Out of the past 10/1/06

25 years ago: Oct. 1, 1981

According to recent studies financed by the highway industry, two-thirds of Missouri's bridges (those over 20 feet in length) are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete; Missouri ranks fourth nationwide in the highest percentage of deficient bridges.

When the St. Louis Cardinals football team opens its 1982 training camp, it might be opening at Southeast Missouri State University, a site considered for preseason training eight years ago by the Big Red; earlier this week, the Cardinals terminated their training camp contract with Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., a site they had used since 1976.

50 years ago: Oct. 1, 1956

Political activity, with just five weeks remaining before the general election, is on the increase with announcements by both Republicans and Democrats of speakers to present claims and counter-claims for their respective parties; this will be a particularly busy week for Republicans, who have three speakers engaged for rallies.

Work has begun on building a ramp across the new channel of Sloan's Creek so traffic can move over Main Street into the Red Star suburb; heavy corrugated pipe has been placed in the channel to allow the flow of water.

75 years ago: Oct. 1, 1931

Walter Oberheide was elected president of the Cape Girardeau Drum and Bugle Corps during its annual meeting Wednesday; it was also voted to employee Walter B. Scott of Ludwig & Ludwig, publishers of Chicago, famous composer of military music and drill master, to drill the corps for a week.

A warning is issued by the Cape Girardeau Board of Adjustments and city engineer E.L. Sailer that all contractors must secure permits for building projects in the city before any of the work is started; recent violations of this provision of the building ordinance prompt city officials to take steps to enforce penalties against anyone starting construction of a building or remodeling of another where a permit is required before the work begins.

100 years ago: Oct. 1, 1906

The West End Fuel Co. is a new institution that promises to meet with much success; a large stock of all kinds of fuel is kept constantly on hand, and the prices are guaranteed to be lowest.

The Frisco is having union station fitted up anew for Centennial week; the place will look like a brand new depot when the large number of men who were sent here last week complete their work.

-- Sharon K. Sanders