Out of the past 3/26/11

25 years ago: March 26, 1986

In a unanimous decision, the Missouri Supreme Court has reversed a trial court ruling that prohibited the city of Cape Girardeau from any involvement in the controversial multipurpose building project; the decision clears the way for the city to spend the proceeds from a $5 million bond issue on the project.

Vernon Huck, who has been principal at Ste. Genevieve High School for the past four academic years, has been hired to replace Jim Nelson as Jackson Senior High principal; Nelson will retire in June after 23 years as head of the high school.

50 years ago: March 26, 1961

Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week, brings thousands of Cape Girardeans to their respective churches; the traditional palm is used throughout St. Andrew Lutheran Church, as 10 children are confirmed; processions with palms are held at both St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Vincent's Catholic Church; a capacity audience of about 700 persons are present in Centenary Methodist Church as seven infants are baptized, and 22 young children and one adult are received into the church.

The Rev. Ronald C. Bishop, a returned Nazarene missionary to British Honduras, is guest speaker in the evening at the Church of the Nazarene.

75 years ago: March 26, 1936

Deciding that the proposal wouldn't be permissible under the Missouri Constitution, members of the Cape Girardeau School Board and E.R. Adams, assistant to State Supt. of Schools Lloyd King yesterday declined to approve a proposition that schools of the St. Mary's and St. Vincent's Catholic parishes be taken under the public school system; that plan was proposed to the board a month ago by a committee from the two parishes.

The work of three Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Southeast Missouri -- at Delta, Hayti and New Madrid -- engaged in drainage rehabilitation will be continued at least until July 1.

100 years ago: March 26, 1911

The last stretches of granitoid sidewalks on Broadway and North Frederick Street, above Broadway, are being put down in front of the property of Mrs. Phillipson, which fronts on those two streets; when completed, walks will have been put in all along the town's paved streets.

Mayor and Mrs. M.E. Leming, and daughters Rose and Frances, return from a visit of several weeks in Texas, where they had gone so that the mayor might get relief from rheumatic troubles; they all return in good health.

-- Sharon K. Sanders