Out of the past 12/9/10

25 years ago: Dec. 9, 1985

BENTON, Mo. -- Unusually thick fog in parts of Scott County causes a cancellation of classes in the Kelly School District.

An agreement providing for purchase of $4.85 million in nontaxable sales tax revenue bonds to provide for development of a long-proposed Southeast Missouri Regional Port on the Mississippi River north of Scott City is finalized by the port authority board of commissioners; money from the sale of the bonds will be repaid by the commission over a four-year period with revenue generated by a one-fourth cent sales tax in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties.

50 years ago: Dec. 9, 1960

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Sen. Albert M. Spradling Jr. of Cape Girardeau was appointed president pro tem of the State Senate yesterday at a caucus of Democratic members of the Senate; he was named without opposition.

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Fire, apparently originating in the basement, destroys the ancient two-story brick building that housed he Stoddard County Jail and living quarters for Sheriff and Mrs. James McDaniel; five prisoners, locked in the cell on the first floor, and Sheriff and Mrs. McDaniel and their son narrowly escape with their lives.

75 years ago: Dec. 9, 1935

"Wild Bill" Cummins, winner of the Indianapolis speedway race in 1934, stops here briefly as he is on his way from Detroit to California for a series of races; the driver has his racing auto with him, transporting it on a small truck.

Cape Girardeau police used tear gas to drive two young women from the basement of a downtown building last night; one of the girls had a revolver secreted under her coat when they came out, their eyes filled with tears; they will face either city or state charges.

100 years ago: Dec. 9, 1910

Residents of Cape Girardeau are surprised to learn the city council met secretly last night and passed an ordinance granting the Frisco Railroad franchise; it is said Mayor M.E. Leming had police chief Willis Martin summon each member of the council to the meeting, with orders not to mention the gathering to anyone.

A large crowd attended the evangelistic meeting at Second Baptist Church last night to hear the Rev. S.W. Beasley preach.

-- Sharon K. Sanders