Forum Flashbacks: Oct. 26-Nov. 1

FORUM FILE PHOTO
25 YEARS AGO: Trick-or-Treat – Northeast Nodaway first graders dressing up for Halloween are, not in order, Dylan Downen, Hallie Oelze, Amanda Mercer, Josh Wideman, Richard Rodrick, James Burns, Chad Messner, Kari Waldeier, Priscilla Pankau, Claire Busby and teacher Cheryl Orr. The students are posing near Jack-o-lanterns different classes at the elementary school created.

25 years ago
The Maryville Public Safety Department and Missouri Optometric Association warn parents and school officials about the possibility of eye damage to children and dangers from hand-held laser pointers.

These products are generally safe when used as intended by teachers and lecturers to highlight areas on a chart or screen. However, recent price reductions have led to wider marketing, and FDA is concerned about the promotion and use of these products as children’s toys.

A Maryville male recently reported to Maryville Public Safety that as he was sitting in his house, he noticed a red dot on his person and believed it was either from a laser aim point from a weapon or a laser pointer used for lectures. He then observed a vehicle driving down the street with the lights off. A description of the vehicle and license number was given to officers and Sgt. Ceperley later made contact with the vehicle, which contained five Maryville male juveniles. It was determined they had a laser pointer and were driving around pointing it at houses and people in houses.

50 years ago
It was a typical Halloween — From a law enforcement officer’s point of view, anyway.

While many of the younger kids were gathering sacks full of candy, fruit and cookies from trick-or-treating, many of the older ones were busy with their annual mischief, some of it malicious.

For the most part, the night’s activities included the scattering of toilet paper and trash throughout the county’s towns, moving large objects into the streets, and the traditional soaping of windows.

In Maryville, the public safety department reported several incidents of egg-throwing, an incident in which a water-filled balloon was thrown through the windshield of a car, and another in which a BB gun was fired into a window.

There also was an incident reported in which two subjects jumped out of a car, took away a 10-year-old trick or treater’s sack of candy, then fled.

In Ravenwood, the city’s fire hydrants were drained, leaving the town without water. In Parnell, a fire was set to a pile of tires dangerously close to a service station. And in Burlington Jct., a barn owned by Miss Iuka Shiel was destroyed after it was set on fire by an unknown person.

100 years ago

BARACKMAN WINS BOUT WITH WATERS

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And Mervin Barackman is still undefeated!

In perhaps the most spectacular match ever seen in Maryville, the local mat wonder met and defeated last night one “Texas” Teddy Waters, recognized champion of Texas.

Defeated him! Yes, in the short space of one hour and twenty-two minutes for the first fall and four minutes in the second: the first fall being won with a combination flying mare and a double armlock, the second with an arm and headlock.

And what a match it was: Each man in the pink of condition, exhibiting his wares that any wrestler might be proud of. And fast! Their speed held the hundred and fifty spectators breathless at many times during the progress of the match.

Waters’ specialty seemed to be the toehold but he was unable to gain headway by this torturous hold. Barackman brought his armlock into play time and time again. However, the agile Waters continually slipped out before Mervin could force his shoulders to the mat. …

Jackie Barackman, 10 years old, and Charles Wagner, the same age, furnished the preliminaries.

Young Barackman won two falls out of three but young Wagner had him in several perilous situations.

Dennis Collins was the referee of the matches. Police Gazette rules were used.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: The 50-year and 100- year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com. The original 50- year article ran in the Nov. 1, 1973, issue of the Maryville Daily Forum. The original 100-year article ran in the Oct. 30, 1923, issue of the Maryville Daily Democrat-Forum, which would eventually become the Maryville Forum.