25 years ago: March 13, 1985

Three area educators will be honored for meritorious service to education when several thousand teachers from throughout the area gather on the university campus here Friday for the 109th annual session of the Southeast Missouri District Teachers Association; to be honored are Helon Myrick of Bell City, Joe W. Gibbons of Dexter and J.D. Faulkner of Kennett.

Downtown Cape Girardeau once again has a movie theater; the Esquire Theater, closed since last October, will reopen next week thanks to the purchase of the property by Ed Fairbank of McClure, Ill., from Dubinsky Bros. Theaters of Lincoln, Neb.; Fairbank will open the Esquire March 22, offering second-run movies during evening shows and weekend matinees.

50 years ago: March 13, 1960

The installation of a family worship room in Christ Evangelical Church building has recently been finished to enable families with small children to participate in the service together; a new sound system is being installed in the area, which formerly was the balcony of the church, so that occupants in the partitioned area may hear all parts of the service.

Two high school buildings in Southeast Missouri -- Kelly High in Scott County east of Benton and Matthews High in the north end of New Madrid County -- were burglarized last night, with about $700 taken.

75 years ago: March 13, 1935

KENNETT, Mo. -- Fighting almost certain defeat against floodwater of the rampaging St. Francis River, county, state and federal forces are battling shoulder to shoulder in an attempt to prevent a major flood from the stream, which flanks Dunklin County on the west; the raging stream has already smashed through the levee in five places in Stoddard County, flooding the Mingo basin.

A break in the Little River diversion channel levee occurs 1 1/4 miles southeast of Drum, Mo., in Bollinger County, releasing a small channel of water to rush over land north and west of Hickory Ridge; the break is 8 miles west of Allenville.

100 years ago: March 13, 1910

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The bell that was ordered for St. Ambrose Catholic Church some time ago arrived Friday; it will be installed in the belfry next week.

Dr. M.A. Grissom has about finished tearing down the ruins of the old barn on Spanish Street that was destroyed by fire a few weeks ago and will immediately construct a fine, two-story double apartment house on the site, with six rooms in each flat.

-- Sharon K. Sanders