Out of the past 12/4/09

25 years ago: Dec. 4, 1984

An advisory board has been selected by Cape Girardeau County sheriff-elect Dwight Thomas to help him screen sheriff's deputy applicants; named to the board were Stone Manes, Pat Donaldson, Dr. Robert Briner, Dr. Mike Brown and Cape Girardeau County prosecutor Larry Ferrell.

ORAN, Mo. -- About 40 Scott County mayors, industrial development officials, county officials and civic leaders gather here to discuss ways to promote industrial development; the first countywide meeting of its kind is sponsored by the Scott County Court.

50 years ago: Dec. 4, 1959

Officers of the traffic division of the Cape Girardeau Police Department have been studying the problem of heavy traffic in the downtown area due to Christmas shoppers in an effort to lay out a pattern which would keep vehicles moving; there has been discussion of prohibiting right turns off Main Street between Broadway and William Street.

The Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign, to raise funds for distribution of food baskets at Christmas Time, is inaugurated in the afternoon with a short program dedicating the tree on the federal building's lawn.

75 years ago: Dec. 4, 1934

Installation of a white way street lighting system along Normal Avenue and West End Boulevard as a means to eliminate automobile accidents and to further beautify the centrally located parkways which have been constructed following abandonment of street car service was asked of the city council yesterday.

Benches have been removed from Courthouse Park for winter; some of them were taken to the Community Clubhouse and others were loaned the Nazarene Church for use until next spring.

100 years ago: Dec. 4, 1909

It is rumored in Jackson that Hunter Bros. Livery Co. has purchased an automobile to carry passengers between Jackson and Cape Girardeau.

The Kettle Rivers Quarry Co. isn't losing any more time than necessary on the Broadway paving; the heavy downpour Thursday afternoon stopped work, but the next morning the wood block and granite setters were hard at work; by this evening, the block between Main and Spanish streets will be completed.

-- Sharon K. Sanders