The Butler County prosecuting attorney creates a stir today by upending a $250,000 flood control project in Poplar Bluff. The reason? Poplar Bluff’s budgeting of a $7,500 payment.
__Feb. 22, 1924__
• A judge hands down a life sentence today for the murder of a German-American farmer in Carter County. The convicted man, Nicholas Campbell, thanked Judge E.P. Dorris for sparing him the death penalty.
According to law enforcement, Campbell arrived in Carter County in 1922 claiming to be a Prohibition officer. He stayed with Carl Herman, an immigrant from Germany, for several days before killing him and burying his body in the barn. After a few days, he loaded the murdered man’s property into a wagon and fled the area. He was arrested near the Eleven Point River.
Campbell’s account of killing Herman in a fit of patriotism during an argument about WWI did not bear out evidence from the case, The Daily Republican reported.
He was described as being in poor physical health during the trial, which also thwarted an escape attempt in 1923.
Campbell’s original death sentence was appealed by his attorneys, and the Missouri Supreme Court remanded the case for a new trial.
__Feb. 22, 1949__
• Dedication of the recently completed Clearwater Dam and reservoir is scheduled for May 30, according to the Chamber of Commerce in Piedmont. A day-long ceremony is being planned and public officials from Missouri and Arkansas are expected to attend.
• A legal opinion has derailed a quarter-million dollar levee project.
Poplar Bluff recently received $250,000 in federal funding for flood control on the East Side. Around $7,500 was to be provided by the city, which did so by transferring funds from other districts to the proposed District 12, where the work would take place. However, prosecuting attorney Ralph Bloodworth handed down an opinion to the county court that the transfer was illegal since no city attorneys could find laws permitting it. Opposing attorneys pointed out they could find no law against it, either.
• The International Shoe Company in Poplar Bluff reportedly spent over $641,930 in the city over a nine-month span last year. The figure includes payroll expenses and local services, and was presented at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
• The city council accepted a $14,500 bid for construction of a new fire station at the junction of highways 60 and 67. The winner was local contractor R.M. Long.
__Feb. 22, 1974__
• Three Rivers Community College (today known as Three Rivers College) announces an expansion and renovation to the Garner Building on Poplar Street.
• Burglars in New Madrid County made off with a road trip payload last night. The Highway 61 Gulf Station was robbed of an undetermined amount of gasoline, five walkie-talkie sets and about 50 cassette tapes. New Madrid Auto Sales is down three fancy hood ornaments, $85 and one safe (which was destroyed with a blowtorch to get the money). At Glenn Marshall Motor Co., the thieves stole around $200 in cash and several sets of car keys, including those of a 1974 Pontiac Grand Prix they drove off the lot.