25 years ago: Jan. 18, 1983

Lionel K. Hastings, president of Bumpa-Tel Inc., launches a protest against the city of Cape Girardeau -- in the form of a series of lawsuits and a sign across the front of his business -- over the streets and sewers near his company; Hastings files eight suits in small claims court on behalf of himself and other property owners near Bumpa-Tel, off of South Kingshighway, each demanding $1,000 in damages.

Gary Atchley, a former Missouri State Highway Patrol and former Cape Girardeau policeman, has been hired as the new chief of police of Scott City.

50 years ago: Jan. 18, 1958

HONOLULU -- Aircraft and ships continue to crisscross the path of Typhoon Ophelia, hunting a U.S. weather reconnaissance plane that vanished Tuesday night with 10 crewmen; one of the men aboard was Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Houseman, whose home is at Delta.

Bert Masterson, who started his newspaper career with The Missourian back in the 1930s, has been appointed to head up a new department of research and development for the United Press Association; Masterson has been transferred to New York from Chicago.

75 years ago: Jan. 18, 1933

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Awaiting more favorable weather, Denver M. Wright and 15 companions, newspaper reporters and news reel photographers are comfortably camped on an unnamed island in the Mississippi River, opposite Hickman, Ky.; Wright appears in no hurry to begin his latest lion hunt.

Cape Mattress Co. has been purchased by M.T. Miller and L.B. Allen, both of Cape Girardeau, from Thomas Ferriter; the new owners have taken charge and will continue to operate the plant at 6 S. Hanover St.

100 years ago: Jan. 18, 1908

People who frequent the levee these days are wondering when the winter weather will come that closes the river to navigation; not for many years have the boats been able to run as late as they have this winter.

The L.E. Lines Music Co. of Springfield, Mo., which has for about three years had a branch store in Cape Girardeau under the management of H.M. Wood, will close its operation here; Wood has built up such a thriving business here that he is being transferred to the Springfield store.

-- Sharon K. Sanders