Out of the past 7/6/09

25 years ago: July 6, 1984

State Sen. Edwin L. Dirck, D-St. Ann, chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, cautions the Cape Girardeau City Council to "get its act together" in selection of a site for the multipurpose building, or the $3.2 million appropriated by the state could go to another state university building.

Robert Krone of Cape Girardeau looked skyward last night and was surprised to see a UFO hovering over Cherokee Park at 9:38 p.m., as he was returning home from work on Perryville Road.

50 years ago: July 6, 1959

Three major property owners -- International Shoe Co., Missouri Utilities Co., and Frisco Railroad -- have spent $175,000 and the federal government has expended another $1,150,000 in the building of the Mississippi River levee and its flood-control appurtenances in the North Main Street area; the money appears to have been wasted, as right-of-way troubles is keeping the project from being completed.

The question of who will bear the cost of the proposed sewer disposal system in Cape Girardeau, ordered by the State Division of Health, draws the attention of the City Council; attorney Edward L. Downs questions whether the disposal system cost will be borne by the property owners in Sewer District No. 5, or by the entire city.

75 years ago: July 6, 1934

Two robbers ransack the dwelling of a couple in the Smelterville suburb at 1 a.m., and after failing to find any loot, force the wife at the point of a gun to surrender $1,167 in cash she had sewed into her clothing; the robbery leaves the family virtually without funds.

Highway Department workers are watering trees planted along Highway 61 near Cape Girardeau, attempting to keep them alive until the drought ends; the trees were set out early this spring.

100 years ago: July 6, 1909

The ladies of the Presbyterian Aid Society of Jackson have purchased electric fans for the church; everybody can be cool and comfortable next Sunday.

A bulletin is posted in the afternoon informing all employees of the Frisco car shops in Cape Girardeau that the work here would be shut down indefinitely, and that all men can get work by going to Chaffee.

-- Sharon K. Sanders