Out of the past 2/20/11

25 years ago: Feb. 20, 1986

New information has been developed in the 1979 slaying of Deborah L. Martin here and will be pursued during the forthcoming session of a county grand jury, says prosecuting attorney Larry Ferrell.

Officials of TeleCommunications Inc., the Denver-based parent company of Cape Girardeau Cable TV, told the city council last night the company plans to spend about $1 million to upgrade the local cable system this year, a move which would ultimately mean increased charges for subscribers.

50 years ago: Feb. 20, 1961

Cape Girardeau as a "City of Roses" is featured in the current issue of Reader's Digest; an article with a four-page picture spread was done by Daniel Longwell of Neosho, Mo.; the photographs, presented in striking color, were done by Cape Girardeau photographer G.D. Fronabarger.

Fred A. Groves, Cape Girardeau automobile dealer, is reappointed to the State College Board of Regents by Gov. John Dalton; Ford has served 26 years on the board.

75 years ago: Feb. 20, 1936

W.H. Bahn, co-proprietor of the Bahn Brothers Hardware Store in Cape Girardeau, was elected president of the Missouri Retail Hardware Association at the recent convention in St. Louis.

Small barns for three mules which have been lent the Cape Girardeau Cooperative, a local organization which will do gardening and canning this season, are being built on the 70-acre Beaudean tract in the southwest portion of the city; the animals already have been sent there.

100 years ago: Feb. 20, 1911

Things are hopping in Haarig; the Miller & Kinder drugstore is being moved into its new quarters in the just-completed Anderson building; the Haarig Furniture Co. is moving into the same building and the H.A. Nussbaum store is putting goods into the store room being vacated by Miller & Kinder.

Jeff Tesreau, who several years ago pitched for the Perryville, Mo., baseball team and later the St. Louis Browns, will train with the New York Giants this spring.

-- Sharon K. Sanders