Out of the past 12/31/06

25 years ago: Dec. 31, 1981

The director of public safety the past three years at Des Peres, Mo., is named Cape Girardeau police chief, replacing Henry H. Gerecke, who retired in September; announcement of the hiring of D. Ray Johnson, 43, as chief is made by City Manager Gary A. Eide.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Christopher Bond has named New Madrid attorney Fred Copeland as an associate circuit court judge for New Madrid County; he is the son of state Rep. Fred Copeland, D-New Madrid.

50 years ago: Dec. 31, 1956

Cape Girardeau wrote a sparkling new chapter to its building construction record during 1956; in a record-shattering year of business and residential construction, the city piled up a massive $4,160,135 in new structures during the year.

The Advance (Mo.) Hornets won the College Preps' 12th annual Christmas tournament by defeating the Bernie (Mo.) Mules, 78-51, Saturday night at Houck Field House before 908 paid fans; the Hornets established a new scoring record in winning the crown, the previous record having been set by the Morehouse (Mo.) Tigers in 1953.

75 years ago: Dec. 31, 1931

Resignation of the Rev. R.M. Barrett as pastor of the General Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau was accepted last night at a meeting of the congregation; Barrett, twice leader of the congregation, resigned to accept the pastorate of a church at Hazelton, Ind.

Again leading cities of its class in Missouri, Cape Girardeau during 1931 engaged in a construction program representing an expenditure of approximately $693,000, in which 69 new buildings, residences, commercial units and schools were built.

100 years ago: Dec. 31, 1906

The Rev. Charles J. Moeller of Gordonville, presiding elder of the German Methodist church, was in Cape Girardeau yesterday and held quarterly conference for the Rev. Theodore Ludwig at the local German Methodist Church.

Charles Mason, Charles Conyer, August Kaempfer and John West returned this weekend from a week-long jaunt through Texas; all are employees of the Frisco shops and are well known; they report having seen many wonderful sights in the Lone Star State.

-- Sharon K. Sanders