Out of the past 8/26/08

25 years ago: Aug. 26, 1983

Students of the Chaffee, Mo., and Kelly school districts are being treated to an unscheduled three-day weekend, while other area school children can look forward to early dismissals because of the sizzling hot and humid weather conditions prevailing throughout Southeast Missouri.

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, heeding the advice of regent Kenneth L. Dement that "now is the time to raise our backs," votes to forward a resolution to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education objecting to a "one-sided fee increase" and calling for the state to increase its share of appropriations accordingly.

50 years ago: Aug. 26, 1958

KENNETT, Mo. — The year's first bale of Southeast Missouri cotton was harvested and ginned late yesterday, one day later than the first bale was recorded last year; it came from the Bob Matthews' farm in Dunklin County.

There will be a delay in repairing the carillon of bells in the tower of Mc¿Kendree Methodist Church at Jackson; a service man from Schulmerich Bell Co., has discovered that extensive damage was done to the carillon by a bolt of lightning two weeks ago.

75 years ago: Aug. 26, 1933

Cape Girardeau retail merchants voted last night to send a delegation to Kansas City next week to join a state association to oppose a sales tax projected by the Missouri state administration.

W.W. Bean has taken to his home south of Jackson all the property left at the county courthouse by his father, L.M. Bean, who died recently; the material includes maps, charts, plats, blueprints and surveyor's records accumulated by Bean in his 60 years as engineer.

100 years ago: Aug. 26, 1908

The Cape Girardeau school board meets to make final arrangements for the coming school year; this year, classes will be from 8:45 a.m. until 11:45; an hour and a half will be given the children for lunch, the school taking up again at 1:15 p.m. and continuing until 4:15.

Clarence Grant, chairman of the county Republican committee, opens up headquarters in the Exchange Bank building at Jackson; a stenographer is busy getting out mail to the voters.

— Sharon K. Sanders