Out of the past 4/7/08

25 years ago: April 7, 1983

The move is on again for some Cape Girardeau residents, who find themselves ousted once more from their homes because of an uncooperative river; with the Mississippi at 39.1 feet, water is causing noticeable problems in both the Red Star area and in South Cape Girardeau east of Sprigg Street.

By a one-vote margin, and after considerable debate, the Cape Girardeau City Council last night reaffirmed its earlier decision to change one-way traffic on Broadway between Pacific and Lorimier streets back to two-way.

50 years ago: April 7, 1958

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — One death and injury to another man were reported here in the wake of a small tornado that moved across Perry County Saturday afternoon; William J. Wehner, 36, a lineman with Citizens Electrical Co. of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., died of electrical burns near Brewer, Mo.; injured was Joseph Futynick, 45.

Cape Girardeau will oppose a Frisco Railroad proposal to drop its night train service through the city; the city council authorizes the protest to the Missouri Public Service Commission.

75 years ago: April 7, 1933

By reason of refusal of voters to approve the 25-cent levy and because of a reduced valuation, there will be $71,301 less revenue on which to operate the public schools in Cape Girardeau this year.

Beer — the 3.2 percent variety — is again legal in Missouri; Cape Girardeau police Capt. Charles Schweer reports three arrests are made in the evening, which he attributes directly to the comeback of the brew.

100 years ago: April 7, 1908

It won't be long before Cape Girardeau people will be able to talk to the folks of Fruitland and Oak Ridge over the telephone without paying extra toll; the line from Jackson is being extended, and by Saturday it will be completed and working into Oak Ridge; at Fruitland, 10 phones have already been connected.

While it is wet all over town, owing to weather conditions, it is doubly so in the Second Ward, were Alexander Vasterling dampens Otto Kochtitzky's hopes to render the city aid; in that ward, the "wet" and "dry" issue takes center stage, with the "wets" coming out ahead; Vasterling polls 252 votes to Kochtitzky's 135.

— Sharon K. Sanders