Out of the past 1/28/11

25 years ago: Jan. 28, 1986

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Challenger explodes into a gigantic fireball moments after liftoff, killing all seven crew members: Christa McAuliffe, a 37-year-old New Hampshire teacher; commander Francis R. Scobee, 46; pilot Michael J. Smith, 40; Judith Resnik, 36; Ronald E. McNair, 35; Ellison S. Onizuka, 39; and Gregory B. Jarvis, 41.

Cape Girardeau mayoral candidate F.E. "Gene" Rhodes says the fact he is a party in litigation against the city over the use of city money in the multipurpose building project won't pose a problem should he be elected mayor; Rhodes is one of about 30 plaintiffs in a 1984 lawsuit against the city.

50 years ago: Jan. 28, 1961

A flotilla of seven towboats caught in the grip of a huge ice gorge north of Cairo, Ill., is battling its way through a sea of frozen chunks, seeking to break into open water south of Greenfield Bend; Federal Barge Lines in St. Louis, in communications with the vessels by radio, says they are slowly making their way through the great pack of ice.

Bitter cold weather, perhaps the most frigid in 44 years, gripped Cape Girardeau last night when the temperature dropped to 12 degrees below zero.

75 years ago: Jan. 28, 1936

Girardeans are grateful for slightly warmer temperatures; the mercury sinks to the zero-degree mark in the morning, which is four degrees above yesterday's reading; the city-county relief office continues to issue orders for coal, groceries, and clothing for the needy who are suffering from the frigid weather.

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is frozen over again, the second time this season; the river is frozen smooth, from just north of the traffic bridge here to near Grand Tower, Ill.

100 years ago: Jan. 28, 1911

St. Louis is abuzz with the rumor that Louis Houck has sold three of his railroad systems to the Frisco; Houck won't confirm or deny the story; it is said the deal doesn't include the Cape Girardeau & Thebes Railroad.

The ladies of the Women's Relief Corps are selling carnations, the proceeds going to the Civil War memorial fountain fund; there is quite an amount yet to be raised for the cause.

-- Sharon K. Sanders