Out of the past

25 years ago: March 23, 1983

About 1,500 Jackson area elementary school children may be fingerprinted under a program sponsored by the Jackson Breakfast Optimist Club; the program, patterned after one underway in Cape Girardeau, would involve fingerprinting them as an aid in tracing the identities of missing children.

A federal judge grants prosecuting attorney Larry Ferrell an additional 120 days in which to decide whether to re-file murder charges against Douglas W. Thompson, who has had two trials and served time for the slaying of Cape Girardeau auxiliary police officer 22 years ago.

50 years ago: March 23, 1958

The resignation of the Rev. L.W. Cleland as pastor of First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau is announced at the evening service; he will become pastor of Northgate Baptist Chapel in Kansas City.

It is learned that the earlier announcement that funds for a Mississippi River harbor survey at Cape Girardeau had been approved by a House appropriations committee was in error; the committee actually approved an item increasing the amount of money allotted for construction of the floodwall here.

75 years ago: March 23, 1933

The names of three candidates for places on the Cape Girardeau school board are filed: B. Hugh Smith, whose three-year term is expiring; Dr. M.H. Shelby and Claude Juden.

C.M. Jewell, physical culture exponent of Cape Girardeau, will slide on a rope from which he will hang with his teeth, from the top of the Marquette Hotel Building to the top floor of the H.-H. Building; his daring feat is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.

100 years ago: March 23, 1908

The Frisco Railroad has removed its profitable passenger train between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau; this city will continue to be at the mercy of Frisco officials until the Cotton Belt is induced to enter the town.

Today is the last day for filing petitions for Cape Girardeau city offices; in the first ward, Joe T. Wilson and W.F. Bender are asking election to the council; in the second ward, Otto Kochtitzky, A.C. Vasterling and L.R. Johnson; in the third ward, A.J. Brown, Adolph Mayer and Herman Bock, and in the fourth ward, Tom Gill and A.C. Jaynes.

-- Sharon K. Sanders