Out of the past 1/6/06

25 years ago: Jan. 6, 1981

The first winter storm of the season brushes an icy glaze on the area, shutting down schools just one day after resumption of classes and causing traffic snarls as workers set out for their jobs; sleet begins falling around 5 a.m. in Cape Girardeau, followed by intermittent light snow.

Jackson city officials have taken a major step toward the upgrading of the municipal power plant through expansion of its generating capacity; the board of aldermen last night authorized the consulting engineering firm of Roger Schmidt Engineering Co. of St. Louis to advertise for bids for two power plant generators, expected to cost about $8 million.

50 years ago: Jan. 6, 1956

An early morning fire guts the interior of the front office and showroom of the McDowell Motor Co. building in Cape Girardeau, extensively damaging five new automobiles, destroying the parts department and doing other damage throughout the entire half of block-long building; owner of the firm is Lloyd C. McDowell.

Cape Girardeau County's two political parties are going to have to reach decisions soon on their candidates for judge of Common Pleas Court, or else let their spots on the ballot for the Jan. 24 special election go by default.

75 years ago: Jan. 6, 1931

Members of the Teachers College faculty this week received 20 percent of their regular monthly salary, the balance being held back for a time; the reason for the amount paid from the college office was that revenue has been overdrawn for the year, but this will be remedied within the next month when the appropriation for 1931 is released.

Acting on an appeal of residents to delay construction of a water filter plant at Cape Girardeau until detailed plans may be made to provide a permanent rather than makeshift solution of the water supply problem, the Missouri Public Service Commission has extended the time given the Missouri Utilities Co. for projected changes to its plant here.

100 years ago: Jan. 6, 1906

An immense bell, which will sound the hours of the day to the people of this part of the country, yesterday was raised to its place in the belfry of the power house at the Normal School.

When Harmon Loeffle, the stone contractor, leaves for Milwaukee to attend the convention of cement manufacturers and users, he announces he may buy the machinery to start a cement tiling concern here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders