Out of the past 2/23/07

25 years ago: Feb. 23, 1982

In the past, whenever a blood drive was held in Southeast Missouri or Southern Illinois, a bloodmobile and staff of nurses had to be dispatched from the regional Red Cross headquarters in St. Louis; but starting later this year, many of those blood drives will be run by a bloodmobile team out of Cape Girardeau.

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents will be asked this week to approve a $125 per year increase in the school's room and board rates, part of which will be used to pay for cable television in the residence halls.

50 years ago: Feb. 23, 1957

Practically all of Sen. A.M. Spradling Jr.'s time in the legislature this week was given over to work on his nursing home bill and taking calls from over the state wanting information about it; he says the nursing home fire at Warrenton, Mo., last week brought a deluge of work and a focus of interest on the bill to regulate nursing homes.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Perry Compton resigns as chairman of the Republican State Committee, and H.K. Wangelin of Poplar Bluff, Mo., is elected immediately to succeed him.

75 years ago: Feb. 23, 1932

The sheriff of Pemiscot County, and eight other defendants, plead guilty in federal court at Cape Girardeau on a single count of conspiring together to defeat enforcement of the national Prohibition law; sentencing of all the defendants, with the exception of the sheriff, will be passed Feb. 25; the sheriff's sentence is deferred until April 11, because of the necessity of his official duties.

The city of Cape Girardeau mails a $10,500 check to the American-LaFrance & Foamite Industries Inc., in payment for the city's new truck, installed last week.

100 years ago: Feb. 23, 1907

L.J. Albert Jr., president of the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club, having read of the smallpox outbreak in Jefferson City, Mo., wires Gov. J.W. Folk and other state officials, inviting the legislature to continue its sessions in Cape Girardeau.

The weather man must surely be out of humor; in the morning, a heavy coat of sleet covers the ground, making navigation nearly impossible, and street cars have the worst time in their careers.

-- Sharon K. Sanders