25 years ago: March 16, 1987

Cape County Park South will open for its third season April 1, with new playground equipment and improved roads but no fishing; the large lake in the south park was closed late last summer after an oxygen imbalance resulted in a major fish kill; aerators are being installed to prevent future problems.

SEMO Energy Center, a not-for-profit corporation set up to develop a regional waste-to-energy generation plant here, is proposing to establish and operate a waste transfer station to dispose of Cape Girardeau's trash as a temporary measure until the plant can be put into operation.

50 years ago: March 16, 1962

A Missouri Pacific work crew is repairing the line's crossing over Clark Avenue and will continue with repairs of each of the railroad's crossings of city streets; the gang is living in work cars stationed at McClure, Ill., and is being brought to the job here by company trucks.

Dr. Dan B. Cotner has been elected by the board of directors of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club to head the service organization in the club year beginning July 1.

75 years ago: March 16, 1937

The Cape Girardeau City Council has passed a resolution authorizing preparation of an ordinance for the paving of Perryville Road, 3,250 feet north from Broadway, with 20-foot concrete; the Cape Special Road District has agreed to pay $6,500 toward the cost of the work.

The C.J. Strom News Service, which has been at 405 Broadway since 1925, is preparing to move to new quarters at 413 Broadway; the new location will give the agency much more space than it now enjoys; workers are removing the old front at 413 Broadway, preparatory to replacing it with a new glass one.

100 years ago: March 16, 1912

Once more, the Cape Girardeau State Normal School debaters are victorious, Rush Limbaugh, one of the town's young orators, having been awarded first honors in the inter-Normal contest last night; it was a splendid battle among two picked men from each of the Normals at Cape Girardeau, Warrensburg and Springfield, Mo.

London Brothers are in Jackson installing the machinery necessary for their camera manufacturing factory.

-- Sharon K. Sanders