Out of the past 1/21/08

25 years ago: Jan. 21, 1983

A winter storm -- the first of the season and really more of an inconvenience than a storm -- leaves area roads ice-covered and gives a number of area school children their first snow day of the 1982-1983 term; there isn't enough snow on the ground to make a decent snowball; only 0.15 inches of rain, freezing rain and snow flurries were recorded at the municipal airport.

There will be fewer executive-level administrative positions at Southeast Missouri State University next fall, if a proposal is adopted by the board of regents; president Bill W. Stacy suggests that the school eliminate five of the university's 36 administrative positions.

50 years ago: Jan. 21, 1958

Mrs. Robert Kirkpatrick of Cape Girardeau files as a candidate for the nomination for county collector on the Republican ticket; an experienced bookkeeper, she also assisted her late husband on special occasions while he was county collector.

Clarence Schilling, acting superintendent of Trail of Tears State Park north of Cape Girardeau, confers with Roscoe C. Collier, chief engineer for the Missouri State Board, about Moccasin Springs Road; workers are waiting until the weather clears before starting to construct the road.

75 years ago: Jan. 21, 1933

Fire guts a four-room frame dwelling at 1413 Water St., occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bon Boswell, and destroys its furnishings valued at $1,000; the house was owned by Al Brinkopf.

Nearly two truck loads of food are taken in as admission to a special show for children at the Fox Broadway Theater; the food is turned over to the Central Relief Organization for distribution to the poor.

100 years ago: Jan. 21, 1908

A telegram is received telling of the death of John Jenkins, about 60, at Batesville, Ark.; Jenkins was a Cape Girardeau County resident all of his life, until he moved to Batesville four years ago and went into farming; he served as the sheriff of Cape Girardeau County in 1897 and 1898.

Bill Barenkamp, the iron-winged baseball pitcher, is said to be considering a position at the Cape Girardeau shoe factory so that he can play ball here all summer.

-- Sharon K. Sanders