Out of the past 4/17/12

25 years ago: April 17, 1987

After over three months of discussion, the 10 members of a committee studying a proposed lake in Cape Girardeau presented a final report to the county commission yesterday; as expected, the report calls for construction of a lake in excess of 8,000 acres in the west part of the county that would include about 2,700 acres in Bollinger County.

Dan Milligan has been named the new principal of Central High School; Milligan has served as Central Junior High principal the past two years.

50 years ago: April 17, 1962

The State Highway Commission plans to erect a temporary crossing to replace the bridge destroyed in a traffic accident Sunday near Perryville, Mo.; the 100-foot steel girder bridge collapsed into Cinque Hommes Creek on Route B a mile south of Perryville, after a tractor-trailer truck slammed into the superstructure.

Beginning this evening, Hopper Road will be cut off for a time at the crossing of the new Interstate 55, directly west of the city; grading and fill work is being done in the area.

75 years ago: April 17, 1937

The Cape Girardeau City Council adopts a resolution to purchase the ground adjacent to the fire station and fronting on Frederick Street from Ed Ruehmann for $1,600; plans are to use the rear part of the plot for the present as a storage place for city equipment, while the remainder will be kept for future expansion.

The city council directs city attorney R.P. Smith to see what steps can be taken to have a billboard erected this week on North Street removed; citizen complaints were made to the council when the billboard, put up by Operle Poster Co., took form on Missouri Park property; the company had been issued a permit for the board a year ago.

100 years ago: April 17, 1912

Notwithstanding the fact that Matt Morrison succeeded in getting four signers to a petition against the improvement of Spanish Street, that thoroughfare will be lifted out of the mud and muck; the city council last night ordered the remaking of Spanish Street into a concrete boulevard.

The Cape Girardeau Concert Band chooses new officers: director, Charles Armgardt; secretary-treasurer, F.H. Kassel; business committee, R. Lesem, Norman Gaines and Will Danks.

-- Sharon K. Sanders