Out of the past 2/20/06

25 years ago: Feb. 20, 1981

Low water on the Mississippi River has slowed barge movement considerably and has cut deeply into barge lines' profits; but relief may be on the way; the National Weather Service is calling for a rise of about two feet from St. Louis to Cairo, Ill., over the next two weeks; the stage at Cape Girardeau is 7.1 feet.

Development of the Mississippi River waterfront at Cape Girardeau isn't a new idea, but it is receiving new attention; a group of interested residents meets to form a Riverfront Development Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee.

50 years ago: Feb. 20, 1956

Tardy registrants, seeking to get their names on the Cape Girardeau's registration books before they close this afternoon, flocked into Common Pleas Courthouse Saturday and again this morning to beat the deadline.

Roy Schwartz files his petition with the required number of signers with the Cape Girardeau city clerk and asks that his name be placed on the ballot March 20 as a candidate for city commissioner; he is the second candidate to file for city office; earlier, J.F. Lawrence also filed for the commissioner's race.

75 years ago: Feb. 20, 1931

With 27 attorneys practicing in Cape Girardeau, there is an attorney for every 601 people, the city's population being 16,227; at this ration, Cape Girardeau has more lawyers "per head" than does St. Louis, which has a corps of 1,300 lawyers, one for every 800 residents.

The Southeast Missouri Mayors Association, in session at Cape Girardeau, adopts two resolutions supporting legislation now before the Missouri General Assembly; one urges legislators to pass the bills carrying proposals of the State Survey Commission, and the other approves three bills introduced in the Senate yesterday giving Missouri towns power to license and control motor buses and motor trucks within their corporate limits.

100 years ago: Feb. 20, 1906

C.W. Hawley has been selected city engineer of Cape Girardeau; he is a young and ambitious man, who has had a thorough training and much experience in municipal improvements, street work and sewer installation.

J.N. Whitelaw, father of former Mayor Rodney Whitelaw, is lying at the point of death at his son's home on Broadway; the old gentleman was taken down Sunday morning with pneumonia.

-- Sharon K. Sanders