Out of the past 11/4/07

25 years ago: Nov. 4, 1982

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Fire, possibly caused by a short circuit in electrical wiring, guts one of the oldest and largest buildings in Advance; the downtown former bank building, which housed several businesses and apartments, is heavily damaged.

While many incumbent Republican congressmen fell victim to Democrats in other parts of the country Tuesday, 10th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson survived the challenge of Democrat Jerry Ford in the newly created 8th District; Emerson is the first Republican incumbent to win reelection in a congressional district of Southeast Missouri since 1920.

50 years ago: Nov. 4, 1957

Voters in the R-4 School District just north of Cape Girardeau will go to the polls Saturday to ballot on a proposal to issue $150,000 in bonds to build a central grade school building; the district is composed of six former smaller districts: Iona, Indian Creek, Egypt Mills, Coker, Brooks and Juden.

F.W. Kurre Jr., J.R. Kuss, Walter Kinder and Lester Rhodes, appearing before the Cape Girardeau City Council, urge that body to extend the city limits to include planned subdivisions just outside the current border.

75 years ago: Nov. 4, 1932

The force of workers building Highway 34 from west of Jackson to the Bollinger County line, and the farm-to-market route from Delta west to Drum, Mo., which now numbers about 150, likely will be increased to nearly 200 within the next week; each worker is employed a half day for six days per week.

Former Gov. Frederick D. Gardner of St. Louis, speaking at the Fox Cape Theater, brings to a close the Democratic campaign locally, as far as public meetings are concerned; he urges voters to send "a Democrat back to Jefferson City."

100 years ago: Nov. 4, 1907

Girardeans experienced an earthquake last night at 9:58; the first shock lasted at least 10 seconds; after a lapse of about two seconds, the earth again began to undulate, and the tremor continued five seconds longer.

The contractor for the electric and water system at Jackson has completed the laying of water mains; today, workers are putting up electric light poles.

-- Sharon K. Sanders