Out of the past 5/12/07

25 years ago: May 12, 1982

Missouri Gov. Kit Bond yesterday personally kicked off the campaign in Cape Girardeau for passage of his $600 million bond issue proposal to upgrade state facilities, saying it would generate more than $2 billion in economic activity and an estimated 57,000 jobs throughout the state.

Redevelopment in downtown Cape Girardeau could start later this year, an urban planner with Booker Associates Inc. of St. Louis, told city officials, if the city approves a recently completed preliminary development plan and designates the Cape Girardeau Redevelopment Corp. as the sole redevelopment agency in the downtown area; several members of the redevelopment corporation and the planner meet with the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

50 years ago: May 12, 1957

Robert Hurte has been elected new pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau; he will succeed V.A. Moore, who has resigned because of ill health; Hurte, a son-in-law of Moore, was licensed as a minister last November.

The Rev. and Mrs. John W. Cowan and daughters will leave Jackson early Tuesday; they'll drive to Montreal, Canada, where they will embark May 17 aboard the Saxonia, a Cunard steamer, for Liverpool, England; Cowan and the Rev. James M. Thomson of Ayrshire County, Scotland, are exchanging pulpits for four months.

75 years ago: May 12, 1932

Roy Woeltje of Jackson will be appointed surveyor of Cape Girardeau County by Missouri Gov. H.S. Caulfield; Woeltje, a native of the county, has worked in the surveyor's office 14 months; he will fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Lucht.

H.V. Beal, a Cape Girardeau grocer and commander of the American Legion post, announced he is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for sheriff of Cape Girardeau County.

100 years ago: May 12, 1907

President W.S. Dearmont of the Normal School conducted worship services at the Presbyterian Church; the pastor, the Rev. Adolph Kistler, is at Jackson.

The newly formed Cape Girardeau Capahas defeat the vaunted Yankee Boys of St. Louis in an interesting game; Harrigan pitches and satisfies with his skill; seven hits are recorded off him.

-- Sharon K. Sanders