Out of the past 2/21/11

25 years ago: Feb. 21, 1986

Members of the Cape Girardeau City Council are split on a proposal to build a state prison here; while David Barklage and Loretta Schneider say they don't want a prison in the Cape Girardeau area, Robert K. Herbst, Peter Hilty, Donald Strohmeyer, Curtis S. Smith and Mayor Howard C. Tooke are unopposed to the plan.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Police here are investigating allegations that illegal telephone wiretapping may have been conducted among city officials; Perryville Mayor Robert Miget has received calls from residents alluding to the possibility of the phone taps.

An outside stairway was constructed in February 1961, allowing access to the second floor of Common Pleas Courthouse. The steps were temporary, while floor and stairway reconstruction were underway inside the building. (Missourian Archives ~ G.D. Fronabarger photograph)

50 years ago: Feb. 21, 1961

A coin-operated dry-cleaning establishment is set to open tomorrow at 612 Morgan Oak St.; owner and operator of the business is Gene Points; it is the first such establishment in Cape Girardeau.

Workers are building a stairway at the Common Pleas Courthouse, outside the building, leading from a sidewalk to the second floor; the temporary steps will be used while the interior stairway is ripped out and replaced.

75 years ago: Feb. 21, 1936

With school dismissed for the day, State Teachers College students celebrate wildly the first championship of the Missouri conference their basketball team scored last night by winning before a packed crowd over the team from Warrensburg, Mo., 19-16.

City Assessor Louis H. Butler enters the race for Cape Girardeau city commissioner.

100 years ago: Feb. 21, 1911

The Cape Girardeau City Council last night undid work accomplished at earlier sessions; beginning on North Street and swinging around the circle on Good Hope, Frederick, Sprigg, Bellevue, William and Ellis streets, the contemplated road improvements were wiped off the slate of planned civic improvements.

Mofette Wallace of the Wallace Brothers contracting company at Jackson passes through Cape Girardeau on his way to New Madrid, Mo., where he is building a Catholic church.

-- Sharon K. Sanders