Out of the past 1/15/05

25 years ago: Jan. 15, 1980

Loretta Schneider and Curt S. Smith filed yesterday for two seats available on the Cape Girardeau City Council, bringing the number of candidates to nine; Schneider won a primary race for the council in 1977, but was defeated in the general election that year.

The closing of the Easter Seal Center's preschool class has left a void in the education of handicapped youngsters, but the loss may be absorbed by the Cape Girardeau public schools; a directive to close the preschool class was received through the state office in St. Louis.

50 years ago: Jan. 15, 1955

The city has insurance that will pay for the repair of most of the damage to a fire engine, which hit a steel post yesterday en route to a fire; the damage is estimated at $750; the rear platform that holds a coil of hose and provides a place for firemen to stand was torn off, and the right rear fender was crumpled.

Four candidates will be in the race for city commissioner at the special recall election Jan. 25; petitions are filed at the office of the city clerk by Nick Carter and Leon McLaughlin.

75 years ago: Jan. 15, 1930

Supporters of the Cape Girardeau County Fair met last night to discuss plans to ensure the future of the exhibition; a committee will confer with the county court to see if it will set aside a portion of the County Farm for fair purposes.

Three Southeast Missouri highways are closed by floodwater from district streams which cover roads at strategic points following heavy rains of the past few days; roads near Cape Girardeau are clear, and traffic is moving normally.

100 years ago: Jan. 15, 1905

The engineering department of the Frisco Railroad had a hard time of it yesterday and today; by Saturday midnight, nearly every water tank on the division was reported frozen up, and it took heroic work to get them going in time to keep the trains moving; the main trouble came from the pipes being frozen underground.

The cold weather of the past week has depleted the usual stock of coal, and dealers are unable to fill all orders promptly; the coal famine forces the Baptist Church to halt worship after the morning service.

-- Sharon K. Sanders