Out of the past 1/12/05

25 years ago: Jan. 12, 1980

It's January, and for the first time in three years, there's nary a snowflake, nary an aching back from trying to nudge a car out of an icy rut, nary a snow shovel that's seen any action; after two years of heavier than normal snow, this winter is a welcome respite.

Glen Prosser, a Delta area resident, is a farmer by trade, but for the next seven months he will be spending much of his time in temporary census offices at 407 N. Kingshighway; the office will remain open until the 1980 census is completed, hopefully by the end of July, Prosser says.

50 years ago: Jan. 12, 1955

Cape Girardeau County grand jury, impaneled in the morning by Circuit Judge D.W. Gilmore, is given instructions to inquire into the brutal slaying of Bonnie Huffman, rural schoolteacher, whose battered body was found July 5 in a roadside ditch north of Delta.

Max K. Prill and Ernest L. Hahs have opened a new Ford agency in Jackson and are operating at the Ford-Groves garage; they have bought the franchise in Jackson from Fred A. Groves of Cape Girar-deau.

75 years ago: Jan. 12, 1930

Efforts are being made by the building committee of the Christ Evangelical congregation to have the new church home at Merriwether and South Ellis streets completed and ready for dedication March 30; plastering of the structure has begun, and about three months will be required to put finishing touches on the building.

The Rev. J.C. Montgomery, presiding elder of the Cape Girardeau district of Metho-dist churches, preaches in the evening at Maple Avenue Methodist Church.

100 years ago: Jan. 12, 1905

Yesterday and last night will be long remembered by those who were on the streets; the slush and water became so deep it was nearly impossible to cross the streets, and in many places it was necessary to wade in water over the shoe tops; to add to the difficulties, the electric lights went out twice, plunging the town into darkness.

Mail carrier G. Stovall is sick and has had to abandon his route; P.M. Flentge and Arthur Uhl combine to get the mail out.

-- Sharon K. Sanders