Out of the past 12/30/04

25 years ago: Dec. 30, 1979

A pilot project which involved surveys of courthouses in 20 judicial circuits, including Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties, has led to a state Supreme Court order approving recommended minimum standards for Missouri courthouses; the standards cover such matters as courthouse directories, ramps for the handicapped and alarm systems.

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- The family of Marine Staff Sgt. Michael Moeller, who is among the American hostages in Iran, has learned he gave a note to American clergymen visiting the U.S. Embassy over Christmas; in it, he sent holiday greetings to his family.

50 years ago: Dec. 30, 1954

The Cape Girardeau County mobile X-ray unit is completing its third day in Cape Girardeau, working at First Baptist Church; following a quick trip through the unit, Mayor Narvol A. Randol encourages every resident of the city to have chest X-rays taken as a means of fighting tuberculosis.

Ray McNeely, a Cape Girardeau fireman for two years, will take over duties Jan. 1 as president of Local 1084, International Association of Firefighters; he succeeds Capt. William Elvis Crump.

75 years ago: Dec. 30, 1929

Emil Sebastian, 70, one of Southeast Missouri's railroad pioneers, swings aboard the Frisco passenger train for Hoxie, Ark., in the morning for his last official trip as conductor before he retires; Sebastian has served the Frisco for 27 years and two months, and for 16 years and nine months on Houck lines.

Sixty Cape Girardeau barbers are getting ready to pay $4.50 each for photographs, medical examinations and licenses on which to start business during the new year as a result of an order by the state board.

100 years ago: Dec. 30, 1904

The Daughters of the Confederacy gave their annual ball at the Masonic Hall last night, which was attended by about 60 couples; the hall was decorated in the Confederate colors -- red and white -- and over the receiving party hung a magnificent silk flag, given to the society by the state United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The offices of the engineering department of the Frisco Railroad are being moved; the rooms in the Houck building, which the officers had occupied since the Frisco started into town, are being vacated; new rooms have been obtained in the Sturdivant Bank building.

-- Sharon K. Sanders