25 years ago: Jan. 9, 1983

ORAN, Mo. -- Organized Jan. 10, 1883, the First Baptist Church of Oran celebrates its 100th birthday with all-day services; the church was original constituted in 1845 as the Little River Baptist Church; it was reorganized in 1871 as Sylvania Baptist Church; then, in 1883, 16 members from the Little River and Sylvania churches met and organized the present congregation.

Cape Central Airways has been acquired by Cape Girardeau trucking company proprietor Jerry Lipps from David Little and James H. Estes; Little had acquired Cape Central from John T. Seesing on Dec. 31, 1975.

50 years ago: Jan. 9, 1958

Dr. A.L. Schrader is advised that he has been appointed Cape Girardeau County coroner by the governor; he will succeed Dr. J.F. Sigmund, who resigned.

Stricken with a heart attack, Alda Mae Cornuaud, 57, an organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union, died yesterday shortly after driving to the picket line being maintained at the Cagleco Manufacturing Co. plant near Arena Park; her home was in Dallas but she had been in Cape Girardeau since September.

75 years ago: Jan. 9, 1933

James A. Barks, former mayor of Cape Girardeau, returns to Jefferson City, where he has been assigned by Secretary of State Dwight W. Brown to the corporation department of the secretary's office; another former Girardean, Alberta Lee Hayes, has also been given a clerical position in Brown's office.

After being in business in Cape Girardeau seven years, the Edward A. Farley, Inc., store, 104 N. Main St., suspended business Saturday night; the firm received instructions from its receiver to turn in its stock of merchandise in 14 stores throughout the country.

100 years ago: Jan. 9, 1908

Fourteen editors of Southeast Missouri newspapers met Monday at Sikeston, Mo., and effected the organization of the Southeast Missouri Press Association; president of the new association is Fred Naeter of the Cape Girardeau Daily Republican.

The Frisco Railroad sends out another order relieving many telegraphers, clerks and other employees of their duties; the day operator of the station at Cape Girardeau, Bob Cooper, is one to suffer.

-- Sharon K. Sanders