Out of the past 1/2/010

25 years ago: Jan. 2, 1985

Cape Girardeau County employees and elected officials are now members of the Local Government Employees Retirement System pension program as a result of action taken Monday by the County Commission; participation in the program is mandatory for all county employees and officeholders.

Faced with strong neighborhood opposition to the proposed establishment of a Jehovah's Witnesses' kingdom hall at Northview Drive and Cardinal Lane, the Cape Girardeau City Council, on a tie vote, turns down the congregation's request for a special use permit.

50 years ago: Jan. 2, 1960

The first murmurings of the 1960 county political race begins with the filing of two candidates at the office of county clerk for nomination on the Democratic ticket at the August primary; first to file is Irvin Hobbs, who operates a livestock farm five miles north of Cape Girardeau; he will run for assessor; he is followed by Sheriff John C. Crites, filing for a second four-year term.

Fredericktown, Mo.'s, Blackcats scored on a 15-foot jump shot with 10 seconds remaining to defeat the Delta, Mo., Bobcats, 41-39 to win the championship of the 15th annual College High Christmas Tournament on New Year's Eve; Don Downs sank the winning shot.

75 years ago: Jan. 2, 1935

JEFFERSON CITY -- Gov. Parker, in his message to the General Assembly, recommends that the State Teachers Colleges be placed under the control of the University of Missouri; the colleges are located in Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Warrensburg, Kirksville and Maryville.

Don Faurot is named head football coach of the Missouri University; although the Board of Curators doesn't name his assistants, Coach E.R. Stuber of State College is still in the running for the job.

100 years ago: Jan. 2, 1910

John Tiedemann, formerly of Cape Girardeau and Jackson, has been appointed to Berlin as the correspondent for The New York Herald; previously, he wrote for the St. Louis Republic.

E.L. Ross, son of Isaac Ross, and Louis Blattner, son of Charles Blattner, have gone to Columbia to take a special six-week course in agriculture.

-- Sharon K. Sanders