Out of the past 5/11/07

25 years ago: May 11, 1982

A modest increase in teacher salaries and benefits is approved by the Cape Girardeau school board; the package calls for a $400 across-the-board increase; $29,000 allocated for insurance, and additional salary increments according to a teacher's position on the multistep salary schedule and whether additional schooling is obtained.

An official investigation into parent charges of excessive paddling of pupils by a Nell Holcomb Grade School teacher has been launched by the district.

50 years ago: May 11, 1957

Fire destroys a four-room dwelling and all its furnishings, owned by E.L. Bowman, at 1223 N. Water St., in Cape Girardeau; the early morning fire is caused by an exploding oil stove; Bowman escapes with only the clothing he is wearing.

The Cape Girardeau County Court has authorized the purchase of $54,000 worth of 90-day U.S. Treasury bills with idle funds on hand from tax collections for the Trail of Tears State Park.

75 years ago: May 11, 1932

Civil War veterans and members of their six allied organizations go into their third day of the annual five-day state encampment in Cape Girardeau, the first day when all of the organizations convene in official business sessions; approximately 600 men and women from all parts of Missouri are here.

Emil M. Thilenius, former owner of the Cape Bottling Works and former member of the Cape Girardeau school board, dies unexpectedly at his home, 238 N. Pacific St.; Thilenius, a past commander of the Warren T. Stewart Camp of Sons of Union Veterans, just finishes cleaning a Civil War cannon and some guns at his home, when he complains of chest pains, and dies a short time later.

100 years ago: May 11, 1907

Nell Bergmann, coach of the Sikeston, Mo., basketball team, which wins the basketball championship at the big athletic carnival at the Normal School in the morning, entertains the girls at her home on Broadway; Bergmann is a teacher at Sikeston.

F.H. Kraft, Cape Girardeau baker, is down in the southern counties establishing agencies for the sale of his bread.

-- Sharon K. Sanders