Out of the past 7/15/11

25 years ago: July 15, 1986

Strong winds early yesterday evening, some in excess of 75 miles per hour, inflicted heavy damage to parts of Cape Girardeau's west end business district and central residential areas; Cape Color World sustained heavy damage as it took much of the brunt of the storm in the Town Plaza.

Receipts from the quarter-cent sales tax to fund the first phase of development at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority are running slightly ahead of projections; receipts from January through May totaled $626,766.13.

50 years ago: July 15, 1961

A two-story addition to West Side Church of God, to be used as an educational unit, was included in the 10 building permits issued this week by the city engineer; the church addition will cost $20,000.

Sen. Albert M. Spradling Jr. says he is pleased with the redistricting proposal that adds Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties to the 27th District; he says the addition makes the 27th District larger than at any time in its history.

75 years ago: July 15, 1936

A forecast of showers for tonight and tomorrow gives hope to Girardeans for a letup in the extreme heat; the mercury climbs to 102 degrees in Cape Girardeau by 2 p.m., and to 104 degrees at Jackson.

Milton Swan, former State Teachers College football star, returns from Lambert Aviation Field near St. Louis, where he has been taking a month's flight training course; he is awaiting orders to report to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Fla.

100 years ago: July 15, 1911

The cornerstone of the new grandstand at the fairgrounds is placed in position with impressive ceremonies participated in by a committee of the fair and park board and headed by D.A. Glenn; August Vogelsang, the contractor, places the stone and seals inside it the papers and records of the ceremony.

Today is payday on the Frisco, and checks in large denominations are being distributed at the passenger depot to all conductors, brakemen and other employees of the railroad who have their headquarters here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders