Out of the past 2/27/08

25 years ago: Feb. 27, 1983

The Rev. Charles Kneir is the new pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Cape Girardeau; Kneir was born and raised at Poplar Bluff, Mo.; before coming to Cape Girardeau, he was pastor at Malden, Mo., for four years.

Forty-four boys receive Boy Scouting's highest honor at the 22nd annual Southeast Missouri Council Eagle Scout Court of Honor; Maj. Gen. Louis C. Wagner Jr., a Southeast Missouri Council Eagle Scout himself, serves as sponsor of the 1982 Eagle class.

50 years ago: Feb. 27, 1958

Robbers toting submachine guns, shotguns and pistols terrorize patrons of the Thunderbird, a Southern Illinois nightclub, early in the morning, escaping with a quantity of loot, including the contents of the establishment's safe; John Wilson, operator of the plush nightclub, says at least five thugs are involved in the holdup.

A reduction in the working force at the two plants of the Marquette Cement Mfg. Co. in Cape Girardeau scheduled for this weekend has been postponed until later in March; the company had earlier announced that 300 employees would be laid off for three weeks beginning March 1.

75 years ago: Feb. 27, 1933

Workers are building a concrete driveway in front of the Tuthill Tire Co. store, 134 S. Sprigg St., and also tearing away about 12 feet of the curbing on Sprigg Street to widen the driveway into the tire station and filling station; the business is operated by Nick Carter.

Clarence "Tubby" Koch has been taking advantage of some of the spring days to try out his arm for the coming baseball season; Koch says he is a free agent now, since the Three-I League broke up last year because of finances.

100 years ago: Feb. 27, 1908

A large attendance of farmers at the special agricultural term of school in the morning gratifies the two visiting instructors and the faculty of the Normal School immensely; 47 farmers are enrolled in the classes, which will study soils and tillage.

A stave and heading mill outfit was unloaded from cars on the Iron Mountain track at Jackson last week; the machinery belongs to the Henry Wrope Co. of Paragould Ark.; the mill will be set up about one and a half miles west of Burfordville.

-- Sharon K. Sanders