25 years ago: July 16, 1983

Applications by two banks -- First Exchange Corp., holding company of Jackson Exchange Bank, and Cape County Bank of Jackson headquartered in Jackson -- for charters to establish new banks in Cape Girardeau have been approved by the Missouri Commissioner of Finance.

Burger Chef restaurant, 2115 William St., will become a Hardee's restaurant Monday; several months ago, the Hardee's chain purchased the Burger Chef group.

50 years ago: July 16, 1958

A heavy rain, accompanied by severe lightning, again floods the Kingshighway area in the morning, causing some damage and halting traffic; while less than the 4.23 inches that flooded the section June 11, observers say in instances the water, overflowing from Cape La­Croix and Walker creeks, gets higher than it did on that occasion.

Contracts for the construction of the first unit of the New Grace Methodist Church, to be on West Broadway, have been awarded; the general construction contract has been awarded to Rickard & Harrison of Cape Girardeau for the education building.

75 years ago: July 16, 1933

The Rev. Walter E. Koepf, pastor of the congregation in Cape Girardeau to be affiliated with the United Lutheran Church in America, again conducts Sunday services at the Christian Church building in the evening; the pastor was well pleased with attendance at the initial church service last Sunday.

Speaking at the union service at Courthouse Park in the evening is the Rev. C.H. Morton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church; W.J. McBride directs the singing.

100 years ago: July 16, 1907

The Rev. J.O. Willett has decided to leave the Baptist church pulpit in Cape Girardeau; he has accepted the pastorate of the Baptist church in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

All is quiet at the sewer works; for a second time in the month since work on the sewer system was started, 100 or so laborers are out on strike; the latest trouble originates from the first strike, two weeks ago; when the men received their wages yesterday, some found they didn't receive the promised increase in their pay.

-- Sharon K. Sanders