Out of the past 9/17/10

25 years ago: Sept. 17, 1985

An access road to the site of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port should be completed in about 10 days, weather permitting; repairs are being made to a section of the road that sank last July.

The Cape Girardeau City Council has approved a request by Jehovah's Witnesses and the Internal Medicine Real Estate Co. to rezone property at Bloomfield Road and Interstate 55 from residential to commercial; a regional dialysis center could be in operation there as early as mid-October.

50 years ago: Sept. 17, 1960

Another showing this evening of an automobile thrill event -- Trans World Daredevils -- and a horse show tomorrow afternoon that has attracted the attention of fanciers from a four-state area will bring to a close a successful SEMO District Fair.

The name of state Sen. Albert M. Spradling Jr. of Cape Girardeau moves into discussions of Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate seat made vacant by the death of Sen. Thomas C. Hennings Jr.

75 years ago: Sept. 17, 1935

The barbers of Cape Girardeau have submitted a petition to the city council asking that an ordinance be drafted establishing hours during which barbershops can operate; the petition represents 97 percent of the barbers in town.

Crowds that comfortably fill the tent have been attending the plays given by the Frank Smith Players at Lorimier and William streets each night this week under the auspices of the Louis K. Juden Post of the American Legion; offerings include "Elder Brother," "Uncle Jimmy and His Texas Cowboys" and "Sawdust Parents."

100 years ago: Sept. 17, 1910

Charles Blattner, a prominent Cape Girardeau County resident, has returned from a three-month visit to his native Switzerland; Blattner came to America more than 40 years ago and this was his second trip to his homeland.

There are two vacancies at the Cape Girardeau city jail, as two prisoners managed to saw their way to liberty last night; one of those, a federal prisoner, made his escape in spite of his wooden leg.

-- Sharon K. Sanders