Out of the past 2/14/05

25 years ago: Feb. 14, 1980

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer L. Poston of Cape Girardeau take the honor of having the most years together when Schnucks-Walgreen recognizes couples married 50 years or more with a special Valentine's Day gathering; the Postons will be married 71 years on April 13.

Testimony begins in circuit court in a lawsuit seeking $350,000 in damages by the Lutesville Presbyterian Church as a result of an explosion and fire in 1978.

50 years ago: Feb. 14, 1955

Both earth levees and a concrete wall, and a combination of each, will be built to protect the section from Sloan's Creek to the traffic bridge from overflow of the Mississippi River, plans drawn by the Army Corps of Engineers reveal; the 4,000-foot T-type concrete wall will begin 100 feet north of the Sinclair bulk station and run to the traffic bridge.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House approves one racial bill and receives another that may cause more trouble; advanced to final voting stage is one to repeal three laws providing for racial segregation in public schools.

75 years ago: Feb. 14, 1930

BENTON, Mo. -- A total of $9,853.25 has been allowed by a board of special commissioners as damages to owners of property along the right of way for U.S. 61 between Benton and Ancell, Mo., which will be built this summer; commissioners were Henry Uelsmann of Illmo, Nick Dannenmueller of Oran, Mo., and J.M. Powell of Benton.

Cape Girardeau merchants estimate they sold about 300 heart-shaped boxes of candy this week for St. Valentine's Day; the boxes ranged in price from $1 to $4.

100 years ago: Feb. 14, 1905

The gamblers have at last gotten what they have been expecting many days; every professional gamester in the city is pulled before Judge R.G. Ranney and soaked the initial amount of $25 and costs, amounting in all to $50.

It is doubtful if there ever were as many valentines sent in any one year as there are this one; the post office has been overtaxed for two days, and the overworked clerks and carriers have done a business usually known at Christmas only.

-- Sharon K. Sanders