Out of the past 12/16/06

25 years ago: Dec. 16, 1981

Proponents and opponents of the proposed Cape Girardeau Women's Center, which would offer abortion services here, have their say before the Cape Girardeau City Council at its study session; a standing-room-only crowd crams the city hall gymnasium to express its views; members of the council say their decision won't come for at least 30 days.

A new president will take over the reins of First National Bank of Cape Girardeau effective Jan. 1; the bank's board of directors has selected Bill M. Stanfield, executive vice president, to replace Richard H. Swaim as president.

50 years ago: Dec. 16, 1956

Until a new rector is named for Christ Episcopal Church, Sunday worship services will be conducted by lay readers in the morning; Bishop Arthur Lichtenberger of St. Louis will conduct a Christmas Eve service Monday night.

Newly elected deacons of the First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau are Jack L. Oliver, Vinson L. Rueseler, Dr. Harold D. Ridings, Lawrence E. Bahn Jr. and Richard Jones.

75 years ago: Dec. 16, 1931

Cape Girardeau Lions vote at their meeting to dispense with their meeting next week and place the amount of money covering the meal in a fund for supplying baskets of food to the needy on Christmas.

William Bollinger is preparing to open a cleaning establishment at 119 N. Sprigg St. in Cape Girardeau; he has just returned from Kansas City, Mo., where he bought all new equipment; he will name the new plant the Crescent Cleaners.

100 years ago: Dec. 16, 1906

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Northbound Iron Mountain train goes into a ditch one mile north of this place in the afternoon; the baggage car and smoker are partly demolished; Bertha Schell, a school teacher, is hurt, as is the conductor, neither seriously.

J.A. Neidert of the Farmington (Mo.) Business College, one of the great Moothart schools, arrives in Cape Girardeau to take charge of the office work for the Juden-Lilly Mercantile Co.

-- Sharon K. Sanders