Out of the past 2/4/06

25 years ago: Feb. 4, 1981

Loretta Schneider and John M. Isbell, both of whom have made unsuccessful attempts in the past to be elected to the Cape Girardeau City Council, won Tuesday's primary election, thus advancing them to the April 7 general election; one of the two will be elected to the seat now held by Mayor Paul W. Stehr, who is completing his third term as a councilman and isn't seeking re-election.

Voters in the Delta R-5 School District yesterday defeated for the second time in six months a proposal to raise the district's operating levy; the proposed 70-cent levy increase was requested by the school administration to finance needed repairs on the high school building and to upgrade the district's fleet of buses.

50 years ago: Feb. 4, 1956

The register of Cape Girardeau voters now numbers 7,536 people, considerably fewer than the those listed on old books before a new registration last spring swept the board clean to give the city a fresh start.

Cape Girardeau has a big stake in the bill pending in Congress to construct largely with federal funds a national system of interstate highways; the reason is that Highway 61, from St. Louis to Cape Girardeau and on to New Orleans, La., has been designated as one link in the interstate system; it is proposed to make the highway at least four lanes in width; it would be of the limited-access type.

75 years ago: Feb. 4, 1931

In an investigation of charges that president Joseph A. Serena used Teachers College equipment, labor and materials to build a private tourist unit on Highway 61, the board of education announces that it has found "that everything has been regular and that the college has been reimbursed in every way."

Negotiations are underway for the purchase of the American Gauze & Cotton Co. factory on College Street by the Battle Creek Surgical Supply & Supporter Corp.; definite agreement for taking over the plant by the Battle Creek, Mich., firm hasn't been reached, but probably will be effected soon.

100 years ago: Feb. 4, 1906

The Rev. E.T. Adams gives a free lecture on "Our Bane and the Antidote" in the evening at the Methodist Church; in the morning he preaches on "The Need of Christian Fortitude."

J.O. Reavis of Nashville, Tenn., preaches in evening at the Presbyterian Church on "Forward Movement"; he is secretary of the Foreign Mission Board.

-- Sharon K. Sanders