25 years ago: May 11, 1981

The futures of the license bureaus at Cape Girardeau and Jackson continue to hang upon the pending decision of a St. Louis federal judge who heard the class-action lawsuit challenging the replacement of agents over the state by the Republican administration of Gov. Kit Bond; there is some speculation that the judge will make a case-by-case determination on the license bureau issue, as opposed to a blanket ruling.

A physician who is looked upon with respect by her peers and with fondness by her community becomes the 19th person to receive one of the highest civic club awards in Cape Girardeau; Dr. M. Marguerite Fuller is presented the Exchange Club's Golden Deeds Award.

50 years ago: May 11, 1956

Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Vogelsang, 701 Penny, are severely burned when a flash fire, apparently caused by ignited gasoline fumes, traps them in the basement of their home.

Announcement is made of a $125,000 expansion program to be placed underway in the next 10 days to increase the size of the A&P Store on Spanish Street by 40 percent; under the plan, the building will be extended westward 38 feet, and an additional story will be erected over the new construction.

75 years ago: May 11, 1931

Five of Cape Girardeau's street sweepers and the operator of the street-sweeping machine receive brand new uniforms; they receive two uniforms each with hats to match; the new garments are olive drab in color and were purchased by the city council; street sweepers are Jake Black, Ed Hays, Grant Gravette, Reece Washington and Jesse Harrison; Emil Koeppel operates the street-sweeping machine.

Workers will start laying water mains to supply the Lorimier and Fairmount cemeteries with water soon; the mains will be laid a distance of 1,250 feet, being attached to the Broadway main near the Tony Wulfers residence.

100 years ago: May 11, 1906

The stewards of the Methodist church in Cape Girardeau yesterday bought two lots at the northeast corner of Bellevue and Ellis streets, which will be used as a site for the handsome new building to be built this summer; the site is an unusually fine one; the lots are terraced high above the street, and when the big stone building is finished, it will overlook the city.

Mrs. E.F. Blomeyer of Milwaukee, Wis., is in Cape Girardeau visiting Mrs. Adam Weber on South Spanish Street.

-- Sharon K. Sanders