Out of the past 1/4/07

25 years ago: Jan. 4, 1982

For almost seven years, Brian Miller labored without pay as volunteer coordinator of Cape Girardeau County's office of disaster planning and operations; but as of the start of this year, Miller is a full-time salaried director of disaster planning and director of communications for the county.

While a subsidized taxi service for the elderly and handicapped is rolling along in Cape Girardeau, it's not even on the assembly line in Jackson; despite the urging of a taxi service operator, Jackson city officials say the need for such a service hasn't been demonstrated.

50 years ago: Jan. 4, 1957

Christmas is over for the Salvation Army Tree of Lights and donations total $3,059, including about $135 in outstanding pledges.

The Missouri Dry Docks Co., has begun construction of another diesel-driven tow boat and expects it will be completed in 11 months; it is similar to the vessel, the E.E. Smith, which was completed by the company last fall; the craft is being constructed under the direction of Robert Erlbacher, who designed it.

75 years ago: Jan. 4, 1932

Two men hold up the cashier of the Bank of Blodgett at Blodgett, Mo., and escape with between $1,500 and $2,000 in currency; they escape in a brown Oakland sedan, heading south toward Highway 61 and Sikeston, Mo.

Dean W. VanAmburgh, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy VanAmburgh, died at the home of his parents near Oak Ridge Saturday; his death was the result of an injury he received while playing basketball several weeks ago.

100 years ago: Jan. 4, 1907

The Tilsit, Mo., and Houck, Mo., telephone line is now in operation; it is connected with the Gordonville line, so that the subscribers at both Houck and Tilsit may talk through to Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

The bright sunshine this morning, after a continuous rain of five days, brings much cheer with it, and the activity along the building line makes it seem like spring; as soon as the sun makes its appearance, a big gang of men starts work on the new trust building at Broadway and Fountain Street; at the Elks' building, carpenters are installing the glass front.

-- Sharon K. Sanders