Seasonal farmland burns and arsons are fed by dry conditions in 1949, leading to widespread wildfires in Northwest Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. A different kind of hot air blows into circuit court on this date in 1974, when two candidates square off via lawsuit.
100 years ago
April 19, 1924
• Construction season has arrived in Poplar Bluff. Many projects are residential, the most expensive of which is a $10,000 brick bungalow at the corner of Vine and 10th streets owned by Hugo Boeving of Cotton Belt Lumber Company. The Interstate American declares the modern home is “certain to be one of the city’s handsomest dwellings.”
75 years ago
April 19, 1949
• Smoke hangs over parts of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas as wildfires continue. Multiple blazes began last week due to dry conditions, and though a heavy frost last night aided firefighters, authorities still described conditions as “potentially explosive.”
There are 400 firefighters working across the region. Clark National Forest and Steagall Mountain are trouble spots, but several fires in Wayne County have been brought under control.
“Farmers may be blamed for some of the fires because of their customary practice of burning off lands for tick and insect control, but there are many fires which have proven maliciously set,” said Paul Kihlmire of the Poplar Bluff Forest Ranger’s office.
One Wayne County man allegedly set several fires and fled to St. Louis. His arrest is expected soon.
An editorial on the front page of the Daily American Republic entitled “We Need More Forest Protection” urged state officials not to cut appropriations for the Forestry Department.
50 years ago
April 19, 1974
• An election contest suit from 1972 continues today. Special Circuit Judge Stanley Grimm took the suit under advisement today and intends issue a ruling by May 24.
The suit concerns a race for Butler County assessor. Republican challenger Claude Johnson lost to Democratic incumbent George Golden by 39 votes. He filed the lawsuit 20 days later, alleging “many instances of errors in counting” lead to a miscount of 50 votes from the Hillview Precinct and Poplar Bluff Sixth Ward.
The case was tried before a court without a jury today. Johnson subpoenaed over 20 witnesses for the hearing, but only eight were called. In oral arguments, Golden’s defense countered that Johnson “wholly and fully failed to sustain a burden of proof.”
Grimm will accept written briefs from both sides before ruling on the case.