E headquarters north of Poplar Bluff. Colonel Sam S. Smith, Missouri State Highway Patrol superintendent, will be in attendance for the ceremony, which is set for 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Actual construction of the new Troop E headquarters will begin immediately after Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony. The two-story structure will be 55 feet by 110 feet in size and built of concrete, brick and steel. A brick “radio shack” will be erected at the rear of the main building to accommodate new radio equipment and a new tower will be installed.
• A Malden man is missing and presumed drowned after a boat overturned Tuesday, Oct. 16, in Current River near Doniphan. The missing man was identified by the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department as Audie Venable, 65, of Malden, who owns a cabin near where the boat overturned.
Venable’s boat reportedly struck a snag at the Mill Dam Chute about a mile south of Doniphan at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday. Venable’s wife Nellie and another couple, Roy and Ada Stanfill of Alton, Illinois, also were in the boat, but were able to swim to safety. All but Audie Venable were reportedly wearing life jackets.