Out of the past 3/20/08

25 years ago: March 20, 1983

Missionary evangelist Barry Eisenhart speaks at Bethel Assembly of God Church in the evening; he and his family went to Europe in 1972, where he founded the first Assembly of God Church in Worms, Germany.

Linda Lueckel has been named director of the southeast regional Easter Seal Center; the center operation covers 23 counties in Southeast Missouri.

50 years ago: March 20, 1958

The joyous sound of music and singing fills the air on State College campus, as the first of some 2,500 expected pupils from 49 high schools arrive in the morning to take part in the opening day of the Southeast Missouri District Music Competition Festival.

Toby Ward, a junior, scored 367 points on 150 field goals and 67 free tosses to lead the College Preps varsity basketball team in scoring this season; he was followed by junior Richard McLaird with 339 points and Roger Moss, also a junior, with 319.

75 years ago: March 20, 1933

Final details of the organization of the Cape County National Farm Loan Association will be worked out when Oliver J. Lloyd, vice president and secretary of the St. Louis Federal Land Bank, comes here from St. Louis.

Excessive rains filled the trench along the west wall of the Jackson Presbyterian Church, which had been dug for the installation of a sewer connection, and during the night between Saturday and Sunday, the foundation walls under the pulpit alcove gave way; the entire arch collapsed, the brick walls falling outward into an adjoining lot.

100 years ago: March 20, 1908

Concerned Cape Girardeau citizens are organizing a mass meeting for next Tuesday evening at the Common Pleas Courthouse, when the advantages and needs for a high school building here will be discussed.

More trouble is brewing for the stockholders of the Southern Metal and Manufacturing Co.; W.M. Gruendler of the Gruendler Machinery Co. of St. Louis, Campbell Allison and Gus Viernow of St. Louis, accompanied by Sheriff B. Gockel, go to the smelter plant and "attach" every piece of machinery not in its permanent place; the Gruendler company has a $2,000 court judgment against the smelter company.

— Sharon K. Sanders