Out of the past 12/2/06

25 years ago: Dec. 2, 1981

The high cost of prisoner medical care is ripping holes in the Cape Girardeau County Jail budget; medical bills for prisoners this year already total about $20,000, more than twice the amount which was spent last year.

CAIRO, Ill. -- A decision made this week by the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington virtually assures the abandonment of the Cairo to Lawrenceville, Ill., Conrail line at the end of this month; the 143-mile section has been the subject of considerable controversy and bureaucratic maneuvering since Conrail first filed to abandon the line in March.

50 years ago: Dec. 2, 1956

William R. Vedder, 87, who had been identified with the business life of Cape Girardeau for half a century, died yesterday at the family home, 1007 Themis St.; coming here in 1898, Vedder first engaged in house-to-house selling of novelties and notions over a wide district; he then established a music store and subsequently operated a furniture store and a rug store; in his later years, he served in such public offices as city administrator and justice of the peace.

The Rev. and Mrs. J. Paul Tucker have been extended another three-year call by the congregation of the Cape Girardeau Church of the Nazarene.

75 years ago: Dec. 2, 1931

Approximately 365 miles of telephone toll lines in 16 Southeast Missouri counties are being rebuilt, copper wire replacing iron wire which had long been used; the work, which should result in improved transmission, is expected to be completed by Jan. 1.

About 80 pounds of pecans have been gathered from two trees in the rear of the home of Ed Ruehmann on North Frederick Street in Cape Girardeau.

100 years ago: Dec. 2, 1906

A great crowd attended the closing of the special sale at the Glenn Mercantile Co. yesterday; highlight of the day was the pumpkin-guessing contest; Bertha Kassel and Lulu Rogers won the contest, dividing the $15 prize; the pumpkin weighed 61 pounds and contained exactly 600 seeds.

Mrs. O.E. Forster and daughter of St. Louis are guests of Max Koeck at the St. Charles Hotel.

-- Sharon K. Sanders