Out of the past 1/1/12

25 years ago: Jan. 1, 1987

New Year's 1987 is a good way to start the year, say area law enforcement officials; the holiday comes and goes without any serious traffic accidents or any other serious problems.

The American Red Cross is preparing to open a permanent blood donation facility here Jan. 29; the facility will be in the Wesley House, a Christian outreach center for Southeast Missouri State University students, at 415 N. Pacific St.

50 years ago: Jan. 1, 1962

First ice floes of the season appear in the Mississippi River, most of them being small; the lagoon in Capaha Park also is frozen but is not yet strong enough to support ice skating.

A fire of undetermined origin sweeps through a second-floor, three-room apartment at 514 Broadway in the evening, destroying all the property inside and causing minor injury to a fireman.

75 years ago: Jan. 1, 1937

Spending an average of $1,816 every working day and completing one structure on the average of every 86 hours, Cape Girardeau erected 103 buildings in 1936 at an aggregate cost of $578,710; the past year's activity brings the total number of structures built in the 16-year period the Southeast Missourian has been keeping a record of them to 2,058.

Luther Robins of near Advance, Mo., while going toward Delta in his truck, spots three wildcats in the weeds by the roadside; he goes to a nearby house and procures a shotgun with which he bags one of the cats; he brings it to Jackson to claim the bounty.

100 years ago: Jan. 1, 1912

The young ladies of Cape Girardeau hold an enjoyable ball in the evening at the Elks Club building; all future entertainments here will be held to this new standard.

C.D. Randol, former superintendent of the County Poor Farm, is badly hurt while moving his possessions onto a farm on near Jackson; Randol is leading a cow and a driver is following along in a wagon, when an automobile comes by frightening the mules pulling the vehicle; Randol falls under the wheels of the wagon.

-- Sharon K. Sanders