Out of the past 2/12/11

25 years ago: Feb. 12, 1986

An Area Vocational-Technical School teacher, who is retiring at the end of this school year, has announced his candidacy for the Cape Girardeau County office of recorder of deeds; Jewell Beauchamp, a Jackson Republican, is seeking to unseat Democratic incumbent Janet Robert.

An advisory committee has been formed at University High School to make recommendations to the administration of Southeast Missouri State University regarding the disposition of the "lab school's" memorabilia and instructional equipment.

50 years ago: Feb. 12, 1961

The Spiritual Life Mission, sponsored by the churches of Cape Girardeau, begins in the afternoon at the Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church; Dr. Roy A. Burkhart, leader of the mission from Columbus, Ohio, speaks to teen-agers of the community.

Missouri Gov. John M. Dalton speaks to packed auditorium at State College in the afternoon, but 14-year-old Eagle Scout Nicky Donagan of Caruthersville, Mo., steals the show with his exposition on the Scout 1961 theme: "Strength America -- Character Counts"; 85 boys from Southeast Missouri receive their Eagle Scout badges during the Court of Honor.

75 years ago: Feb. 12, 1936

Information from Jefferson City says that paving with concrete of Highway 25 from Jackson to the Perry County line will be ordered early in the spring by the State Highway Department.

C.C. Eddleman, formerly constable in Cape Girardeau Township, says he doesn't plan to seek the Republican nomination for constable or any other office; Eddleman is engaged in farming southwest of the city.

100 years ago: Feb. 12, 1911

There apparently is an organized gang of horse thieves at work in the region; J.H. Schoenhoff of Advance, Mo., lost four fine mules and a mail hack a few nights ago; they were recovered last night by Andrew Jackson, a Gypsy, Mo., farmer, who heard the animals and vehicle pass by his place late in the night; he followed and recovered the stolen animals and hack, when the thief fled into the woods.

W.B. Ragsdale comes up to Cape Girardeau from Charleston, Mo., in the afternoon; he is enlarging his store there to double the size.

-- Sharon K. Sanders