Out of the past 4/12/05

25 years ago: April 12, 1980

Under a directive from Dr. A.R. Meyer, vice president for administrative services, no Southeast Missouri State University fleet cars will be available to faculty and staff for the rest of fiscal 1980; faculty and staff members are being asked to use their personal vehicles for travel; they will be reimbursed by the university.

Ousted circuit judge Lloyd G. Briggs of Sikeston, Mo., says he plans to appeal Secretary of State James C. Kirkpatrick's decision to keep his name off the August primary election ballot.

50 years ago: April 12, 1955

It is officially announced by doctors at the University of Michigan that the Salk polio vaccine is safe, effective and potent; indicating the magnitude of the problem locally, figures show that in six years, 577 people in 11 counties in Southeast Missouri have been stricken with polio and treated at Saint Francis Hospital; of these 20 succumbed.

The new Salk vaccine will likely be available in May for the mass inoculation of first- and second-graders in Cape Girardeau county schools.

75 years ago: April 12, 1930

The formal opening of Haman's Funeral Home, 107 S. Sprigg St., is held this afternoon and tomorrow; August H. Haman, father of Lawrence L. Haman, is now associated with his son in the business.

Fifteen children, pupils in Juden School No. 1, and three adults, including their teacher, had a narrow escape from serious injury yesterday, when a motor truck in which they were returning from a school meet at Egypt Mills left the highway and crashed into a ditch near the Lutheran church there; the children escaped virtually unhurt, although they were thrown out of the truck when it turned over on its side.

100 years ago: April 12, 1905

Amidst the cheers of a council chamber full of citizens and of retiring officials, W.H. Coerver takes the chair as mayor of Cape Girardeau, the retiring executive being the first to congratulate him; other council members who are also sworn in are T.M. Williams, A.R. Ponder, Theodore Boyce and F.A. Kage.

Cape Girardeau has another new factory to add to its constantly growing list; Ed Dowling, an expert candy maker, and Percy Matthews, a young man of business ability, have started a candy and ice cream factory in the Martens' hotel building.

-- Sharon K. Sanders