Out of the past 2/3/08

25 years ago: Feb. 3, 1983

The Cape Girardeau City Council last night approved the preliminary plan for redevelopment; in doing so, the council recognized the Cape Girardeau Redevelopment Corporation as the sole organization authorized to develop a plan to redevelop several blocks of Water, Main and Spanish streets and the Marquette Hotel site.

Taking aim last night at telephone call-in columns in local newspapers, City Councilman Peter Hilty accused The Southeast Missourian and the Bulletin-Journal of publishing "reckless criticisms."

50 years ago: Feb. 3, 1958

State Trooper William R. Little, central figure in an abduction and highway chase across three states, returns to his Cape Girardeau home to rest after a 29-hour ordeal; Little, the son of Cape Girardeau Police Chief Percy R. Little, was taken hostage by two gunmen at Van Buren, Mo.; he escaped captivity that evening after a wild ride through Southeast Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky; one of his kidnappers escaped, and the other shot himself in a suicide attempt.

Reports at the Cape Girardeau Board of Education meeting indicate that no increase in the school tax levy will be sought at the April election.

75 years ago: Feb. 3, 1933

A report that the Missouri Utilities Co. will move its offices, sales and service departments from the H.-H. Building to the building now occupied by the Montgomery Ward & Co. store, after the latter is moved to the new structure being built on Main Street, is without foundation, says utilities manager Harry B. Newman.

Capt. Ernest Orchard of the local Salvation Army appeals for clothing; an average of 25 local people per day call at the Army barracks asking for clothing and shoes.

100 years ago: Feb. 3, 1908

This evening, the faculty of the Normal School desires to meet all the people of Cape Girardeau and as many of the surrounding country as can attend the public reception; the reception commemorates the opening of the Manual Training building.

The Frisco repair shops in Cape Girardeau open up again in the morning, after a two-week layoff; the men who were thrown out of employment the first time, however, are not taken back.

-- Sharon K. Sanders