Out of the past 11/13/08

25 years ago: Nov. 13, 1983

Trail of Tears State Park has a new superintendent; Barbara Wilson will supervise operations at the 3,266-acre park.

A federal jury will apparently not have the last word on the $20 million Westborough Mall lawsuit; George Staples Jr., principal developer of the ill-fated mall, says he will appeal last week's verdict in which a U.S. District Court jury found Cape Girardeau and West Park Mall developers innocent of allegations they conspired to block development of Westborough Mall.

50 years ago: Nov. 13, 1958

Workers begin leveling the ground and removing trees on a tract near U.S. 61 immediately north of William Street and east of the highway; there have been reports for some time that a shopping center is planned on the tract.

Arlen Powell, the Cape State Indians' senior halfback, captured first place in rushing and punt returns among the MIAA Conference players for the 1958 season with 325 yards in 41 carries and six returns for an average of 26.8 yards.

75 years ago: Nov. 13, 1933

Cape Girardeau voters will go to the polls tomorrow to vote on a proposal to issue the Missouri Utilities Co. a renewal of a 20-year franchise to operate its plant here; the company asked a court to prohibit the election over the weekend, but the city appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court for a writ of prohibition restraining the Common Pleas Court from issuing such an injunction.

An explosion destroys a small gasoline motor launch belonging to the W.P. McGeorge Construction Co. of Pine Bluff, Ark., on the Mississippi River near the traffic bridge; the pilot and two employees escape unhurt.

100 years ago: Nov. 13, 1908

Six fire alarm boxes placed at prominent corners around town for public use are attracting considerable attention; as soon as the fire headquarters are finished, they will furnish an easy method of notifying the department of fires.

S.B. Rorher and Joseph Bronicle of Topeka, Kan., members of a company that recently purchased several thousands of acres of land near Kennett, Mo., arrived here yesterday and went on down with Mercer Wilson to view the property.

-- Sharon K. Sanders