Small-town politics create big drama on this date, from an alleged school board conspiracy to a heated fire district election. Thankfully, 1949 has much better news: a Michigan woman receives a flood of support from Southeast Missourians after she’s injured in a car wreck on Highway 67.
100 years ago
March 28, 1924
• Politics invades the Poplar Bluff school board election after 20 years of truce between local parties.
At last night’s meeting of the Republicans of Poplar Bluff Township, member L.M. Henson alleged specific Democrats were conspiring to unseat two Republican incumbents on the school board, and then replace them with Democratic nominees. The candidates are Dr. A.R. Rowe and John H. Wolpers.
Democrats have historically left school board elections on the Republican ballot, but Henson warned fellow Republicans they risked being “knifed in the back,” and proposed the two parties should come to a formal agreement. He proposed a contract to leave the Republican school board nominees alone. Should Democratic leadership refuse, Henson claimed he was ready to declare war and, regretfully, see the school board made a “child of political destiny.”
The Interstate American interviewed local Democratic leaders, who said they knew of no proposals to oust Republican candidates nor any aspiring replacements within their party.
The article also reported the Republican primary election, when Wolpers and Rowe were nominated, created significant strife within the Republican party.
75 years ago
March 28, 1949
• A Detroit woman was seriously injured far from home, but her recovery is accompanied by an outpouring of support from Southeast Missouri.
Evelyn Woods’ back was broken in a car crash on Highway 67 two weeks ago; four occupants of the vehicle were injured and one was killed. Left partially paralyzed, with limited resources and far from home, she reached out to the Daily American Republic from the Poplar Bluff Hospital. She’s since received nearly 300 cards as well as Bibles, flowers, pictures, handkerchiefs, candy boxes and cash donations.
Every day more gifts and cards arrive in the mail, Woods said. “It’s wonderful to be so well treated when you are so far away from your home, loved ones or people you know.”
She also felt her situation would’ve gotten less attention in a major city.
Doctors report Woods is recovering well — today she moved her leg for the first time since the accident.
• Buildings were destroyed and cattle were killed by a tornado in Ripley County on March 26, but residents escaped injury. The twister carved a path a quarter-mile wide and a mile long between Naylor and Fairdealing.
50 years ago
March 28, 1974
• Drama has flared up around the race for the Butler County Fire Protection District.
Citizens for Fair Taxation, a group opposed to the tax-funded fire district, will conclude a string of regional meetings tonight and plans to discuss one candidate in particular, Harry Templemire of Poplar Bluff. The reasons for this were not stated.
Meanwhile, one candidate for the fire district board dropped out of the race and another announced himself as a write-in. Ed Call of Fisk is replacing Leroy Kearbey on the ballot. Butler County Fire Department Chief Bill Verble told reporters Kearbey was threatened by local farmers, but Kearbey denied being strong-armed.
“I just decided that since there was quite a bit of controversy over this fire district I didn’t need to get in the middle of it,” he said.
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