Out of the past 4/4/11

25 years ago: April 4, 1986

Retiring as Cape Girardeau mayor after 17 years, Howard C. Tooke has been appointed by the Cape Girardeau County Commission to seek out federal grants and other funds to enable the county to get its fair share of federal tax money.

Liability insurance for the county sheriff's department and jail will cost $18,375 over the next year compared to $6,000 over an annual period that ends Thursday; the County Commission awarded the contract to Ricci Associates of St. Louis.

50 years ago: April 4, 1961

Both sides of the Public Housing Authority controversy present arguments in informal debate and rebuttal at a breakfast meeting in an effort to have the Chamber of Commerce take a position; afterward, the board meets in executive session and issues a statement that it "cannot go on record as either being for or against" public housing and urges a citywide election to decide the issue.

The Grace Methodist Church has let contracts amounting to $157,264 for the completion of the church plant at Caruthers Avenue and Broadway; this will include construction of the auditorium section.

75 years ago: April 4, 1936

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The state attorney general, through Prosecuting Attorney Henry M. Phillips, has called for the resignations of three Stoddard County officials; called to relinquish their offices, based on an audit of the county's affairs, are the sheriff, a probate judge and the circuit clerk.

Workers are remodeling the exterior of the A.E. Landgraf filling station, 20 S. West End Blvd.; the canopy that extended over the front of the station has been removed, an addition of four feet placed on the building on the north side, while two new dormers will be built in front.

100 years ago: April 4, 1911

The city election at Jackson is very quiet, there being no tickets in the field and each candidate is making his own individual campaign; at the last minute, K.R. Wilson announced his candidacy for mayor against W.B. Schaefer.

The Cape Girardeau Building and Loan Association, having outgrown its old quarters, is moving into the First National Bank building on Main Street, where spacious rooms have been secured.

-- Sharon K. Sanders