Out of the past 11/19/04

25 years ago: Nov. 19, 1979

Ideal weather this year has resulted in what agronomists say is the finest grain harvest of the decade in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois; corn and soybean yields are far above average as the harvest nears completion, and the excellent yields follow an outstanding wheat harvest last spring.

Suspicion of fictitious supply companies, heavy spending with one supplier and conflicts of interest involving certain city garage employees has led to a full-scale investigation by the city into the buying practices of garage employees, says city manager W.G. Lawley.

50 years ago: Nov. 19, 1954

Ninety-six percent of the 1955 goal of the Jackson Community Chest is now in, the amount of $7,379.12 having been received; the campaign will remain open for receiving the last solicitors' reports, and the board of directors is confident that the quota will be reached.

A tractor-trailer, loaded with 65 head of mixed cattle, overturned at midnight Thursday, 1 1/2 miles north of Dutchtown on Highway 25; cattle roamed the area all night, chased by State Patrol Trooper Morley G. Swingle and Deputy Sheriff Ott Sperling; 12 head of cattle were killed outright, and the rest wandered over a two-mile area.

75 years ago: Nov. 19, 1929

ORAN, Mo. -- Husking 1,476.5 pounds of corn, or better than 21 bushels, in 80 minutes, Charles Brown of Tanner, Mo., won the Scott County corn-husking contest at the J.D. Riley farm near here yesterday and was awarded a prize of a barrel and a half of flour and a silver trophy.

Federal court Judge Charles B. Harris has appointed commissioners to estimate the value of land taken for the setback levee in Mississippi and New Madrid counties to carry out flood-control work.

100 years ago: Nov. 19, 1904

The mixture of smoke and fog which has hung over Cape Girardeau and the river since Thursday evening has completely tied up river travel and caused great inconvenience to residents.

It is rumored that the Terminal Hotel on the riverfront has been rented and will be taken in charge of Monday by the new proprietor from Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Clay Phelps, the owner, is in St. Louis, and the report cannot be verified.

-- Sharon K. Sanders