Out of the past 1/20/11

25 years ago: Jan. 20, 1986

All federal, state and county government offices and banks and savings and loan institutions are closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday; at Southeast Missouri State University, a program honoring the civil rights leader is held at noon in the University Center lobby; in the evening, a larger program is held in the University Center Ballroom, with the Rev. Cheviene Jones, pastor of St. Peters AME Church in St. Louis, as the keynote speaker.

After nearly two years of bitter battles in the Missouri Legislature and delaying tactics by opponents, Missourians are able to buy tickets for the "Jackpot '86" lottery starting at noon.

50 years ago: Jan. 20, 1961

WASHINGTON -- With an 8-inch snow blanketing the Capitol grounds, John F. Kennedy takes the oath of office, becoming the 35th president of the United States.

While the governor of Missouri, John M. Dalton, and Lt. Gov. Hilary Bush are attending the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C., Sen. Albert M. Spradling of Cape Girardeau has been the acting governor since Tuesday.

75 years ago: Jan. 20, 1936

Twenty-five men of the northeast corner of Cape Girardeau County are called to work as a start is made on a countywide Public Works Administration road improvement project; the first work is done near New Bethel Church.

The county budget, as prepared by County Clerk Edwin L. Kies, is adopted by the county court; it shows that the assessed valuation of the county is $23,600,000, approximately $150,000 less than last year.

100 years ago: Jan. 20, 1911

D.A. Glenn reports that, since he has been unable to sell out his stock of goods as he announced in November, he will continue to operate the store; he will continue to try to find a buyer for the store, but in the meantime will buy complete lines of new spring goods.

Police chief Willis Martin received a telegram last night that put his force in a flutter; it notified him that three men alleged to be implicated in the dynamiting of the Los Angeles Times newspaper building last fall were headed to Cape Girardeau; the telegram came from Ben Rozier, the constable at West Chester, Mo.

-- Sharon K. Sanders