Out of the past 4/26/05

25 years ago: April 26, 1980

Backers of Ronald Reagan in the 10th Congressional District did their work prior to today's Republican district convention here; it takes only about 30 minutes to elect three delegates and alternates to the national convention in support of Reagan; the delegates are Sikeston Mayor Mary Doggett, Robert Naeter of Cape Girardeau and Rozella Randolph of Imperial, Mo.

Helen Stephens, who won two gold medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936, says she favors the boycott of this summer's games in Russia; she is in Cape Girardeau for the MAIAW state championship women's track meet; Stephens is a special assistant coach at William Woods College.

50 years ago: April 26, 1955

Vaccination of Cape Girardeau County first- and second-grade pupils with the new Salk polio vaccine begins at St. Vincent's School, where 48 children take shots without a single one crying; the experience isn't as bad as many had anticipated.

Oscar C. Kaiser, superintendent of the local plant of International Shoe Co., announces the company will begin operating a second manufacturing unit in Cape Girardeau; the new plant will be located in the north end of the present factory building on North Main Street, vacated recently due to a reduction in production requirements at the No. 1 plant.

75 years ago: April 26, 1930

Smashing records for both team and individual events, Lilbourn High School typists capture first-place honors in the novice division of the Missouri Typists Association meet being held at the Teachers College in connection with the big high school meet; Mary L. Richardson also breaks the state record for speed typing in the novice class.

Max Wielpuetz, owner of Wielpuetz Bakery, is showing off a 7-pound rainbow trout he landed this week while fishing at his camp, Bamby Ranch, near Greer Springs, Mo.

100 years ago: April 26, 1905

The Jackson Commercial Club, 41 members strong, swoops down on Cape Girardeau at noon, touring the various business sections of the town; each delegate carries a petition asking the county court to call a special election for the purpose of issuing bonds to the amount of $75,000 to be used in building a new county courthouse in Jackson.

The Good Hope Racket Store is undergoing a general redecorating; a fine, new soda fountain is being installed.

-- Sharon K. Sanders