Out of the past 12/14/06

25 years ago: Dec. 14, 1981

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Arson is suspected in yesterday's fire in Bollinger County which damaged an Ozark Line Builders truck and the high-voltage electric lines which were being erected; installation of the lines from Bollinger County to a booster station near Advance, Mo., was to be completed in about a month.

Cape Girardeau County will be paying a $132,500 subsidy next year to Cape County Private Ambulance Service Inc. under terms of a new agreement; the subsidy is about $12,500 higher than payed this year by the county and the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

50 years ago: Dec. 14, 1956

M.S. Gwinn, district engineer of the State Highway Department, says a public hearing will be held, if requested, on the proposed route of the new interstate highway through Cape Girardeau and adjoining counties; the highway will be a four-lane, limited access road.

Henry Wilson of Cape Girardeau announces plans to open a two-chair barbership at 1127 Broadview tomorrow; the location formerly was occupied by a pharmacy.

75 years ago: Dec. 14, 1931

Application will be made this week to the Public Service Commission by the Southeast Telephone Co. to purchase the Citizens Telephone Co. at Fredericktown, Mo.

The Teachers College Board of Regents adopts a program necessary to meet a retrenchment program for all state-supported educational institutions in Missouri; Gov. Caulfield has requested an additional cut of $69,672 in the appropriation for the biennial period made by the last Legislature.

100 years ago: Dec. 14, 1906

Jeptha D. Howe, chairman of the Republican city committee of St. Louis; Otto Steifle, millionaire brewer; Louis Nolte, who was elected sheriff of St. Louis, and Fred Kriesmann, who was elected recorder, are guests of E.W. Flentge at his home; the group, along with Gus Frederick, will make up a hunting party.

The steamer Stacker Lee passed Cape Girardeau at noon for St. Louis; it was loaded to the upper deck all around with cotton; the boat left here with a lot of house furnishings.

-- Sharon K. Sanders