Out of the past 10/18/11

25 years ago: Oct. 18, 1986

Work is running ahead of schedule on the construction of the city-university multipurpose building on the Southeast Missouri State University campus; with the structure under roof, contractors expect to complete it in about eight months.

Illinois Senator Paul Simon, campaigning in Cape Girardeau for Democratic congressional candidate Wayne Cryts, predicts that Democrats will emerge from the 1986 elections with a majority in the U.S. Senate.

50 years ago: Oct. 18, 1961

State College records show the radiation count in the atmosphere over Cape Girardeau has increased substantially since the Soviet Union began exploding nuclear devices in early September; Dr. Robert Kuster, professor of biology, says readings on a Geiger-Mueller counter rose from 48.8 per minute on Sept. 7 to a peak of 59 counts per minute on Oct. 12.

Missourian correspondents -- one with more than 50 years' service -- from over its circulation area are entertained at a dinner-workshop at which newspaper styles and policies are discussed; dean of the corps is Joseph F. Schnurbusch, Old Appleton merchant, who has been writing for the Missourian for 54 years.

75 years ago: Oct. 18, 1936

Emulating an airplane, an empty truck takes off from the end of the pavement on South Frederick Street, leaps a six-foot embankment, lands on top of another motor car parked 25 feet away and finally comes to rest after smashing in the front of a frame residence at the end of the street; the house, 543 College St., is occupied by the Clarence McNeely family.

The 1936 annual meeting of the St. Louis Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, adjourns in the afternoon at Farmington, Mo., after selecting Cape Girardeau as the 1937 meeting place.

100 years ago: Oct. 18, 1911

The world-famous Kit Carson's Buffalo Ranch Wild West Show delivers two performances in South Cape Girardeau.

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Court, in the presence of a large crowd of contractors and citizens, opens bids for construction of a new courthouse, awarding the contract to the McCarty Construction Co. of Farmington, Mo., on a bid of $75,740; the contract doesn't include heating and plumbing.

-- Sharon K. Sanders