Out of the past 12/27/04

25 years ago: Dec. 27, 1979

The construction of bridges at Allenville and Whitewater under a plan devised by consulting engineer Robert Hahn won't be approved by the county court if the total cost of the project greatly exceeds the engineer's $300,000 estimate; Presiding Judge Gene Huckstep says if the total cost reaches or exceeds $500,000, the county court judges won't proceed with construction of the bridges.

An undetermined amount of cash is taken during an armed robbery at the Downtown Sinclair Service station, 212 N. Main St. ; the robbery occurs shortly after 7 a.m., when a man with a handgun demands money from the station attendant, Keith Huckstep.

50 years ago: Dec. 27, 1954

Officials-elect of Cape Girardeau County are sworn in by County Clerk Edwin J. Sander; taking the oath of office are Clyde Baugh, magistrate; Stephen N. Limbaugh, prosecuting attorney; Herbert F. Brune, treasurer; Carlston J. Bohnsack, recorder; Robert Kirkpatrick, collector; Mrs. Edgar R. Stehr, clerk of the Common Pleas Court; O.A. Knehans, probate judge.

With one-third of the fund pledged, workers of the Red Star Baptist Church redouble their efforts to wind up their campaign to sell $36,000 in bonds in order to finish the half-million-dollar church plant.

75 years ago: Dec. 27, 1929

After a revolver duel with Patrolman Ed Frenzel, three bandits who apparently had planned to burglarize Farmers and Merchants Bank at Good Hope and South Sprigg streets, escape; Frenzel fires three shots at the fleeing bandits, who, in turn, open fire on him; no one is injured; Frenzel was attracted to the bank at 1 a.m. by the sound of breaking glass, made when one of the men tossed a large rock through the plate glass window.

Young women, attired in pajamas, night gowns and kimonos, flee in disorder from the nurses' dormitory of the Southeast Missouri Hospital in the evening, when a small fire in the roof of the frame dwelling is discovered.

100 years ago: Dec. 27, 1904

As soon as the new Houck railroad to Jackson was opened for daily passenger service about two weeks ago, Postmaster E.W. Flentge notified the authorities at St. Louis and asked that the mail be carried that way.

The state record for lathing was set in Cape Girardeau last week, when A.J. Larose and B.M. Harper nailed on 5,500 hard pine laths in eight hours; the young men are nailing laths for the plasterers on the new Riverview Hotel, doing the work of four men.

-- Sharon K. Sanders