Out of the past 4/1/12

25 years ago: April 1, 1987

Five parks and recreation fee measures apparently will be placed before Cape Girardeau voters in a special election in June; while the final decision won't be made until Monday night's regular city council meeting, the council has given tentative approval to submit the measures to voters.

Design features of a portable wooden basketball court to be used in the new Show Me Center have been approved by the board of managers; bids on the floor will be opened April 10.

50 years ago: April 1, 1962

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Inclement weather -- much of the same kind they had 100 years ago -- makes the afternoon re-enactment of the Civil War battle at New Madrid too authentic; while history says the original battle in 1862 was fought in the rain, today's re-enactment is "fought" in rain, snow and sleet.

Cape Girardeans are treated to a mix of weather that includes rain, sleet, snow and tiny little balls resembling hail but soft as snow; to top it off, in the middle of one of the snowstorms, thunder can be heard.

75 years ago: April 1, 1937

In connection with his attempt to block development by the city of the fairground site west of Cape Girardeau, Maj. Giboney Houck takes depositions from five city officials preliminary to a hearing in Circuit Court of his application for a permanent restraining order.

Phillips Petroleum Corp. leases lots at the northwest corner of Broadway and North Frederick Street from William C. Hartung, property owner; Phillips plans to build a large automobile service unit on the corner; three landmark structures on the site will be razed and the ground graded to street level.

100 years ago: April 1, 1912

CAIRO, Ill. -- The flood situation in Cairo continues to be critical, with the Ohio River higher than any flood since 1883; the gauge here in the morning is 52.8 feet; across the river at New Madrid County, Mo., the Drinkwater levee gave way yesterday morning, flooding thousands of acres of land.

Tomorrow's city and school elections will see the selection of a new councilman in all four wards, as well as the consideration of two new school directors and a tax levy of 80 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

-- Sharon K. Sanders