Out of the past 2/16/08

25 years ago: Feb. 16, 1983

Cape Girardeau County authorities praise the actions of 77-year-old Willard F. Hill of Jackson who dragged another Jackson man to safety after he was overcome with smoke from a fire yesterday which destroyed the concession stand at Lake Girardeau near Crump; Timothy P. Gillen, 26, was attempting to extinguish the blaze when he was overcome by smoke.

A 3 percent hotel-motel tax in Cape Girardeau is acceptable, according to lodging proprietors, as long as the revenue derived from that tax is carefully managed and properly used; the tax is part of a plan to retire $5 million general obligation bonds which have been proposed as a means of constructing a $13 million multipurpose building.

50 years ago: Feb. 16, 1958

A brigade of Salvation Army officers from seven cities will be in Cape Girardeau on Monday to conduct evangelistic meetings; there will be several open-air meetings held in various parts of the city and an indoor service at the Salvation Army, 205 Broadway, that evening.

A pair of burglars, traced by tracks they left at the rear of the building, broke into Ward's Big Star Super Market after the close of business yesterday, punched the firm's safe and escaped with $1,300 in silver and currency.

75 years ago: Feb. 16, 1933

Eight youths from six states, seeking employment in Cape Girardeau, say they support the action of the U.S. Senate in appropriating $22 million to throw open the citizens' military training camps to unemployed young men.

Workers have started the building of an annex of three large rooms to the residence of Ernest Karger, 103 S. Spanish St., which will be used to rent; A.E. Feuerhorn, local contractor, is in charge of the work.

100 years ago: Feb. 16, 1908

Many ladies of Cape Girardeau, who are anxious to see the city appear better as far as its streets and exterior parts are concerned, are to meet Monday night at the Common Pleas Courthouse; they propose to form a civic improvement association to beautify the town.

Wilhelm H. Schneider, recently of Stuttgardt, Germany, is in Cape Girardeau to make his home and will give instructions on the violin; he is residing at 310 Bellevue St.

-- Sharon K. Sanders