Out of the past 2/1/07

25 years ago: Feb. 1, 1982

Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois residents begin assessing the damage from a weekend of rain, snow and ice storms that washed out roads and flooded highways in the southern portions of the area and buried northern portions under a blanket of white; and if that isn't enough, the National Weather Service warns of another winter storm moving toward the region that may bring heavy snow tonight or Tuesday.

Presiding Circuit Judge A.J. Seier tells the County Court he would like to see eligible prisoners used to help clean up cemeteries and clear brush along Cape Girardeau County roads.

50 years ago: Feb. 1, 1957

The acting board of aldermen of the new city of Ancell has called for a special election to be held Tuesday; voters will pick officers to serve until April 2, when the regular election will be held.

BENTON, Mo. -- A search for four men who escaped from the Scott County jail here late yesterday is being pushed by Sheriff John Dennis, his deputies and the highway patrol; the men assaulted the jailer and a trustee in making their escape.

75 years ago: Feb. 1, 1932

Dr. B.A. Wilkes, widely known St. Louis physician and for 13 years superintendent of the Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, assumes the superintendency of Southeast Missouri Hospital; he succeeds Frances Shouse, who has resigned and returned to her home in Kansas City.

Two whisky stills were seized by Cape Girardeau County officers in raids over the weekend; taking of one of the stills resulted directly from the alleged owner of the illegal equipment telephoning the sheriff to "come and get it" because he was ready to "quit business."

100 years ago: Feb. 1, 1907

The Boston Grocery Store on Broadway now looks like a metropolitan house; since being renovated and repapered, the store has taken on the appearance of a new concern; I.E. Burroughs is the new proprietor of the grocery.

A.R. Ponder returned last night from Texas, where he went bear hunting; he got one, he says, besides a bunch of quail every day he hunted.

-- Sharon K. Sanders