Out of the past 12/2/08

25 years ago: Dec. 2, 1983

A state budgetary ax that Gov. Kit S. Bond promises will fall on a number of Missouri agencies if the special session of the legislature fails to approve a proposed tax increase will also affect the Missouri National Guard; under budget cuts being threatened by Bond, the Guard would be forced to close 19 of its 63 armories as of Jan. 1.

A $5,000 Community Development Block Grant has been awarded to Cape Girardeau to finance a survey of historic buildings in the downtown area.

50 years ago: Dec. 2, 1958

Members of Local 1084 of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department issue an appeal for old toys they can refurbish for distribution to less-fortunate children for Christmas; toys may be dropped off at any Shell Oil Co. station.

The Public Library board is ready to go ahead with final planning and then a call for bids for an addition to the present building; the architect for the addition, which will be to the front of the present structure, is John Boardman.

75 years ago: Dec. 2, 1933

A conference between the school boards of Cape Girardeau County and the County Court will be held next week to outline projects under the projected Civil Works Administration program of spending money for needed school projects to provide employment.

So far as is known, Cape Girardeau sportsmen who early yesterday went into the tall timber after wild turkeys, just as the season opened, didn't fare well; there are no reports of turkeys being killed.

100 years ago: Dec. 2, 1908

A special meeting of the Commercial Club is set for tonight; the reason of the gathering is to consider a proposition to be made by C.M. Fairchild, a representative of the Dry Goods Reporter; the newspaper arranges for a series of business conferences with merchants and delivers illustrated lectures.

Katie M. Whitelaw, wife of the former mayor of Cape Girardeau, dies in the morning; she had been established only a short time in the residence her husband built for her and their family at the corner of Middle and Bellevue streets.

— Sharon K. Sanders