25 years ago: Dec. 8, 1980

County Court Judge Leonard F. Sander says construction of the new Allenville bridge may be completed by Christmas; construction of the approximately $180,000, one-lane bridge was delayed for several weeks by the lack of state-approved welders to fabricate the bridge's steel structure.

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- A few voters turned out here Saturday to decide whether Olive Branch should become an incorporated village, but there was no election; a last-minute discovery that the incorporation vote was in violation of a new Illinois election law forced a circuit judge to cancel the election Friday afternoon.

50 years ago: Dec. 8, 1955

The second fire in a week's time -- almost to the minute -- does substantial damage to the Mardi Gras Bistro and seriously threatens the old Opera House, a Cape Girardeau landmark from the post-Civil War days.

Chris Bauer, who with his brothers operated the Bauer Bros. Bakery in Cape Girardeau for many years, receives a letter from Marshall, Mo., man, who repays a 49-year-old bill; in 1906, Bauer shipped bread to a business in Advance, Mo., but the owner was forced to quit business before he was able to pay the bill.

75 years ago: Dec. 8, 1930

With the biggest obstacle -- that set up by the drainage and levee district bondholders -- hurdled successfully, distribution of government money, awarded landowners in Mississippi and New Madrid counties for their property taken in the building of a setback levee to control floods of the Mississippi River, goes forward rapidly in federal court.

W.L. Kies, bridge foreman for the county highway department, has just completed a large wooden bridge over Williams Creek at the John A. Hobbs farm near Jackson; the structure is substantial and is 60 feet long.

100 years ago: Dec. 8, 1905

Some of yesterday's newspapers contained a press dispatch saying that Congressman Tyndall and Sen. Warner had presented in each branch of Congress at the same time a bill appropriating $50,000 for a federal building at Cape Girardeau; those involved in the matter say this amount is merely a starter, and that at the proper time the amount will be increased.

A five-piece orchestra comes up from Cairo, Ill., in the afternoon and turns loose some pretty good music in the Hitt & Schindler barber shop; a dance will probably be given.

-- Sharon K. Sanders