Out of the past 5/8/08

25 years ago: May 8, 1983

Long-awaited diplomas are passed out to Southeast Missouri State University's 834 graduates at commencement exercises at Houck Stadium; commencement speaker is Robert H. Dusenberg, vice president and general counsel of Pet Inc. of St. Louis.

Two Bell City, Mo., men and an Oran, Mo., woman, are arrested by a state trooper in the evening, after they drive a four-wheel drive vehicle through a sandbag levee and attempt to travel south on a flooded section of Highway 25 near Dutchtown; it is the first reported violation since the county court imposed a curfew in flood-stricken areas last Tuesday.

50 years ago: May 8, 1958

The search continues for three escapees from the Cape Girardeau County jail in Jackson, who employed a ruse early Tuesday night to gain freedom; the trio evidently stole an automobile at the edge of Fruitland and later abandoned it near Chester, Ill.

Jack L. Oliver is elected president of the Lions Club for the ensuing year; he is a member of the Oliver & Oliver law firm and has been active in the club since 1946.

75 years ago: May 8, 1933

Fire almost canceled baptismal services yesterday at the Red Star Baptist Gospel Tabernacle; the frame building was ignited at 2:15 p.m., when flames from a kerosene stove, beneath the large metal tank under the platform used as a baptistry, exploded; firefighters arrived in time to put out the fire before it caused any damage.

Delia Kimmel has purchased the Eat Shop, 302 Broadway, from A. Moi, who bought the establishment only four weeks ago from Marie Cunningham; he plans to return to his home in St. Louis.

100 years ago: May 8, 1908

Because of the continuing rain, the preliminaries in the five athletic events of the big high school track and field contest at the Normal School are postponed until tomorrow morning.

Several of the biggest stockholders in the Southern Metal and Manufacturing Co. meet at the Commercial Club rooms to discuss the future of the big plant; the sale of the smelter property to the trustees, representing all Cape Girardeau investors, was confirmed recently in circuit court.

— Sharon K. Sanders