Out of the past

25 years ago: March 29, 1983

The names of 16 Central High School students who lost their lives in Korea or Vietnam were added to the school's honor roll this week; of those, six died in the Korean War and 10 in the Vietnam War.

About 400 Cape Girardeau residents interested in forming Neighborhood Watch groups turn out at a police-sponsored meeting in the Central High School auditorium; about 20 percent of the city is already under a watch; police have noted a trend of a significantly reduced crime rate in the watch areas since the program began a year ago.

50 years ago: March 29, 1958

It is announced that an unnamed industrial firm will take over the roundhouse and other Cotton Belt Railroad property at Fornfelt as a plant in which to make custom-built dwellings; the roundhouse work of the railroad in the past was transferred elsewhere.

A large highway contract and a smaller one, both in Illinois, will be started shortly by the combined Potashnick and Regenhardt firms of Cape Girardeau; the main job is to be in Jefferson County at Mount Vernon, and will be on highways 37 and 15; the project calls for 10 miles of right of way grading, bridges and concrete pavement.

75 years ago: March 29, 1933

Barrett Cotner says he will soon sow alfalfa on about half of the 60-acre American Airways emergency landing field on Highway 74, southwest of Cape Girardeau; the other half will be left unplowed at present, so it can be used while the other portion is worked; four tons of limestone are to be applied to each acre before the alfalfa is seeded.

A contract for construction of Illmo's water system, to be built with Reconstruction Finance Corp. funds, was let last midnight by the city council to H.A. Grabbe construction Co. of Alton, Ill., on a low bid of $29,606.55.

100 years ago: March 29, 1908

Effie Russell, who represented the local Normal School at the state Normal School oratorical contest at Warrensburg, Mo., last week, brought home second place honors; Russell comes from East Prairie, Mo.

Robert Hogan, for several months foreman of The Republican job department, has resigned his position; he leaves in the afternoon for Chicago.

-- Sharon K. Sanders