Out of the past 3/1/06

25 years ago: March 1, 1981

Twenty-two black ministers from the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area have organized a Ministerial Community Outreach Conference in an effort to meet the emotional and financial needs of the elderly, the young and low-income; the Rev. Claude Russell, pastor of Second Baptist Church, is president of the organization.

Gov. Kit Bond has followed the recommendation of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Central Committee and appointed the chambers of commerce of Cape Girardeau and Jackson to run the license bureaus in their respective cities.

50 years ago: March 1, 1956

J.W. McBride, concluding his first term as Cape Girardeau's commissioner of parks and finance, announces he will be a candidate for commissioner at the forthcoming city primary election.

Fornfelt has called a special election on March 27 to consider issuing city bonds amounting to $250,000, which would provide a sewage disposal plant and improve the town's waterworks.

75 years ago: March 1, 1931

The Rev. Emmit Cross of the Jackson Baptist Church and about 26 members of the BYPU visit the Corinthian Baptist Church in the afternoon, presenting an interesting program for the benefit of the black Baptists in the city and surrounding country; the Rev. R.A. White of the Cape Girardeau Negro Baptist Church and the Rev. R.L. Davis of the AME Church in Jackson are also present.

It is reported that the Atlantic & Pacific bus line between Memphis, Tenn., and St. Louis has been purchased by the Missouri Pacific Transportation Co.; the A&P line, which formerly operated through Cape Girardeau, has since last August been using an Illinois route.

100 years ago: March 1, 1906

The Tennessee River steamer Saltillo hove in sight around the bend southeast of Cape Girardeau at about 7:30 last night and landed 15 minutes later; the boat looked as clean and new as it did when it made its initial trip last summer; the boat's appearance brought all the lovers of steamboating down to the wharf for the fourth time that day.

The big ball of the season, the "Red Ball," will be given by the Frisco trainmen at the Riverview Hotel this evening; the orchestra arrives from St. Louis at noon, and the final decorations have been hung; the boys are determined to make it a season record-breaker.

-- Sharon K. Sanders