Out of the past 12/12/2008

25 years ago: Dec. 12, 1983

Rich Bowen of Bowen and Lawson Engineers tells the Cape Girardeau County Court a legal survey along a section of the Cape Girardeau-Scott County border is needed to permanently establish the border line; the boundary, near areas to be developed for the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, has been in question for several months.

Dr. John C. Bierck, professor of English at Southeast Missouri State University, was the keynote speaker yesterday at commencement ceremonies for 500 Southeast students at Houck Field House.

50 years ago: Dec. 12, 1958

Lou Muegge Field, a tribute to the late athletic coach at Central High School, formally came into existence last night with the awarding of a contract by the Cape Girardeau School Board for construction of a running track on the school campus.

A delay of "at least 18 months or two years" in getting funds to resume construction of the flood-control program in the North Main Street Improvement District is certain as a result of the recommended withdrawal of funds, says Col. C.B. Schweizer, district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

75 years ago: Dec. 12, 1933

Warning men and women to get everything in order, Billy Sunday last night flayed a number of modern sins and verbally warmed up indifferent ministers and church members; Sunday fired broadsides into "barbarian" jazz, divorce, graft, movies, hypocrites and nudists.

The Cape Girardeau County Civil Works Administration organization has placed 367 workers in jobs; two new projects are started: A road near Arbor and another graveling project on the Friedheim-Propst Chapel road.

100 years ago: Dec. 12, 1908

Elizabeth Hinds, 105, died at her home on North Sprigg Street; the former slave was born in Tennessee but moved to Alabama at the age of 8 with her master, George Miller; shortly after Missouri was admitted to the Union, Miller came to Missouri, settling in Jackson and bringing Hinds with him.

Mrs. W.D. Godefroy and sons, William and Charles, of Spokane, Wash., leave for their home after a two-month visit with H.A. Astholz and family.

— Sharon K. Sanders