Out of the past 10/29/05

25 years ago: Oct. 29, 1980

Vice President Walter Mondale is scheduled to visit Cape Girardeau Saturday, and Nancy Reagan, wife of Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan, plans a visit here Friday; Mondale will be here on behalf of U.S. Rep. Bill D. Burlison.

Republican Bill Emerson, his campaign fund boosted by nearly $120,000 in contributions from individuals, outspent Democratic Rep. Bill Burlison almost 2-to-1 in the first nine months of this year; however, the incumbent had more than three times as much money left on hand as October began.

50 years ago: Oct. 29, 1955

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three units of dirt-moving equipment are damaged by dynamite blasts at a levee project on the outskirts of Poplar Bluff in the morning; police say the dynamite, equipped with long fuses, was placed around the engines on all three pieces of equipment; damage is estimated at $100,000.

Mayor Narvol A. Randol welcomes officers of the Missouri Auxiliary Police to Cape Girardeau at the opening session of the semiannual state convention.

75 years ago: Oct. 29, 1930

W.M. Green, a business man of Zalma, Mo., was in Cape Girardeau yesterday and spoke of plans made by the people of his community to dedicate the new bridge over Castor River on Highway 51; the bridge and approaches are finished, and all that remains to be done is to pour the concrete floor; dedication is planned for late in November.

J.J. Green of Cape Girardeau purchases the stock and fixtures of Raybourn Grocery in the old Opera House building and assumes management of the business; George Raybourn, from whom the business was purchased, had been owner of it for 11 years.

100 years ago: Oct. 29, 1905

Dr. J.C. Maple, who was pastor of the Baptist Church 25 years ago, returns and conducts both services at the church; his coming signals the start of a protracted meeting, which will be conducted every night next week.

An unusual affair yesterday afternoon was a surprise party which was tendered "Grandma" Christine C. Reynolds at her home on North Main Street; about 10 of the friends, neighbors and schoolmates of her daughters assembled at the home of Mrs. Louis Lorimier and went in a body to Reynolds' home, where they surprised her on her 97th birthday.

-- Sharon K. Sanders