Out of the past 12/20/06

25 years ago: Dec. 20, 1981

The First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau holds its second annual singing Christmas tree cantata, "Noel, Jesus is Born," by Lanny Wolfe, in the evening; the combined church choirs are under the direction of Mrs. Phil Breithaupt.

A large number of youths from local churches will participate in a live Nativity scene, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. It will be held at Capaha Park in the Municipal Band Shell this week; animals for the scene will be provided by 5-H Ranch.

50 years ago: Dec. 20, 1956

Sheriff-elect J.C. Crites announces two of his deputies; Mrs. Odena Kaufman Schaper, wife of Elmer R. Schaper, will be the office deputy; Gilbert Headrick, 51, a resident of Jackson, will be a deputy sheriff; he and his wife will reside at the county jail.

Behind the efforts of Lenco Inc. owner Paul J. Leonard, it is hoped that a refugee Hungarian family fleeing Russian terror will take up residence in Jackson before the Christmas holiday; Leonard is working with the Jackson Rotary and Optimist clubs to help the family.

75 years ago: Dec. 20, 1931

COMMERCE, Mo. -- A search is going on at Commerce for a 'coon dog, which is valued at $50; the hound, which had been shipped from Herrick, Ill., to Leo Burger of near Commerce, was left at the Frisco station at Commerce recently and got away while arrangements were being made to take it to the Burger home.

Men of First Christian Church have raised $500 on the Christian Cottage indebtedness.

100 years ago: Dec. 20, 1906

Cape Girardeau will get the Robertson, Johnson & Rand Shoe factory; most of the committee that went to St. Louis two days ago returned last night and announce this morning that the contract has been signed with the shoe company representatives.

Attorneys E.L. Drum and B.F. Davis will go to St. Louis tomorrow to appear in federal court as representatives of Ella Rodney and August Ruesskamp, who own the property on Broadway that the government has decided upon for the new federal building.

-- Sharon K. Sanders