Out of the past 4/16/06

25 years ago: April 16, 1981

An agreement that includes some compromise but substantial pay increases for most of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools' certified staff has received informal administration approval and overwhelming approval from the Community Teachers Association; the salary and fringe benefit package calls for salary increases ranging from 8.3 to 10.9 percent, depending upon a teacher's position on the multistep salary schedule.

Approximately 800 Missouri National Guardsmen will converge upon Cape Girardeau April 24 and 25 for the 34th general conference of the Missouri National Guard Association; the two-day meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

50 years ago: April 16, 1956

A drop in temperature to a sub-freezing 30 degrees tonight, predicted in the weather forecast, won't affect the young peach and apple crops, but strawberries, which are in full bloom, will likely suffer.

The Cape Girardeau City Council approves a plan to install mercury vapor lighting like that on West Broadway and Kingshighway in each of the city's three business areas this summer; Missouri Utilities Co. will replace 112 of the old type incandescent lights now used in the business sections.

75 years ago: April 16, 1931

Negotiations were completed yesterday for the purchase by Grace Methodist Church of two lots on the southeast corner of the intersection of Harmony Street and North Henderson Avenue for the purpose of constructing a new church building and educational plant; the lots were purchased from Mrs. Daisy L. Albert and form a plot of ground 100 feet square.

Congestion of federal court dockets by a new type of case -- suits brought by World War veterans to collect on war risk insurance policies -- is threatened, says Judge Charles B. Faris as he starts trial of the largest number of these cases that have appeared on the local court docket.

100 years ago: April 16, 1906

"Scenes at Union Station" is performed at the Opera House in the evening under the auspices of the ladies of the Presbyterian Church; Lafe Caruthers and Heine Coerver are there with all their inimitable wit and make fine impressions upon the audience.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the Order of the Railroad Conductors gives its first annual ball in the evening at the Elks Hall; the ladies waltzing prize is won by Alma Stein; Floyd Couchman, the Lothario of the Frisco mechanical department, takes the men's prize.

- Sharon K. Sanders