25 years ago: May 30, 1981

Teachers in the Jackson School District, angered by the school board's salary decision Friday morning, walked the picket line at graduation exercises Friday night to demonstrate their dissatisfaction; about 30 teachers were involved in the "informal picket."

Independent Foods Corp., a $15 million full line food service distributor of St. Louis, announces the purchase of Central Foods distributing business in Cape Girardeau; the purchase includes the frozen foods facility on Highway 74, just east of the Sprigg Street junction, and approximately four acres of ground.

50 years ago: May 30, 1956

Memorial Day. A wreath dropped from an airplane on the Mississippi River pays tribute by the Knights of Columbus to the dead of the nation's wars in ceremonies at the waterfront; the Rev. Joseph P. Dyra, pastor of St. Vincent's Catholic Church, speaks briefly at the ceremony.

A monument to the heroism of Pfc. Richard Wilson, Cape Girardeau winner of the Medal of Honor for valor in Korea in 1951, is dedicated in services in the afternoon at Memorial Park; this is followed by joint services of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.

75 years ago: May 30, 1931

Three more new buildings are listed in Cape Girardeau's 1931 construction program -- two residences and a gasoline filling station; the new home of Mr. and Mrs. George Vandeven will be built in Rockwood Place on Normal Avenue and was designed by architect Jules Reither; Prof. Charles Laub's two-story frame home will be built at 31 N. Pacific St., the site of his home which burned May 18; Cape Oil Co. plans to erect a new brick building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Middle, to be occupied by a gasoline filling station.

The Louis K. Juden Post of American Legion has completed a successful membership campaign; it now has 318 members.

100 years ago: May 30, 1906

Decoration Day. A large crowd attends services at Lorimier Cemetery marking the memory of the departed sustainers of the Union; in attendance are members of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Sons of Veterans, the Ladies Auxiliary and the Women's Relief Corps, as well as hundreds of other citizens.

Edward Regenhardt is a busy man; his quarry is supplying stone to several projects in other towns, including Advance, Mo., Oran, Mo., and Bradwell, Ky.

-- Sharon K. Sanders