Out of the past 2/21/10

25 years ago: Feb. 21, 1985

The Cape Girardeau City Council and the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents approve a site plan and agree to advertise for bids for site work on the multipurpose building project.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Howard C. Tooke is seldom in the minority when it comes to council decisions; but last night Tooke was all alone in casting a symbolic "no" vote against seeking federal funding for construction of a riverfront amphitheater and multi-use courts in three city parks; in voting against the projects, Tooke said Cape Girardeau's sewer problems need to be addressed before city money is spent on any other capital improvement projects.

50 years ago: Feb. 21, 1960

On a bid of $2,013.13, Alvin C. Rust of Cape Girardeau has purchased the Coker School on Upper Bend Road from the Nell Holcomb School District.

Charles E. Stiver of Cape Girardeau has been notified by the Navy Department of his selection for promotion from commander to the rank of captain in the Naval Reserve.

75 years ago: Feb. 21, 1935

Grading of a portion of the grounds at Franklin School is one of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration projects recently approved and started; leveling and fill work is being done chiefly where the yard had eroded.

About 850 miles of ditches of the Little River Drainage District in seven counties will be cleared of bushes, briars and debris under contracts soon to be let; plans are to have the work done as far as possible this spring and summer.

100 years ago: Feb. 21, 1910

The Lee Line steamer, Ferd Herold, which left St. Louis Wednesday morning with a small passenger list and a big freight manifest, arrived in Cape Girardeau at 5 p.m. Saturday after a hard fight against the elements; the boat was overtaken by a blizzard at Carondelet, Mo., and was compelled to tie up until Thursday morning; ice and bad weather made the run to Grand Tower, Ill., very disagreeable; at Cape Rock, the boat was stopped for several hours to repair damaged machinery.

The plans and specifications for the storm sewer on upper Broadway, to be placed on the south side of the street, are adopted by the Cape Girardeau City Council.

-- Sharon K. Sanders