Out of the past 4/29/07

25 years ago: April 29, 1982

Cape Girardeau County Court for several years has paid an area construction contractor to renovate various county offices without taking bids and since 1979 has failed to file a prevailing wage request with the Division of Labor Statistics, a Missourian inquiry reveals; some labor union officials contend the practice of not seeking bids for renovation is illegal.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief D. Ray Johnson says he is considering outside assistance in the investigation into the slaying of Margie Call, a 57-year-old widow who was found dead in her home in January.

50 years ago: April 29, 1957

A spectacular fire originating after gasoline was spilled into the Mississippi River during unloading operations at the J.D. Street terminal north of town posed a grave threat for hours yesterday before it is extinguished by rainfall early today; thousands of persons were attracted to the riverfront by the dense black smoke.

First Lt. and Mrs. Norman Eldridge and children, Nina, Sam and Bucky, are honored guests at a farewell party in the basement of the First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau; Eldridge flew here last week to take his family to England, where he is stationed.

75 years ago: April 29, 1932

The Missourian's sixth annual cooking school closed last night at Houck Field House with more than 1,200 persons in the audience; close to 4,000 persons attended the four sessions of the cooking school.

Hundreds of pupils and teachers from Southeast Missouri high schools are in Cape Girardeau for the opening contests in the district literary and track meet; the first session will be held this evening at Teachers College, and the last contests will be conducted tomorrow.

100 years ago: April 29, 1907

Because of the death of Edgar E. Rand of St. Louis, a member of the shoe-manufacturing company which is building an immense factory in Cape Girardeau, work on the plant is suspended at noon.

The other day, baseball enthusiasts circulated a petition asking for contributions to launch a baseball team for Cape Girardeau; sufficient funds were raised to supply the uniforms and equipment; J.W. Phillips will act as manager.

-- Sharon K. Sanders