Out of the past 3/5/06

25 years ago: March 5, 1981

After 14 years of waiting, Famous Barr's role in the community becomes a reality as the ribbon is cut at its new store, officially signaling the opening of Cape Girardeau's West Park Mall; more than 500 people brave a sharp March wind to take part in the celebration.

The cost of investigating crime in Cape Girardeau inched higher last night, when the city council approved a $2,500 increase in the subsidy the city pays to the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab; the increased contribution brings the city's share of the crime lab's budget to $10,000 annually.

50 years ago: March 5, 1956

The Puxico, Mo., Indians, champions of the Class M Regional basketball tournament, which they captured Saturday night at Houck Field House by defeating Cape Girardeau Catholic High, 58-53, will leave tomorrow for the state tournament in Columbia, Mo.; they will play their first game the following night against School of the Osage, champions of Class M of the St. James Regional.

Fire from an unknown cause yesterday afternoon destroyed the eight-room brick residence of the Joe Littleton family, 107 N. Lorimier St., in Cape Girardeau, while the family was away.

75 years ago: March 5, 1931

A gasoline price war is in full swing in Cape Girardeau, with most of the retail stations cutting the price two cents, and with at least one retail station figure as low as 12.6 cents per gallon; Standard Oil Co. of Indiana, which started the gas war, says it will meet the lowest price in the state.

F.A. Kage, Cape Girardeau police judge, who suffered a stroke this winter, is sufficiently recovered to attend a Masonic Lodge meeting; Parker Cunningham, his grandson, is initiated into the lodge at the meeting; Kage has been a Mason for 57 years.

100 years ago: March 5, 1906

The city has gained another family of worth; F.R. Cross of St. Louis, Mo., is moving to Cape Girardeau to enter the mercantile trade; he is a brother of George Cross; with J.M. Shy, who has been associated with George Cross for some time, the newcomer has purchased the stock of groceries and location lately owned by W.S. Hitt on North Frederick Street.

Cape Girardeau city councilman T.M. Williams introduces a resolution, providing for an amendment to a city ordinance, which would establish two new wards in the West End.

-- Sharon K. Sanders