Out of the past 2/22/07

25 years ago: Feb. 22, 1982

Those who thought the days of $1-a-gallon gasoline were gone are wrong; in Millersville, Ed's U Pump -- a small, self-service outlet -- is marketing regular grade gasoline at $1.009, a price that seems to be the lowest in the immediate area.

Cape Girardeau's two Libson Stores will remain open despite the company's reorganization under federal bankruptcy laws, a company official says; the St. Louis company that operates the women's specialty shops has closed seven of its 30 stores and may close up to three others.

50 years ago: Feb. 22, 1957

By a single vote, the special election in Illmo on Tuesday is found to have been defeated; the $129,000 in bonds would have been used to install a sewer system, and it was the second time the proposal was defeated.

Preliminary surveys for the Cape Girardeau County portion of the new Interstate 55 from St. Louis to Memphis, Tenn., have been completed and detailed survey work by a party out of the Sikeston, Mo., district office is expected to begin within the next month.

75 years ago: Feb. 22, 1932

George Washington's birthday anniversary is fittingly observed in Cape Girardeau, a national holiday being celebrated; the post office, banks and federal offices suspend duties for the day; a public program is conducted at Houck Field House, with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and community leaders taking part.

Drives in Fairmount Cemetery, west of Cape Girardeau, are being graveled and repaired for the coming year; three teams of horses are being used to haul about 100 loads of gravel to the drives.

100 years ago: Feb. 22, 1907

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state board of health takes charge of the hall of the Missouri House of Representatives after Rep. W.J. Salts of Phelps County is removed from the floor, suffering with smallpox; the secretary of the board announces that no person will be allowed in the hall unless vaccinated.

The towboat Colorado came down river yesterday afternoon, and some new pilot ran it too close against the Illinois shore opposite Cape Girardeau and onto the sandbar; it floundered for some time before getting loose.

-- Sharon K. Sanders