Out of the past 12/15/05

25 years ago: Dec. 15, 1980

Beginning tonight, Girardeans who wish to comment on the local police department may do so by calling the Public Administration Service, the firm engaged by the city to investigate the police force, on the PAS special hot line; also beginning this evening, PAS will begin a weeklong series of random telephone surveys in an attempt to measure public opinion about the department.

Renovation is almost complete on the Common Pleas Courthouse annex, formerly the Cape Girardeau library, and at the Jackson courthouse, county court officials say; the County Nursing Service will likely move into its new offices in the annex by Feb. 1.

50 years ago: Dec. 15, 1955

Ear muff and muffler weather returned to Cape Girardeau overnight in a cold blast of air from the northwest that brought two-fifths of an inch of snow and tumbled the mercury to a shivering 16 degrees.

D.B. "Dick" Russell, a Fruitland farmer who was badly injured in a road accident Dec. 5, learns his neighbors recently banded together and finished harvesting his corn crop.

75 years ago: Dec. 15, 1930

J. Doyle Summers of Whitewater has announced he will be a candidate for superintendent of schools in Cape Girardeau County, subject to the election in April; he is the second candidate for that office, as Otto Kiehne is also expected to run.

Three-fourths of an inch of snow falls in Cape Girardeau early in the morning, as winter increases its grip on the district; the snow melts almost as rapidly as it falls.

100 years ago: Dec. 15, 1905

Since the public visited the new Academic Hall at the invitation of the contractor, Edward F. Regenhardt, the upper sections of the windows in the auditorium have been filled with fine stained glass; these windows bear coats of arms and inscriptions commemorative of the history of the Louisiana Purchase, as well as men who were benefactors of education in Missouri.

All prepared for the street cars next Wednesday, company secretary Rodney Whitelaw announces that everything is in readiness, and only a few things have to be done to inaugurate the trolley service in all parts of the city on Dec. 20.

-- Sharon K. Sanders