Out of the past 3/30/12

25 years ago: March 30, 1987

The weather man delivers an April Fool's Day prank, as snow falls during the day and freezing temperatures hover in the area in the evening; gardeners and orchard growers are concerned, as last week's 60- and 70-degree weather caused flowers, shrubs and trees to bud out.

Saying the area needs "planned growth," Jackson Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Phillips proposes development of a regional commerce, growth and development association; he presents the idea during a meeting of an ad hoc group of area business, government and civic leaders, including mayors of Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

50 years ago: March 30, 1962

The Bonnie Huffman murder case, unsolved after eight years but never closed by Cape Girardeau County or state law enforcement officers, has been the subject of further investigation the past three weeks; several people have been questioned and have submitted voluntarily to lie examinations.

The transfer in ownership of the Midwest Dairies company from City Products Corp. of Chicago to the Southland Corp. of Dallas has been announced; Midwest has a distributing plant in Cape Girardeau, employing 21 workers.

75 years ago: March 30, 1937

Sheets of parchment bearing signatures of former pupils of Lorimier School will be included in a box to be placed in the cornerstone of the new school; papers will be placed in banks, at the Missourian and elsewhere, allowing those who attended Lorimier to sign their names.

Having led the Cape Girardeau Capahas to a victorious last season, Marvin Gockel has been re-elected manager of the team for this season.

100 years ago: March 30, 1912

Reports by long-distance phone indicate a most serious flood condition at Cairo, Ill., and the surrounding country; the clogged sewers at Cairo, being unable to carry away their heavy volumes of water, have burst and caused much damage; several streets caved in because of collapsed sewers under them.

Nick LaCroix opens his new amusement place, the Royal Theater, on Main Street in the evening; it's a pretty little show house, with comfortable orchestra chairs, every seat giving a good view of the screen.

-- Sharon K. Sanders