The article highlights some historical local regulations and legal developments. Early city rules included a prohibition on allowing pet pigeons to fly freely, with fines for owners, though enforcement details are unclear. The city’s first speed limit mandated that horses pulling vehicles could not exceed a trot in business areas. Additionally, a curfew required children under 16 to be home by 9 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent, but this rule was widely ignored despite the curfew alarm continuing to sound nightly in 1925.

Fifty years ago, in 1975, a legislative measure was introduced to alleviate the heavy caseloads of circuit courts in Southeast Missouri and St. Louis counties by allowing voters to elect a second judge for the 42nd, 32nd, and 21st circuits. This change aimed to improve the efficiency of the judicial system, with new judgeships to be elected starting in 1978. The 42nd Circuit covers several counties including Wayne and Iron, while the 32nd and 21st circuits include Cape Girardeau and St. Louis counties, respectively.