Out of the past 10/16/11

25 years ago: Oct. 16, 1986

Overall crime was up in September in Cape Girardeau; according to the police department, nine of 16 categories listed in the report saw increases when compared to statistics from 1985; assaults more than doubled last month.

The board that will determine operation policies of the Southeast Missouri State University-Cape Girardeau multipurpose building meets for the first time since June 17 and stresses a need for the city council to decide as soon as possible on a suggested name for the facility.

50 years ago: Oct. 16, 1961

The possibility of an enemy attack -- and the need for substantial protection against radioactive fallout -- is on nearly everyone's mind; fallout shelters have become a No. 1 topic of discussion for those planning to build new homes; contractors say Girardeans are "bomb conscious."

Mayor Walter H. Ford, at a city council meeting, receives the last of the commissioners' appropriation requests and announces he and Frank Stuart, city auditor, soon will meet to hammer out the 1961-1962 budget; the city has operated for 3 1/2 months without a budget.

75 years ago: Oct. 16, 1936

Oak Ridge opens its 29th annual two-day Farmers Institute, with a crowd as large as that in previous years attending; although the community felt the effects of the midsummer drought, there is a commendable display of field and garden products on hand.

The Curtis Thrush monoplane, which Gene LeRene and Henrietta Sumner kept aloft at Oklahoma City for nine consecutive days last fall, arrives here piloted by G. Garth Gates; it will remain on display this weekend on the B.J. Sands farm west of the city.

100 years ago: Oct. 16, 1911

The competition among young farmers of Cape Girardeau County at the corn show held here for the scholarship in the state agricultural college at Columbia, Mo., is keen, although the number of entries isn't as high as had been expected; first honors go to Harry Hensley of Jackson Rural Route 1, a young farmer who has been teaching school, but who is now a student at the Cape Normal.

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Boutin have gone to Florida for the winter; they expect to remain in the land of oranges and everblooming flowers until next June.

-- Sharon K. Sanders