Out of the past 10/6/11

25 years ago: Oct. 6, 1986

Authorities in the Cape Girardeau area are breathing somewhat easier as the National Weather Service revises its flood crest forecast for the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau for a second time, calling for a lower crest; the service now says the river here will rise to 43.5 feet Friday, two feet under last week's prediction.

Roger Henry is the new executive director of Saint Francis Mental Health Center; he returns to Missouri after 20 years of work at a mental health center in Fort Wayne, Ind.

50 years ago: Oct. 6, 1961

A 10-year lease on property at the northeast corner of Broadway and Pacific Street has been signed with the Cities Service Oil Co. by Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Deevers, owners of the property; a contract has been awarded Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson to raze the present station and replace it with a new three-bay station, 30 feet deep by 60 feet long; a Cities Service station has been on that corner for more than 35 years.

At installation ceremonies in the evening, Dr. Melvin C. Kasten takes over the presidency of the Cape Girardeau County unit of the American Cancer Society.

75 years ago: Oct. 6, 1936

The Cape Girardeau City Council, following a conference with Mrs. Arnold Roth, head of women's work for the WPA in the district, has voted to continue making payments toward the WPA nursery schools and sewing rooms in the city; the city has been helping bear some of the expenses of those units, $40 monthly.

Henry F. Ernst, 57, of Fornfelt, injured Saturday midnight when he was run over by a Model T Ford automobile he was cranking, died yesterday at a local hospital.

100 years ago: Oct. 6, 1911

A tricky gasoline stove causes the destruction of two buildings on South Middle Street in the morning and the loss of all the belongings of three families, who are left in destitute circumstances by the conflagration; both houses were owned by M.A. Scott, the restaurant man of South Main Street.

The Normal School lyceum course opens in the evening, the initial program being presented by Edwin Brush, magician.

-- Sharon K. Sanders