Out of the past 11/12/05

25 years ago: Nov. 12, 1980

Cape Girardeau residents who expect the city's new transit system to resemble the Bi-State bus system in St. Louis are in for a surprise, warn city officials; city manager W.G. Lawley reminded councilmen last night, "This will be a limited service system. It is not a 'take people to work' system at all."

A citizens' advisory committee appointed by Jackson Board of Education to study possible reorganization of the school system has recommended making few changes in the current school structure; the committee favors the current arrangement of grades 10, 11 and 12 at the senior high, but recommends that the Central Elementary School could be used for high school classes in the future if needed.

50 years ago: Nov. 12, 1955

The way is cleared today for the awarding of contracts for start of construction of a combined floodwall and earthen levee along the Cape Girardeau waterfront with announcement by two Main Street Levee Improvement districts that $185,000 in cash has been raised as their share of the cost.

At approximately the halfway point in the tax collection season, Cape Girardeau property owners have paid only slightly more than 30 percent of the $274,235 they owe on their city taxes.

75 years ago: Nov. 12, 1930

Construction of the farm-to-market road between Dutchtown and Whitewater, the first in Cape Girardeau County, has been started by Walter Knox and Son contractors of Jackson; the first grading on the three-mile stretch was begun this week and will continue as long as weather permits.

City mail carrier service won't be extended to residences of the Red Star suburb until sidewalks are constructed, the postal department has ruled on an application filed Oct. 29 by 84 families, asking that this service be inaugurated.

100 years ago: Nov. 12, 1905

This week will see the departure of one of the most prominent ministers, the Rev. Henry Lobeck, pastor of the Lutheran Church; he goes to take the chair of mathematics in St. Paul's College in Concordia, Mo.

Chaffee, Mo., has finally been given official recognition by the Frisco Railroad; on the time card which will be circulated this week for the new trains that will be put on next week, the words "Chaffee Division of the Third District" appear instead of the familiar "Cape Girardeau Division," as has been the case since the establishment of the road.

-- Sharon K. Sanders