Out of the past 4/11/06

25 years ago: April 11, 1981

John Phillips, a Cardwell, Mo., high school junior, who last year competed in the International Science and Engineering Fair, wins the right for a return trip along with South Pemiscot High senior Tammy Nowlin; they were the principle winners in the 25th annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair held on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

Speaking last night to a group of area educators at Cape Girardeau, Maj. Gen. Louis J. Wagner Jr., a native of Jackson, says the Army is the "best peacetime force we've had in the history of the United States;" Wagner is one of the country's youngest two-star generals.

50 years ago: April 11, 1956

Hirsute adornment now edging forth on the faces of a good part of Cape Girardeau's male population is fine, but the official start for such activity won't be until May; on May 3, there will be a meeting of those men who wish to participate in the whiskers-growing contest, and the Brothers of the Brush will be formally organized.

C.A. Juden, Main Street property owner and owner of farm operations in Missouri and Illinois, has been elected to the board of directors of First National Bank, succeeding the late Herman Bremermann.

75 years ago: April 11, 1931

Members of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, holding their first meeting last night following Tuesday's election, reorganized and during the session went on record opposing a proposed gasoline filling station on a lot near the Broadway School; members fear the increased automobile traffic near the school would endanger pupils.

Gasoline prices in Cape Girardeau are down 1 cent, Standard Oil of Indiana announcing the slash and independent companies following suit; most stations are retailing gas at 13.5 cents per gallon for regular and 16.5 for high-test fuel.

100 years ago: April 11, 1906

At a meeting of the members of the Methodist Church last night, plans for the new edifice were adopted; probably by the first of May, active construction will begin; the plans of architect L.B. Blackwood were accepted; the new church will be modern in every respect; three massive towers and immense art windows will give the exterior the appearance of a great castle.

Grading is being done where the old stand of the Meyer Brothers' meat market stood on Broadway, and the new building will take form in a few days.

-- Sharon K. Sanders