Out of the past 12/18/05

25 years ago: Dec. 18, 1980

Following an hour of discussion during a four-hour city council meeting last night, Cape Girardeau Cable Television was granted its request that the city authorize an inspection of the cable system here to determine whether it meets specifications set forth in the franchise ordinance.

CAIRO, Ill. -- A veteran Cairo policeman, William Pitcher Jr., is selected to become sheriff of Alexander County effective Jan. 1; the selection comes at a hastily called meeting of the county board of commissioners.

50 years ago: Dec. 18, 1955

The Christmas Vesper service, presented annually by the State College religious organizations, is given for the public in the afternoon; groups who are presenting the program are: Baptist Student Union, Marquette-Newman Club (Catholic), Upsilon Lambda Chi (Evangelical and Reformed Congregational), Wesley Foundation (Methodist), and Westminster Fellowship (Presybyterian).

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Rev. Frank C. Tucker, Methodist superintendent, of Cape Girardeau, preaches in the morning at the golden anniversary celebration of the Chaffee Methodist Church; the congregation began in 1905 with 12 charter members.

75 years ago: Dec. 18, 1930

Fred F. Mabuce of Cape Girardeau is named chief deputy U.S. Marshal, succeeding Fred E. Puls, whose resignation will be effective Jan. 1; Mabuce will move to St. Louis with his family in the spring and will be stationed in the marshal's office there.

R.E. England, E.L. Miller and W.A. Cantrell have purchased the building and equipment of Bryan Laundry, 45 S. Boulevard, which has been closed since August; the plant, which will reopen Monday, will be known as the Cape Laundry Co.

100 years ago: Dec. 18, 1905

With the downward trip of the Stacker Lee this morning, through river traffic for the year ends; both the Lee line boats -- the Stacker and the Ferd Herold -- will go into the lower river trade; it isn't thought that the Tennessee River boats, the Saltillo and Savannah, will come up again; only the Grey Eagle of Eagle Packet Co. of St. Louis is left to make this port.

St. Louis newspapers are reporting that David W. Hill of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has been in Washington, D.C., endeavoring to persuade legislators to place the new federal building in that town rather than Cape Girardeau.

-- Sharon K. Sanders