Out of the past 12/18/07

25 years ago: Dec. 18, 1982

Victims of recent flooding in Southeast and eastern Missouri can apply for help from the federal government, as 11 disaster centers open tomorrow in the region; residents of 15 counties, including Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Carter, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Wayne and Iron, may apply for a variety of federal aid.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kent Bratton of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, is heading efforts by the Perry County Historical Society to preserve a log house discovered recently; the house, owned by Robert and Albert Winkler, was found beneath white clapboards when the dilapidated structure was being torn down.

50 years ago: Dec. 18, 1957

An end to the rain is predicted for tonight by the weather bureau; rainfall for the past 24 hours measured .53 inches, bringing the total for December to 3.07 inches.

It is announced that an overhead crossing will be built where the new federal highway intersects Hopper Road; originally, no overpass was planned there, but a new survey was ordered after objections were raised from numerous sources.

75 years ago: Dec. 18, 1932

As part of a holiday mail-handling setup at the post office in Cape Girardeau, a 9,000-pound parcel scale was installed Friday; there is a 70-pound limit on parcels now, but the postal department expects to be handling heavier packages soon.

A Christmas vesper service is held at the Teachers College auditorium; the Women's Glee Club sings two numbers, and Martha Sea of the English Department reads a Christmas story, "The Flight into Egypt."

100 years ago: Dec. 18, 1907

Painters and other mechanics are putting the finishing touches on the big Himmelberger-Harrison office building; it should be completed by the first of the year; while the exterior looks like many of the great buildings of the cities, the interior is different; corridors are finely finished, and the fancy granitoid floors lend an elegant air.

Santa Claus will be at the Dreamland-Lyric Theater on Saturday night and Monday night to distribute presents to little patrons.

--- Sharon K. Sanders