Out of the past 3/22/12

25 years ago: March 22, 1987

Hacker Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Inc. has more than tripled its space by moving from 230 N. Main St. to 414 Commercial St.; the firm was founded 10 years ago by Bruce G. Hacker.

The Mental Health Association in Cape Girardeau County has gone on record in support of working toward getting 30 beds for acute mental health patients placed in hospitals around Southeast Missouri; the placement is part of the conversion of the Farmington State Hospital into a prison, which began several years ago.

50 years ago: March 22, 1962

The Jackson School Board has decided to again submit a bond issue proposal to voters at the annual school election April 3; the proposal is the same as formerly submitted, except no site is specified; it calls for a $675,000 bond issue for the purchase of a site, building a junior high school and equipping the building.

The U.S. Post Office Department is considering construction of a new local-capital post office in Cape Girardeau; a representative of the department is here making a preliminary site survey.

75 years ago: March 22, 1937

Charles W. Boutin, the vice president and general manager of the Southeast Missouri Telephone Co., is elevated to the presidency of that firm; he has been connected with the company and its predecessor, Cape Girardeau Bell, for nearly 31 years.

A large portrait of John D. Foster, who served for a short time as judge in Common Pleas Court, has been added to the collection of pictures of former judges; it was donated by Foster's widow, now Mrs. Arbaugh, 88, of Cairo, Ill.

100 years ago: March 22, 1912

One of the 10 men who escaped from the Benton, Mo., jail during the early hours of March 10 was captured Tuesday by the chief of police of Thebes, Ill., after a stiff foot race; the fugitive's sister resides at Thebes.

Charles Kaess of Haarig has announced his desire to be a councilman from the 3rd Ward; he is a Socialist and is the first member of that party to ever seek office in Cape Girardeau.

-- Sharon K. Sanders