Out of the past 1/8/02

10 years ago: Jan. 8, 1992

Students at Cape Girardeau Central High School say it's time 14-year-old "new gym" had real name, and Athletic Director Terry Kitchen agrees; committee composed of students, school representatives and alumni is being put together to name facility.

Greyhound Bus Co. announced yesterday it will open full-service bus station in Cape Girardeau Jan. 15, nearly six months after former station closed.

25 years ago: Jan. 8, 1977

Well-known Cape Girardeau dance instructor saves herself and two of her children by dialing emergency number and telling police dispatcher her address before passing out from fumes.

Southeast Missouri State University is seeking legislative approval for higher fiscal 1978 budget allocation than that recommended by Coordinating Board on Higher Education; Dr. Robert E. Leestamper took case for greater increase to Senate Appropriation Committee on Friday.

50 years ago: Jan. 8, 1952

Albert M. Spradling Jr., young Cape Girardeau lawyer, is elected new state senator for Cape Girardeau, Scott and Mississippi counties; he defeats Irvin Richmond, dairy plant operator, by unofficial 1,010-vote majority.

Three or four wolves are believed to be at large in vicinity of Elmer Thompson farm on Highway 61 northwest of Cape Girardeau; Thompson says he has found that many beds in sage field nearby, and he saw one wolf cross road in front of his automobile on Lampe Road about 10 days ago.

75 years ago: Jan. 8, 1927

With more than $40,000 in current city taxes already collected, City Clerk W.C. Kaempfer announces that there remains less than $35,000 of 1926 taxes for Girardeans to pay; although actual time for paying taxes without penalty expired Jan. 1, City Council has decided to waive 1 percent penalty usually attached for non-payment until Jan. 15.

Missouri Pacific Railroad, on its Illmo division, Friday handled longest freight train ever pulled by single locomotive on this railway system, and believed to be longest ever handled by one engine in the world; train, consisting of 205 cars - four loaded box cars and 201 loaded coal cars - left Bush, Ill., at 12:30 p.m. Friday, reaching Dupo, Ill., at 8:30 p.m.

-- Compiled by Sharon K. Sanders