Out of the past 3/16/07

25 years ago: March 16, 1982

WARE, Ill. -- After weeks of debate on the finances and future of Shawnee Unit District 84, there was silence after the school board voted last night to close the Wolf Lake Elementary building at the end of this school year and outlined plans for dismissing or reducing hours for 14 district teachers.

Members of the Scott City Police Personnel Board have narrowed the field of candidates for the position of police chief down to 17 from about 120 applicants.

50 years ago: March 16, 1957

Cape Girardeau ended February with a balance of $143,738.28 in its general revenue fund, an increase of $35,507.10 -- the equivalent of almost one month's operation -- over the corresponding date of 1956.

Petitions asking for a vote at the school election on April 2 on the question of daylight saving time for Cape Girardeau are presented to Mayor Walter H. Ford; the petition contains 282 names.

75 years ago: March 16, 1932

Cape Girardeau's new water plant at Cape Rock and its auxiliary facilities will be placed in operation within two days; an ordinance accepting the improvements, including the new water plant, intake and reservoir, mains leading to and from the plant and the new street lighting system, was passed yesterday at a special meeting of the city council.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Police are searching for three hoodlums who last night entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Berthold Shrock, near Scopus, Mo., tied five members of the family to chairs, ransacked the house and escaped with $800, a portion of that amount in gold.

100 years ago: March 16, 1907

A meeting of the property owners along Cape Girardeau's levee is held at the Commercial Club; after discussing the request of the Frisco Railroad to be allowed to raise the tracks along the levee, the property owners order a petition drawn asking that the city refuse to allow Frisco to make any changes whatever.

Action has been started by several residents of Gordonville to find an owner for the grain warehouse there; the house has been without an owner since it was built in 1899.

-- Sharon K. Sanders