Out of the past 10/31/2008

25 years ago: Oct. 31, 1983

Ghosts and goblins and princesses and pirates are among a colorful crowd participating in a Halloween parade down Broadway in the morning; participants are from day-care centers around Cape Girardeau.

U.S. District Judge H. Kenneth Wangelin permanently enjoins the Army Corps of Engineers from activating the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway of the Mississippi River; the ruling granting property owners in the 130,000-acre floodway the permanent injunction upholds his ruling in May.

50 years ago: Oct. 31, 1958

The congregation of First Baptist Church will be asked to vote Sunday on a proposal to award contracts totaling $225,814 for construction of a new education building to front on Broadway immediately east of the church edifice; in addition, members will vote on proposals to install air-conditioning equipment and to pave parking areas around the church.

An automatic fire alarm system with 73 detectors throughout the building and a direct signal system to Fire Station No. 1 has been installed in Cape Osteopathic Hospital.

75 years ago: Oct. 31, 1933

A big parade, formally inaugurating the first American Legion Halloween Mardi Gras, meanders from Central High School through the business sections and winds up at Houck Field Stadium, where more than 60 prizes for best costumes are awarded.

The Cape Girardeau City Council appoints Linder B. Allen a city firefighter, succeeding the late C.M. Chostner; he is receiving instructions in the use of firefighting equipment from chief G.D. French and other firefighters.

100 years ago: Oct. 31, 1908

Yesterday, the Jackson High School and Normal School football teams battled fiercely for 50 minutes, without either team being able to score; at no time of the game was the Normal's goal line in danger, while Jackson's sacred line was threatened constantly.

A committee of the Missouri Daughters of the American Revolution is at work designing a flag for this state, which not only has no flag, but no legal colors for a flag and no seal; Cape Girardeau's representative on the committee is Mrs. R.B. Oliver.

— Sharon K. Sanders