Out of the past 5/17/10

25 years ago: May 17, 1985

While Cape Girardeau's proposed $17.48 million city budget is some $3 million smaller than the 1984-1985 budget, the cost of city operations is up; the decrease in the total budget is the result of a substantial drop in the capital improvements budget from $8.4 million to $3.27 million.

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department has received 20 applications from county residents volunteering for the department's new reserve unit, which will begin training next month.

50 years ago: May 17, 1960

Construction began yesterday on a swimming pool for the Sands Motel on U.S. 61 built of pre-cast concrete hauled to the site and installed as the four sides of the 19-by-42-foot tank; Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson has the contract for the $8,500 pool; owner of the Sands is Louis Bahn.

In a freak accident that occurs in an alley at the rear of 324 N. Pacific St., extensive damage is done to a two-ton truck that jackknifes and overturns as a Caterpillar is being unloaded from a trailer attached to the truck.

75 years ago: May 17, 1935

The steamer Golden Eagle, in charge of Capt. William H. "Buck" Leyhe, spent the night at Cape Girardeau on its way to St. Louis; the boat has been repainted and some remodeling done, but it still retains the name, "Golden Eagle"; rumors had circulated that the boat would be re-named the "Cape Girardeau."

With the nucleus for each of their ball clubs on file and approved, managers of the four teams in the Municipal League are preparing rosters for the start of baseball season; games will again be staged at Fairground Park rather than the new park on U.S. 61.

100 years ago: May 17, 1910

When it comes to raising strawberries, none can beat Giles Deevers, a farmer living on the Bend Road; Deevers brings two wagon loads of the finest berries to Cape Girardeau each day when they're in season and has no trouble selling them.

The street car company has made arrangements with the kettle River Co. so that the tracks on Broadway won't have to be taken up because of the paving; the concrete work will be done with the tracks in place, and there will be no interruption of trolley traffic.

-- Sharon K. Sanders