Out of the past 4/23/07

25 years ago: April 23, 1982

Although their primary election isn't until August, the three Republican candidates for the 159th seat in the Missouri House of Representatives -- Mary C. Kasten, Gail D. "Woody" Woodfin and Calvin R. Wells -- made campaign pitches last night at a forum sponsored by a student Republican organization at Southeast Missouri State University.

Dr. David E. Payne, a sociologist serving as an American Council on Education fellow and coordinator of curriculum development at the University of New Orleans, has been appointed dean of the College of Social Sciences at Southeast Missouri State University.

50 years ago: April 23, 1957

Traffic on Highway 61 is blocked north and south for over three hours in the evening, when a heavy tractor-trailer overturns in a ditch a short distance northwest of Cape LaCroix Creek bridge; the truck itself isn't across the road, but it requires three James wreckers to remove the vehicle.

Administrator Herbert S. Wright says the new hospital structure will be evacuated and all patients will be moved into the new Southeast Missouri Hospital addition some time in August.

75 years ago: April 23, 1932

Burglars last night ransacked the office of the Public Loan Corp., in the H&H Building, but were unsuccessful in getting approximately $2,200 from a small steel safe there; the would-be thieves used a pass key to enter the office on the fourth floor, and left the place locked tight when they exited.

A campaign to raise $5,000 for Southeast Missouri Hospital is inaugurated by 50 workers; the amount sought is a "poor sick fund."

100 years ago: April 23, 1907

Carry A. Nation is still the powerful magnet that she used to be; at her first appearance in Cape Girardeau last night at the Baptist Church, she stood them up around the walls, and people were turned away by droves; she didn't disappoint the big crowd; she put enough fire into her speech to gratify those who went to hear her lambast the saloons and tobacco users.

Mrs. M.H.G. Houck, with Rebecca and Giboney Houck, returned to Cape Girar-deau last night from St. Louis, after having been abroad several months.

-- Sharon K. Sanders