Out of the past 2/7/05

10 years ago: Feb. 7, 1980

Immediate and long-range plans for correcting sewage backup problems in the Cape LaCroix Creek watershed were submitted to the city council by a consulting engineer last night; the council also voted to hire a city Division of Transit supervisor, the first step in instituting a public transportation system in Cape Girardeau.

Supermarkets are hit with panic buying, as local residents, reacting to a winter storm watch, stock up on everything from 50-pound sacks of dog food to bread and beer.

50 years ago: Feb. 7, 1955

Announcement is made of the sale of Bamby Baking Co., 533 Good Hope St., to R.J. Lewis of Anna, Ill., and of its change in name to Bunny Breads Inc.; the sale was made by Thomas Fitzgerald and his sons, Thomas Fitzgerald Jr. and O.L. Fitzgerald, who have operated Bamby for the past 20 years, having purchased the business from the Wielputz family.

About 20 dogs have died, apparently from poisoning, in south Cape Girardeau since Thursday; feeling is running high against the unknown poisoner in the Smelterville neighborhood.

75 years ago: Feb. 7, 1930

New, rapid telegraph transmission will be made possible in Cape Girardeau within the next few days through the installation of five Simplex Printer telegraph machines, similar to those in The Missourian office, by the local office of the Western Union Telegraph Co.

Cape Girardeau city officials and representatives of the Missouri Utilities Co. meet to try to thrash out differences over water and light service; the city maintains that street lighting rates are excessive and that water service is poor.

100 years ago: Feb. 7, 1905

A new vault for the storing of records of the court of common pleas and of the city council is anticipated; Mayor Rodney G. Whitelaw appeared before the county court in Jackson yesterday to ask for an appropriation to furnish a new vault behind city clerk George E. Chappell's office; about $800 is needed to furnish a metal interior and fixtures.

Will Damon, the well-known miller at Benton, Mo., is in Cape Girardeau on business; he has rented out his mill and will move back to his old home in Todd County, Kentucky.

-- Sharon K. Sanders