Out of the past 1/15/10

25 years ago: Jan. 15, 1985

Cape Girardeau County's 1985 budget includes a new department, a substantial increase in road and bridge funds, assumption of sole reassessment responsibility, and new data-processing equipment to maintain reassessment; the new department is the County Archives Department, which will have a budget of $56,000.

The air traffic control tower at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport officially reopens, more than three years after it had closed; Barton Air Traffic Control Inc. of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is operating the tower.

50 years ago: Jan. 15, 1960

R.P. Smith, attorney for Sikeston, Mo., Mayor C.E. "Daddy" Felker, receives notice from the state Supreme Court of an order transferring an election contest in the Sikeston city manager controversy to the Springfield Court of Appeals.

Renovation of the Agriculture Building and a proposed expansion of Houck Stadium are major items discussed at a meeting of the State College Board of Regents.

75 years ago: Jan. 15, 1935

In operation from Sept. 12 to the end of December, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration meat cannery on West End Boulevard has closed; packing meat from 7,999 head of cattle, the plant gave regular employment to more than 600 men and women.

There are four hats at the Cape Girardeau Fire Department headquarters for seven firemen; three of these belong to the department, and one fireman paid for his own; in case of a fire, the others wear what they can find to protect their heads; the firemen have asked city officials to purchase hats for them -- at a cost of $1.50 each, but no action has been taken.

100 years ago: Jan. 15, 1910

The river is a steadily moving mass of ice, carrying with it an occasional skiff, piece of boat or other flotsam; not for 25 years has the breaking up of the ice gorges on the Mississippi River caused so much damage as it has on this occasion, nor has the damage been so great this early in the season.

Inez Andrews, who is teaching school at Delta, is in Cape Girardeau visiting friends.

-- Sharon K. Sanders