Out of the past 2/20/12

25 years ago: Feb. 20, 1987

The city council is seeking to cultivate advice from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on what, if any, steps should be taken to preserve the May Greene Garden; one possibility is for the city to take over maintenance of the small garden at Fountain and Themis streets.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Newly elected Marble Hill Mayor Shirley Cooper played hooky from work yesterday; she, along with the rest of the city hall staff, helped move into the new Marble Hill City Hall on First Street.

50 years ago: Feb. 20, 1962

Girardeans surge with national pride above all other emotions at the historic orbital flight of Col. John H. Glenn Jr.; the Mercury astronaut rides a rocket three times around the world before splashing down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Cape Girardeau Central High School cagers gain victory number 20 in a 79-24 romp over arch rival Jackson High on the Indians' court; Jerry Suedekum leads Tiger scoring with 17 points, followed by Paul Ebaugh and Kermit Meystedt with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

75 years ago: Feb. 20, 1937

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Federal government engineers inspect the wooden barge which sank Jan. 30 in the Mississippi River, plunging 26 levee workers to their deaths in the flooded Birds Point spillway; the half-submerged hulk was found 2 miles below the scene of the accident and towed here.

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- L.H. Schult is sworn in as the new judge of the 38th Judicial Circuit; he was appointed to the circuit court by the governor and succeeds Judge James Reeves.

100 years ago: Feb. 20, 1912

At yesterday's meeting of the board of directors of Roth Tobacco, it was decided to increase the facilities as well as the workforce, in order to keep up with the rapidly increasing business; the plant is now using 2,200 pounds of tobacco leaf daily in its output, with the 55 employees working overtime to keep up with the rush.

Six lodges are planning to move into the Martin building on Broadway: the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World, Woodmen Circle and Royal Neighbors.

-- Sharon K. Sanders