Out of the past 6/6/09

25 years ago: June 6, 1984

A total of 27 people, all charged with sale or possession of various controlled substances, had been arrested by 11 a.m. in what law enforcement officials say is the biggest drug bust in Cape Girardeau County history; the busts center on a drug ring in Cape Girardeau.

The 40th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy is marked; Max Stovall, proprietor of Stovall Block and Brick of Cape Girardeau, was a 20-year-old sergeant in an engineer's outfit when he hit the Normandy beach June 6, 1944; his job was to keep a battle map of the developing campaign.

50 years ago: June 6, 1959

A new organization is being set up in Cape Girardeau, largely for the purpose of having charge of grave decorations and Memorial Day observances; it will be known as the Joint Veterans Council.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at the Normandy beach; a number of Cape Girardeau men took part in the invasion, including Charles Kaempfe, Russell Smith, Max Stovall, Lynn R. Illers, Loy McNeely and others.

75 years ago: June 6, 1934

V. Ernest Field of Indianapolis, Ind., is expected to be the chief speaker at a meeting of the Optimist Club at the Colonial Tavern tomorrow night; Field is the president of the international organization of Optimists.

A 6-inch water main, approximately 600 feet long, is being installed in the Sunset Court addition west of Southeast Missouri Hospital to connect with a group of new dwellings under construction.

100 years ago: June 6, 1909

Trinity Lutheran Church celebrates a mission festival at the fairgrounds; professor L. Fuerbringer of Concordia College in St. Louis preaches at the morning service in German; in the afternoon, the English sermon is preached by the Rev. D.F. Schoof of Gravelton, Mo., a former missionary among the black people of West Virginia; the Egypt Mills band accompanies the singing.

Mrs. R.H. Whitelaw, Mrs. M.E. Shelton and Nettie Shelton leave for Sackets Harbor, N.Y., for an extended visit to their daughters, whose husbands are officers in the 24th U.S. Infantry, stationed at that point.

-- Sharon K. Sanders