Out of the past 1/24/05

25 years ago: Jan. 24, 1980

There's an unwelcome visitor in schools throughout much of the state; influenza is making its winter rounds; thus far, it has shut down four schools in Central Missouri; but the Cape Girardeau area, at least for the present, is caught in a mostly germ-free pocket.

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents accepts the Springdale Farm in northeast Cape Girardeau as part of a purchase-donation agreement with Robert and Richard Renfrow; the tract will be used by the school as a wildlife refuge, a study area and a natural recreation area.

50 years ago: Jan. 24, 1955

The Cape Special Road District says it has been advised by attorneys that when the bonds on the traffic bridge are paid off the span must be made toll free, and that it has no authority to sell the bridge to the city of Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau voters will vote tomorrow for the second time in eight months to determine in a special election if an elected city official should be recalled from office; the election will match four men for the office of commissioner on the city council; Phillip H. Steck is the incumbent and will face Frank Batchelor, Nick Carter and Leon McLaughlin.

75 years ago: Jan. 24, 1930

Girardeans look forward to crawling out from under a blanket of snow and enjoying warmer weather as the mercury starts upward; the temperature in the morning is 6 degrees above zero, 12 degrees above yesterday's low; the weather bureau predicts continued fair weather and rising temperatures.

Max J. Wielpuetz, owner of Wielpuetz bakeries in Southeast Missouri, is back from a month's trip to Los Angeles, Calif., where he visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Wielpuetz, and his brother, Arthur; he reports that when he left Los Angeles, the mercury stood at 70 degrees.

100 years ago: Jan. 24, 1905

John T. Sackman is having the shelving and fixtures in his furnishing goods store remodeled and, when completed, it will be one of the prettiest stores in the city; his spring stock will be larger and finer than ever.

The team of strapping big horses which the Dempsey store uses to deliver freight ran away yesterday from the store on Water Street; becoming frightened at a train, the animals bolted toward Themis Street, where the stake wagon encountered a pole; the horses then held a kicking bee until captured.

-- Sharon K. Sanders