Out of the past 8/13/07

25 years ago: Aug. 13, 1982

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department wouldn't mind having a new ladder truck to replace its outdated truck; firefighters had the opportunity to examine a truck recently purchased by the Duluth Fire Department, when representatives from the firm which sold the vehicle stopped in Cape Girardeau to show it off.

A public hearing on a proposed multimillion-dollar flood-prevention project for Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Creek Levee and Drainage District is set for Thursday; the plan includes construction of concrete channels on both Cape LaCroix Creek and the Walker Branch, as well as bridge modifications and replacements.

50 years ago: Aug. 13, 1957

Boyd Hobbs is busy painting the steeple of the General Baptist Church on the corner of Broadway and Spanish Street; the only thing holding him up is a pulley and board seat supported by a hook put in the steeple when it was built in 1893.

A second free polio vaccine clinic will be conducted Thursday morning in the basement of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Smelterville; a similar clinic will be held the same day in the high school gymnasium at Jackson.

75 years ago: Aug. 13, 1932

Rains of varying proportions sweep Cape Girardeau County again today, bringing additional relief to growing crops, but sending creeks out of their banks and hampering traffic for a time; during the past 48 hours, rainfall in Cape Girardeau totaled 3.15 inches.

Requisition has been made through the Red Cross by local relief agencies for an additional two car loads of government flour for the relief of the needy in Cape Girardeau.

100 years ago: Aug. 13, 1907

Efforts are being made to reopen the "horrible dive" on Main Street in Cape Girardeau which for months caused so much trouble; however, several law-abiding residents are at work to prevent the move.

Two new men are here to assist in putting the Cape and Chester Railroad on substantial legs; A.R. Zoelsmann arrived in Cape Girardeau yesterday to take the position of chief clerk, and W.F. Sweene, formerly of Chester, Ill., is the new master mechanic.

-- Sharon K. Sanders