Out of the past 10/18/05

25 years ago: Oct. 18, 1980

Cape Girardeau County Democratic sheriff's candidate Herman "Bob" Gribler says, if elected, he will offer the position of chief deputy to Acting Sheriff Eugene Coombs; the announcement brings quick criticism from Republican candidate George F. Rouse, who calls the move "a political grandstand play."

Preliminary plans have been initiated by the Cape Girardeau City Council to find a successor to City Manager W.G. Lawley, who will leave his post at the end of February.

50 years ago: Oct. 18, 1955

Fourteen Southeast Missouri high school bands participate in a parade through the downtown area of Jackson in the morning as the 11th annual Marching Band Festival gets underway; although 22 bands were originally scheduled to take part in the parade, the number is decreased as a result of the parade being canceled earlier because of weather, but it is decided to go ahead with it when the expected rain doesn't materialize.

The Missourian announces that nationally known painter, philosopher and teacher Fred G. Carpenter, and his wife, Mildred Bailey Carpenter of Webster Groves, Mo., will be the guest artists at the annual art exhibition, Nov. 19 to 20.

75 years ago: Oct. 18, 1930

Persons motoring to Cape Girardeau from St. Louis for the first time in history travel all the way on concrete pavement, as the last unpaved gap on Highway 61 between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau opens to traffic; the last gap opened is a half-mile strip between the eastern city limits of Jackson and the end of a spur near the southern boundary of the city limits, where Highway 25 intersects with the new route.

Cape Girardeau, financially speaking, is ahead of its standing a year ago; on Oct. 1 of this year, the city treasury showed a balance of $9,605.29; the balance at the corresponding time last year was $5,257.53.

100 years ago: Oct. 18, 1905

The great Robinson Circus, a railway show, is scheduled to give two performances tomorrow at Jackson; this show is said to be one of the best on the road; special rates will be given on the Houck Railroad for those going over.

One of the largest express packages to be shipped from Cape Girardeau contains a donkey, which John Sackman is sending to Chicago by way of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad; Sackman is sending the beast to three little nephews living in the Chicago suburbs.

-- Sharon K. Sanders