Out of the past 7/25/06

25 years ago: July 25, 1981

Southeast Missouri State University has been designated to receive a grant from the Missouri Committee for the Humanities Inc. in the amount of $11,500 to develop a state program, "History Day 1982" with Dr. Frank Nickell named as project director.

BENTON, Mo. -- Former assistant Cape Girardeau County public defender Scott Walter has been named 335d Circuit Public Defender, encompassing Scott and Mississippi counties; his office is in newly renovated space on the third floor of the Scott County Courthouse in Benton.

50 years ago: July 25, 1956

The Traffic Advisory Committee, meeting last night, turned back to the Cape Girardeau City Council the decision on a proposal to abandon the parkway on South Main Street, with the explanation that it didn't consider the matter one of only traffic importance.

The 1956 issue of the Southeast Missouri District Fair will offer to exhibitors prize money totaling $13,265, plus an additional $3,000 for 4-H Club and FFA exhibitors; the five-day exposition has been set for Sept. 10 through 18.

75 years ago: July 25, 1931

A fleet of 10 rum-chasing boats, owned by the U.S. government and designated for use in the Gulf of Mexico, passed down the Mississippi River yesterday afternoon; the boats, moving in single file, were headed by the steamer Kankakee, which is escorting them to the Gulf; they will be assigned to duty in the vicinity of Galveston, Texas.

Two men who stole a car in Cape Girardeau Thursday, abducted a deputy sheriff at Clarkton, Mo., and eluded law enforcement officers for 24 hours, were captured in a dense willow thicket three miles inside the Tennessee state line near Tiptonville late yesterday; they were arrested by a posse of four officers composed of Sheriff Tom Scott of Scott County, Sheriff A.F. Stanley of New Madrid County, Constable Brown Jewel of Sikeston, Mo., and the sheriff of Lake County, Tenn.

100 years ago: July 25, 1906

Work has begun anew on the gas plant near the power house in Cape Girardeau; the foundation for the plant was put in several months ago when the franchise was granted to the water and light company, but since then the work has dragged somewhat; the plant will consist of three buildings; one will contain the coal-burning apparatus, another will be the gas-cleaning house and the third will be the storage tank.

Billy Woods, the man who has become famous as a dirt mover in Cape Girardeau, has formed a partnership with L.B. Houck and Maj. J.F. Brooks, a civil engineer; Woods & Co., as it is known, has been given six contracts with the city to make street improvements.

-- Sharon K. Sanders

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