Out of the past 1/1/06

25 years ago: Jan. 1, 1981

The petition drive aimed at placing a home-rule charter proposal before Cape Girardeau voters is being termed highly successful by officials of the Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the signature campaign; several thousand signatures have been obtained so far on the charter petitions, far in excess of the number required to place the proposal on the ballot in April.

A 30-year-old Cape Girardeau man is seriously injured when he is struck by a hit-and-run driver on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River bridge at 2:50 a.m.

50 years ago: Jan. 1, 1956

Fire of unknown origin did an estimated $5,000 worth of damage as it destroys the interior and contents of the Clarence Sanders residence, 614 S. Sprigg; one fireman -- Romanus Halter -- is slightly injured as he helped battle the blaze.

F.A. Keller, who farms on Ranney Road six miles west of Cape Girardeau, recently sold a pair of registered Percheron mares, 12 and 9 years old, and both with colts, to Sherman Caldwell at Thebes, Ill.

75 years ago: Jan. 1, 1931

The Missouri Utilities Co. will construct an extension to its intake pipe at the water plant on the Mississippi River to meet the situation caused by the low river stage; the river is at 5.5 feet, the lowest on record since the present intake was installed.

The coming of the new year was celebrated in a variety of ways last night; a number of churches and church organizations held watch services; the annual New Year's dance was held at the Country Club; and the Fox-Broadway Theater observed the day with a midnight showing of "Viennese Nights," an artistic operetta.

100 years ago: Jan. 1, 1906

Circuit court is convened in Jackson by Judge H.C. Riley, with numerous lawyers attending from this and other counties in Southeast Missouri; most of their legal business is civil in nature; about the busiest man in the courthouse is prosecuting attorney Charles Daues, who is handling a number of saloon cases, where operators are accused of selling liquor on Sundays.

New Year's Day is quiet in Cape Girardeau; the public offices, banks, railroad shops and offices are all closed, and many stores shut their doors at noon; many parties and dinners are given, and the Sons of Veterans entertain 100 at their annual ball in the evening.

-- Sharon K. Sanders