__Dec. 7, 1923__
• Neelyville was visited by its second disastrous fire in the last six weeks at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, when the explosion of a gas tank in the rear of Alex Eastwood’s mercantile started a fire which destroyed his store and the Amusu Theater, also owned by Eastwood. The blaze resulted in a $16,000 loss. Volunteer firefighters were able to save the new Eastwood Hotel from the flame, and Eastwood plans to re-open the mercantile and theater at the earliest possible time.
• Roy Alfred Marler, a seven-year-old Qulin boy who lost his left foot when it was chopped off by his brother last Saturday in a woodcutting accident, will receive a big birthday cake from the Community Club for his eighth birthday in the hospital, where he is recovering. He is currently in the Community Club’s indigent ward.
__Dec. 7, 1948__
• Installation of parking meters is expected to start as early as tomorrow (Dec. 8), Poplar Bluff mayor Arch Bartlett advised the city council when it met last night (Dec. 6) at City Hall. An engineer from the parking meter concern is due in Poplar Bluff today to start installation and the mayor and council agreed last night to approve 100% any action the special parking meter committee decided to take on the location of the meters.
• Three Arthurs took a big deer when Arthur McBroom Jr., 19, of Fisk killed a nine-point buck early yesterday morning (Dec. 6). He was assisted by his father, Arthur McBroom Sr., and his nephew, Arthur Goldschmidt.
“The three Arthurs did it,” said a family member.
__Dec. 7, 1973__
• Newly ordained Catholic bishop Bernard Law will be in Poplar Bluff Sunday (Dec. 9) for a celebration of the Eucharist with parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A reception will be held for the new bishop following the 6 p.m. mass in the parish hall. Bishop Law was ordained Wednesday, Dec. 5, in Springfield and has been selected by Pope Paul VI to be the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced water reserves from Lake Wappapello will be increased from the the current 3,000 cubic feet per second to a maximum of 10,000 cubic feet per second beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Despite lake levels as high as 19 feet above the normal pool, the Corps of Engineers has limited the outflow to 3,000 cubic feet per second to allow bottom land farmers to harvest crops.