On this day in 1974, a local teen is recovering from his injuries after falling into a trash compactor.
100 years ago
April 16, 1924
• Charges have been dropped against five local physicians and pharmacists arrested for violating narcotics law.
Dr. C.W. Williamson, Dr. W.S. Bailey, Dr. Ira W. Seybold, E.C. Graham and R.T. Fyock were arrested several months ago of dispensing narcotics to a “stool pigeon,” or police informant, who posed as an addicted tuberculosis patient. A grand jury in Cape Girardeau handed down no indictments against the five men today.
75 years ago
April 16, 1949
• Ripley County and North Arkansas are facing forest fires dubbed the “worst in 25 years.”
The fires have raged for several days due to dry, windy conditions. Firefighters and forest rangers battled six fires in Ripley County over the last two days. All were extinguished, but one destroyed a 200-acre tract of timber pines. In Arkansas fires have razed between 5,000-10,000 acres of Randolph, Fulton, Baxter, Izard and Sharp counties.
The U.S. Forest Service blamed carelessness for many of the fires and pleaded with hikers and motorists to “use every precaution” against starting fires.
There were some victories: the Forest Service successfully kept the blazes from spreading to the Elevenpoints River wildlife refuge, and a fire reported in Butler County was held to 10 acres thanks to quick action.
50 years ago
April 16, 1984
• A Poplar Bluff boy survived falling into a trash compactor yesterday.
Chris Jette, age 14, tried to assist Wal-Mart Store employees in compacting scrap boxes yesterday afternoon. He reportedly climbed on top of the machine while it was off to loosen a stuck box, then told an employee to turn it back on. At that moment he slipped on a patch of grease and fell in.
The machine was quickly turned off, but Jette received several lacerations to his legs and was taken to Doctors Hospital via ambulance.
Jette is the son of store manager Gene Jette and was not employed by Wal-Mart, the article reported.
• Denny Lanning was elected Poplar Bluff mayor by his fellow councilmen last night. Paul Hillis was named mayor pro-tem.