__Dec. 2, 1948__
• Pressure is coming from many sources on Butler County school boards to convince the boards a Home Economics department in their high schools is of utmost importance. At the bi-monthly meeting yesterday (Dec. 1) of the Butler County Home Economics Extension Clubs, the women had as their chief topic of discussion the subject of “The Great Need of Home Economics in Our Butler County High Schools.”
• Authorities are attempting to learn the identity of a man who died from a basal skull fracture after jumping from a truck near Fisk about 7 a.m. today. The man, believed to live in or near Poplar Bluff, was a passenger on a truck operated by Leonard Berry of Poplar Bluff, who picks up cotton pickers to take to White Oak. The man reportedly jumped off the truck when a stove on the truck bed flared up.
• A loaded cattle truck crashed through the corner of the Holloway Drug Store, located at the southwest corner of Broadway and Cherry Street, at about 7:30 p.m. last night (Dec. 1), according to Poplar Bluff police reports. Officers said the truck was owned by Charles R. Hoyle of Qulin, who had left it parked near the intersection. The accident reportedly occurred when the truck’s brakes failed, resulting in the accident.
Dec. 2, 1923, and Dec. 2, 1973 — No editions available.
__Dec. 3, 1923__
• Clacy T. Kinder, former cashier of the Patterson Bank, was arrested yesterday (Dec. 2) in Fresno, California, according to Wayne County authorities. Kinder is suspected of being involved in a shortfall of approximately $14,000 at the bank, which closed its doors on Nov. 15, the day after Kinder disappeared.
• Attorney Harry C. Wilson for the state of Missouri has filed suits against the Central States Investment Company and the Southern Missouri Land Corporation for unpaid franchise taxes. The suit against Central States is for $14 and the suit against Southern Missouri Land is $4.25.
__Dec. 3, 1948__
• The victim of a truck accident on Highway 60 near Fisk yesterday morning (Dec. 2) was identified last evening as Claude Allen Tucker, 43, of the 500 block of North E Street, Butler County coroner Grover W. Greer said this morning. Tucker was identified by his father and father-in-law. Tucker was killed when he jumped from a truck operated by Leonard Berry, after a stove in the bed of the truck flared up.
• Three Butler County residents were acquitted Wednesday, Dec. 1, in Ripley County on charges they had assaulted former Poplar Bluff police officer Clifford Shipton. The three men, Charles, Fisher, Walter Fisher and W.C. Dunn, were charged by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Ralph Bloodworth and the case was moved to Ripley County on a change of venue.
__Dec. 3, 1973__
• Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers in Southeast Missouri reported at least 27 service stations were selling gasoline Sunday despite a request by President Richard Nixon that no gas be sold yesterday (Dec. 2) to conserve fuel. According to an informal survey by state troopers, seven stations were open in Poplar Bluff, one at the state line south of Neelyville, one in Piedmont and one at Dexter, plus 17 more in Troop E.
• Both Clearwater and Wappapello lakes reached crest levels over the weekend (Dec. 1-2) and will start to recede, providing there is no additional heavy rainfall, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Clearwater crested about 35 feet above normal pool elevation and Wappapello reached a high point of about 17 feet above normal, both as a result of heavy rains on Thanksgiving weekend.
__Dec. 4, 1923__
• Roena Ward of Harviell has filed a $10,000 damage suit against the Missouri Pacific Railroad for humiliation, abuse and more she allegedly suffered Aug. 26, at the hands of rail employees when she got on the wrong train, one which did not stop at Harviell. Half of the damages are for actual damages and the other half are punitive damages. Ward will be represented by Jerry Mulloy.
• A bond issue for $1,600 to build a school for Black children for the combined Harris Ridge and Hart districts near Neelyville passed overwhelmingly in an election on Saturday, Dec. 1. The school building will be centrally located between the two districts, about two miles northwest of Neelyville.
__Dec. 4, 1948__
• The Poplar Bluff Fire Department sold a Dodge fire truck to the City of Puxico for $1,250, PBFD Chief Sam Knight said today. The truck was delivered to Puxico yesterday (Dec. 3) after 13 years of continuous service to the PBFD since 1935. The truck, equipped with ladders, hose, hose reels and a pumping unit, has proven too light for work in Poplar Bluff, but should provide many years of satisfactory service for Puxico, Knight said.
• More than 300 deer tags had been issued by Butler County clerk George Collins Jr. as of 9:30 a.m. today. Collins said it looked like the county would sell the most tags since deer hunting became legal again in Missouri several years ago. Deer season kicks off Monday, Dec. 6.
__Dec. 4, 1973__
• Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by a tornado and heavy gale-force winds, lashed Butler County this morning, blowing down power lines and trees while also causing considerable damage to sheds, outbuildings, homes and trailers. Winds were clocked at 55 to 60 miles per hour, according to civil defense director Lloyd Miler. Civil defense also confirmed a tornado north and west of Poplar Bluff.
• The Poplar Bluff City Council voted last night to authorize a $780 a month subsidy to Safe-Way Ambulance Service. The ordinance passed by the city council provides Safe-Way will be paid the subsidy at the end of each month through September from the period beginning Nov. 1, 1973, and ending Sept. 30. 1974, for a total of $8,580.