Out of the past 1/12/07

25 years ago: Jan. 12, 1982

Federal revenue sharing, more specifically the prospects of no federal revenue sharing in the future, dominated a meeting last night between officials from area communities and 10th District Rep. Bill Emerson; many towns, including Cape Girardeau, depend on the revenue sharing program and count on money received through the program in their operating budgets.

State Rep. Jerry Ford files as a Democrat for Congress for the new 8th District, posing a general election contest for Rep. Bell Emerson should both win nominations in the primary election.

50 years ago: Jan. 12, 1957

The Missourian and State College will join forces this spring to sponsor a Southeast Missouri-Southern Illinois Science Fair, one of three in the state and the first outside the two major metropolitan areas.

The Rev. Nicholas Hirtz of Campbell, Mo., now completing his seminary training, will be the first priest ordained in the new Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese; Bishop Charles H. Helmsing will conduct the ordination ceremony April 6 at St. Mary's Cathedral.

75 years ago: Jan. 12, 1932

Federal prohibition agents, under the personal direction of deputy administrator Jefferson Davis of St. Louis, center their attack on Pemiscot County as one of the biggest liquor drives Southeast Missouri has ever known is launched; 10 agents, assisted by seven officers of Pemiscot and Dunklin counties, launch raids shortly before 8 a.m., striking simultaneously at numerous sites and arresting 15.

A watch in his pocket stopped a bullet fired at William R. Cooley, 65, tollkeeper for the Cape Girardeau Bridge Co., at midnight Monday when a bandit attempted to hold him up at the tollhouse.

100 years ago: Jan. 12, 1907

The management of the local telephone exchange announces that the new phone directories are ready for distribution; they can be had at any drugstore in Cape Girardeau.

The Daily Republican reports the depth of mud at locations in Cape Girardeau: Main Street, 3 inches; upper Broadway, 4 inches; Haarig, 3 1/4 inches; Mill Town, 5 inches, and Donnebrook, no bottom.

-- Sharon K. Sanders