Out of the past 2/18/08

25 years ago: Feb. 18, 1983

Cape Girardeau County Court Presiding Judge Gene Huckstep says he is exploring the possibility of the county setting up its own printing department to produce everything from ledgers to tax forms to receipt books.

Efforts to salvage and restore the century-old bridge at Old Appleton have gained the encouragement of the Missouri Heritage Trust; Patrick Steele, Heritage Trust executive director, was in Old Appleton yesterday to inspect the bridge, which was damaged by a flood last December.

50 years ago: Feb. 18, 1958

Cape Girardeau's corporate limits would grow by 1,684 acres under a proposed extension presented to the city council yesterday; the expansion would be to the north, south and west of the present city limits.

PUXICO, Mo. -- Loss of possibly $70,000 occurred last night, when fire destroyed the log gymnasium of Puxico High School, home of one of the best basketball teams in Missouri. All physical education equipment, even down to every basketball the team owned, was lost; most of the uniforms were also destroyed.

75 years ago: Feb. 18, 1933

M. Samuels, owner of the business building at 42 N. Main St., says that the Kroger Grocery Co. has renewed its lease on the building for five years; the company has occupied the same structure 10 years.

Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops have been organized by the Salvation Army; A.C. Nielsen will be Scoutmaster for the boys, and Mrs. Ernest Orchard will have charge of the girls' troop.

100 years ago: Feb. 18, 1908

The Cape Girardeau Improvement Association was formed last night at the Common Pleas Courthouse. Present were a large number of women who feel that the city's progress depends upon them; while the association will include a large number of men, only women are to be active members of the association.

E.H. Engelmann and son, G.B. Engelmann, have taken a suite of offices in the First National Bank building; in the future they will conduct a general insurance business, giving special attention to probate matters.

-- Sharon K. Sanders