Out of the past 1/9/06

25 years ago: Jan. 9, 1981

Petitions sufficient in number to assure an election in April on proceeding toward a charter form of government for Cape Girardeau are submitted to the chamber of commerce; the total number of signatures obtained is close to 400; the minimum needed was 295.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Other than a slight odor, the spill of 22,500 gallons of gasoline on the Ohio River had little effect on the water supply here; a 10-barge tow ran aground about six miles upstream from Cairo Thursday, and a leak developed in a gasoline barge when a tow attempted to remove it from a snag.

50 years ago: Jan. 9, 1956

A remorseful burglar, after successfully stealing $573 last night from a safe in the Cole & Webb Market, 1231 N. Main St., calls the store owner, Robert L. Ward, early this morning and announces he is returning the money.

Preliminaries to the start of construction of the new $7 million plant of the Marquette Cement Mfg. Co. have been placed underway by Kaiser Engineers of Oakland, Calif., contractor for the project; soil borings have been taken, and a force of men is engaged in clearing operations necessary to the start of the work.

75 years ago: Jan. 9, 1931

BENTON, Mo. -- Stockholders of the Watermelon Telephone Co., a mutual system which operates in the rural section near Benton, adjourned their meeting here last night without balloting on a proposal to sell their holdings to the Southeast Missouri Telephone Co.; the Watermelon company, organized 30 years ago, operates about 300 telephones, with the equipment being owned by the individual patrons.

A permit has been issued to J.W. Webb to install a gasoline filling station at the corner of South Sprigg Street and Jefferson Avenue; the permit calls for the installation of two pumps on an "island" and a 1,000-gallon underground tank.

100 years ago: Jan. 9, 1906

The thermometer on Main Street slips to 8 degrees at 6 a.m., the coldest reading of winter; in other places in the city, where no protection is available from the wind, the thermometer shows 6 degrees; some farmers living north of town report readings of 4 degrees.

A.R. Ponder, one of the many directors of the new shoe factory, goes out to the site of the future industry in the morning and stakes off the foundation; the building will measure 40 feet by 120 feet.

-- Sharon K. Sanders