Out of the past 2/4/11

25 years ago: Feb. 4, 1986

Cape Girardeau's air traffic control tower could be put out of operation because of the inability of the private contractor operating the tower -- Barton Air Traffic Control Inc. of Murfreesboro, Tenn. -- to obtain necessary liability insurance coverage; Barton is required to have $20 million in liability coverage, but currently has only $1 million coverage.

Jim Grebing, a reporter for the Bulletin Journal newspaper, was given the Distinguished Service Award last night by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees; honored as Boss of the Year was Carlton Lorberg, longtime owner of Lorberg Funeral Home.

50 years ago: Feb. 4, 1961

State College has been named one of three Missouri colleges to receive a National Science Foundation grant for an undergraduate research program during the summer months and, on a more restricted basis, during the 1961-1962 academic year; Dr. George E. Brown, chemistry professor, says the grant totals $9,850.

A family of six is made homeless in the morning by a fire that levels its four-room log-and-brick residence on East Cape Rock Drive, about a quarter-mile from Bend Road; the Robert Adams family is home at the time, and escapes safely.

75 years ago: Feb. 4, 1936

Forcing the temperature down 42 degrees overnight, winter hurls its blasts back at Cape Girardeau, with the mercury sinking to 8 degrees as the cold renews its drive; the high yesterday was 50 degrees, reached at 4 p.m.

Linder Deimund of Cape Girardeau, vice president and manager of the Cape Sand Co., announces he will seek the Republican nomination for Congress from the 10th District.

100 years ago: Feb. 4, 1911

The new steam ferryboat will arrive in Cape Girardeau next Saturday and will immediately go into service between this city and East Cape Girardeau, Ill.; Capt. A.C. Jaynes will name his new boat the Gladys Jaynes in honor of his daughter.

Mike L. and George M. Doris, sons of Prosecuting Attorney J.H. Doris, have left Cape Girardeau for Eminence, Mo., the county seat of Shannon County, where they have opened a general store.

-- Sharon K. Sanders