Out of the past 4/3/06

25 years ago: April 3, 1981

The multi-million dollar Westborough Mall lawsuit against the city of Cape Girardeau and the developers of West Park Mall will apparently drag on until the fall term of U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau; Federal Judge H. Kenneth Wangelen, here to set the court's May docket, tells attorneys involved in the litigation that he would issue rulings in the next two to three weeks, pushing the case back until the court's next term here in November.

Despite some findings unfavorable to the Cape Girardeau police chief, Henry H. Gerecke says he won't resign that post as a result of the recently released Public Administration Service study; the chief states that when he does leave the department, he will retire, not resign.

50 years ago: April 3, 1956

A rain and electrical storm over the noon hour brings a heavy hail to various sections of Cape Girardeau, but as far as can be determined, no damage is done.

Two new personalities -- Max G. Stovall and John L. Wieser -- are elected by voters to four-year terms on the Cape Girardeau City Council; Mayor Narvol A. Randol is re-elected by an expected landslide; other incumbents winning re-election are city commissioners J.W. McBride and U.G. Pettigrew.

75 years ago: April 3, 1931

A crowd which comfortably fills the building attends Good Friday services at noon at First Presbyterian Church; this is the first of two services held in observance of the occasion, the other being held later in the afternoon at the First Christian Church, with the Rev. J.W. Ellis, pastor of Grace Methodist Church, as speaker; the Rev. A.H. Beardsley, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, delivers the noon sermon.

Brickwork on the building at 118 N. Main, to be occupied by the Kelso Oil Co. as a gasoline filling station, garage and tire sales service, has been completed, and workers are now remodeling the interior of the structure.

100 years ago: April 3, 1906

L.B. Houck, who announced as a candidate for school director a few days ago, decided yesterday that, under the conditions that exist among the candidates, he wouldn't run; he has withdrawn his name from consideration.

Dr. M. Rosenthal, having sold his drug store, has moved his office to his residence, 42 Main Street, over the German American Bank.

-- Sharon K. Sanders