The most notable headline of 1924 was an argument between a preacher and a landowner that left one person hospitalized. Kennett got pounded by hail in 1949, and New Madrid prepared for a massive electrical expansion in 1974.
100 years ago
June 20, 1924
• A hired farmer and Baptist preacher was hospitalized after his employer broke his arm in a fight.
The assault began as an argument over land clearing near Fisk, where both parties live. The 65-year-old victim, Rev. R.R. Sturgeon, said things escalated until landowner Verlin Shain tried to strike him in the head with a club. Sturgeon raised his left arm to protect himself and the blow hit his elbow, which was so badly broken that doctors said amputation may be needed. Meanwhile, Shain alleged Sturgeon brandished a knife at him, so he knocked Sturgeon down and never attempted to hit his head.
The Daily Republican described Shain as a “well-known young man.”
75 years ago
June 20, 1949
• An attempted safe robbery in Piedmont failed last night. Missouri State Highway Patrol stated a suspect is in custody after someone took a cutting torch to the hinges and lock on a safe at a car dealership. The burglar was unsuccessful, and an employee discovered the damage at 4:30 a.m. this morning. The safe was still warm when police arrived.
• Hail flattened nearly 1,500 acres of cotton and soybeans near Kennett last night. Observers reported only an inch or two of cotton stalks remained upright and leaves were driven into the ground.
50 years ago
June 20, 1974
• An expansive, $240 million power project in New Madrid is almost completely funded. A 600-megawatt generating unit and 333 miles of high-voltage lines are planned. The Rural Electrification Administration just approved $142 million in loans, REA’s Agriculture Department another $74 million, and $24 million from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation.