Out of the past 12/27/08

25 years ago: Dec. 27, 1983

Charles Vehlow, executive director of Saint Francis Mental Health Center, has announced the appointment of Charles Callis as associate director of the center.

Despite the stormy, frigid arrival of winter weather at the peak of last-minute Christmas shopping here last week, Cape Girardeau merchants agree the season was the best in recent years; some stores in West Park Mall experienced their best day of the year yesterday, and overall, sales at the mall this year were up about 20 percent over last year.

50 years ago: Dec. 27, 1958

It is expected the new school for the Oak Ridge School District can be built in time for first use next September; the new school is to have an industrial arts shop and a cafeteria, with six elementary classrooms to be provided; three of the present elementary rooms will be converted into a music room and a science laboratory-classroom.

One of the two coal-burning boilers at Cape Girardeau Central High School is being converted to natural gas use during the holidays and will be placed in operation as demanded by the cold weather.

75 years ago: Dec. 27, 1933

Sweeping into the district late yesterday, a cold wave presses the mercury down to 7 degrees, bringing suffering to those not prepared for the wintry blast; sidewalks are made slippery, and many automobile radiators are frozen; a thin coating of ice is on the lagoon at Fairground Park, the first time the lake has been frozen this winter.

Russell Franklin of near Leemon brings the pelt of a wildcat to the county clerk's office in Jackson to claim the reward for exterminating predatory animals; he brought another pelt in a week ago; both animals were caught in a box trap set in a hollow tree.

100 years ago: Dec. 27, 1908

Presiding Elder H.P. Crowe holds a quarterly meeting at the Centenary Methodist Church; he also preaches at both the morning and evening services.

Three prisoners -- one from Nebraska and the others from Columbus, Ohio -- escape from the Cape Girardeau jail in the evening, knocking enough bricks out of the north wall of the building to permit them to crawl through.

-- Sharon K. Sanders