Out of the past 3/25/06

25 years ago: March 25, 1981

The discovery of a rabid skunk in the Hawthorn School area, and other recent cases of rabies in Cape Girardeau County, prompts health officials to warn area residents to be alert for rabid animals; the baby skunk was found dead March 20 in a yard along Hilldale Circle near the school.

Planned moves by three state agencies to a rented building on North Kingshighway three months before lease agreements expire on buildings they now occupy will result in the state paying at least $8,568 in rent payments on vacant buildings through the end of June.

50 years ago: March 25, 1956

The new Holy Week liturgy, announced by Pope Pius XII last November for use in all Roman Catholic churches, is being followed at St. Mary's Church, starting with today's Palm Sunday services; incorporated into the new Palm Sunday liturgy is a procession of the entire congregation with blessed palms as a mark of triumphant proclamation of the divinity and kingship of Christ.

During the morning service, 39 youths of Trinity Lutheran congregation are received into communicant membership by the Rite of Confirmation.

75 years ago: March 25, 1931

Mayor Edward L. Drum says he has no statement to make regarding a proposed change in the Cape Girardeau Fire Department personnel; it was reported yesterday that Harry C. Rabe, a fireman, had been offered the place as chief, succeeding George French, who, it is said, will become assistant chief.

Excavation for the basement for a brick dwelling at 1009 Themis St., being erected by Henry Sanders, is begun; the house will contain five rooms; this will be the third house to be constructed within the past three weeks in the 1000 block of Themis Street, two others being on the north side of the street.

100 years ago: March 25, 1906

The Rev. Edmund Duckworth, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in St. Louis, concludes his week of meetings in Cape Girardeau with a union service at Christ Episcopal Church in the evening; the Methodist and Presbyterian churches suspend their services to allow their congregations to attend.

Cape Girardeau is assured a good baseball club this summer; the sport, which has been permitted to lapse for many years, will be again revived and pushed forward with much enthusiasm.

-- Sharon K. Sanders