Out of the past 3/21/06

25 years ago: March 21, 1981

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Explosions rock two banks in small towns near here, extensively damaging both buildings and scattering bits of money; the first bomb goes off about 4 a.m. at the Mercantile drive-in bank in Leadington, Mo.

A proposal calling for an increase of 5 to 5 1/2 percent in salaries for certified teachers in the Cape Girardeau Public School System has met with criticism from the Community Teachers Association salary committee.

50 years ago: March 21, 1956

Mayor Narvol A. Randol rode to a landslide nomination for mayor and incumbent Commissioner J.W. McBride rolled up a commanding vote to lead the ticket in the commissioners' race in yesterday's Cape Girardeau primary; Randol balloted 3,174 to his opponent's -- Clyde Feverston -- 356.

Parking may soon be more of a problem in downtown Cape Girardeau; at present, the cobblestone wharf along the Mississippi River is used extensively by store owners and clerks; but within a few weeks this will be impossible, as workers begin construction of a new sewer line running along Water Street as part of the flood-control project.

75 years ago: March 21, 1931

Drastic changes in the time card of the Frisco Railroad, including the making of Cape Girardeau as a terminal again for the Gulf branch line and speeding up generally operation of all passenger trains, is announced by division superintendent J.S. McMillan; the new schedules, effective March 29, will provide for speeding up of St. Louis-Memphis trains, and the addition of two fast freight trains operating through here for overnight deliveries.

Word is received of the death of the Rev. O.R. Heuchen, 74, which occurred yesterday at his home in St. Louis; he formerly was pastor of the Hanover Lutheran Church and of the Lutheran church at Uniontown, Mo.

100 years ago: March 21, 1906

Architect P.H. Weathers of Louisville, Ky., yesterday presented the Cape Girardeau County Court with revised plans for the new Jackson courthouse, which the court accepted.

The steamer Stacker Lee passes upriver at 8 p.m., bound for St. Louis; the boat with vari-colored lights is a welcome addition to the boats now making this port; it carries several large pieces of freight for Cape Girardeau, but otherwise is light in freight and passengers.

-- Sharon K. Sanders