25 years ago: April 21, 1987

After 42 years, a World War II trainer plane flew again for the first time yesterday at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport; the PT-19 was restored by a group of 12 pilots, mechanics and airplane enthusiasts who worked two years on the open-cockpit plane; J.G. "Pete" Malone, a crop duster from Sikeston, Mo., and a member of the restoration crew, was honored as the first pilot.

A committee studying a proposed recreational lake in Cape Girardeau County has been authorized by the County Commission to proceed with drilling and testing on possible sites near Millersville.

50 years ago: April 21, 1962

The first cotton planted in Illinois was put into the ground yesterday on the George Bader farm east of Cape Girardeau; Bader claims this is the northernmost cotton field in the nation, and he will have several hundreds of acres of the crop.

Earl Cook has a big day in the first night of stock car racing at Arena Park for the season as he wins two first places, including the feature 25-lap event; Cook also wins the evening's first race of 10 laps; Charles Amita is the other dual winner; stock car racing is sponsored by the I.O.O.F.

75 years ago: April 21, 1937

Bids are asked on the construction of a new building for the Bartels Mercantile Store, a two-story brick and stone structure to be located on the site of the old store, which was destroyed by fire last winter; architect A.F. Lindsay says bids will be called about May 1 and the contract let about that time.

As part of a WPA recreation program, Thomas A. Danks is working to organize bands in Cape Girardeau and Chaffee, Mo.; he has more than 30 men, who formerly played in a band sponsored by Marquette Cement Mfg. Co., interested in playing here; his chief problem is securing a place to rehearse.

100 years ago: April 21, 1912

The Rev. Walter Krueger will be installed as pastor of the Lutheran church at Gordonville on the second Sunday in May; he will succeed the Rev. H. Schlesselmann.

William Kaunenberg, nearly 77 years old and an old bachelor, dies at his home on Good Hope Street; a native of Germany, he has no near relatives, but some distant cousins reside in the county; he was a soldier for four years during the Civil War.

-- Sharon K. Sanders