Out of the past 1/3/11

25 years ago: Jan. 3, 1986

The need for congressional reform and the shortcomings of the House-passed tax reform bill are stressed by U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, who speaks at the Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee; he also discusses the new farm bill, the deficit reduction act and Wayne Cryts.

Three Cape Girardeau teenagers -- Tom Isaac, Rich Cochran and Russ McLaughlin -- are rescued from a Perry County cave after spending several anxious hours lost; the 19-year-olds entered Crevace Cave on the north edge of Perryville, Mo., about 6 p.m. yesterday.

50 years ago: Jan. 3, 1961

Sen. Albert M. Spradling Jr. and Rep. Robert F. Hemperley depart for Jefferson City to be on hand for the opening of the legislature at noon tomorrow; Spradling will take the oath of office for his third full term; Hemperley, owner of the Cape-St. Louis Bus Line, was elected on the Republican ticket at the November general election.

Hungry thieves broke into Junior High School on Monday night and took two packages of fish and a half a ham; in addition, the burglars ransacked a large number of student lockers on the main floor.

75 years ago: Jan. 3, 1936

A bid of $7,959.84 submitted by E.L. Markham to construct lateral sewers in the Koch Suburb is accepted by the Cape Girardeau City Council; his bid was exactly the same as one submitted by F.W. Keller, but since Markham submitted the low bid for construction of the outlet and laterals in the remainder of Sewer District No. 6, the council accepts the Markham bid.

Gorged ice packs maintain a firm grip on the Mississippi River, and there is no promise of a loosening of the blockade.

100 years ago: Jan. 3, 1911

Johanna Vogelsang Brunke, nearly 84, dies after a short illness; she was born in Braunschweig, Germany, and came to the United States in 1867 with her husband, Andrew Brunke; she is survived by four sons and two daughters.

Gov. H.S. Hadley appoints Charles D. Matthews of Sikeston, Mo., one of the regents for the Normal School; he replaces Judge John C. Brown of Fredericktown, Mo., whose term expired the day he became a judge of the Supreme Court.

-- Sharon K. Sanders