Out of the past 5/16/08

25 years ago: May 16, 1983

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. — Water continues to rise in the flooded East Cape-Clear Creek Levee District, threatening both roads and crops in the low-lying area in a situation worsened by weekend rains.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen turns down the request of Jackson resident Delmar Brown, who asks city officials to correct the problem of low water pressure at his home in the Indian Hills subdivision.

50 years ago: May 16, 1958

Final calls are being made by a corps of telephone committee members urging Cape Girardeau residents to vote Tuesday in an election in which they are asked to approve issuance of $700,000 for school construction, renovation and contingencies; of that total, $425,000 would be used to build a school west of Dennis Scivally Park.

Some 356 aristocrats of the canine world take the spotlight at the fifth annual All-Breed Dog Show of the Southeast Missouri Kennel Club at the Arena Building.

75 years ago: May 16, 1933

Poplar Bluff bears the brunt of Southeast Missouri's flood threat as waters from Black River cuts off trains on all three routes entering town; completely surrounded by water, the Butler County seat is without motor bus and train service.

Shortly after noon, the building at 418 Broadway is rocked when an automobile tire vulcanizing machine inside explodes, shattering glass in six windows, but otherwise doing little damage; employees in the place, which is occupied by the used car department of Rueseler Motor Co., escape injury.

100 years ago: May 16, 1908

A new company has been formed that will take up the work of completing and operating the smelting plant in Cape Girardeau, which has been idle for two years; the new company — Cape Girardeau Smelting and Manufacturing Co. — was organized yesterday at a meeting of those bond holders who recently purchased the plant at a sheriff's sale.

While standing at the corner of Broadway and Main Street last evening, Jennie Inman was knocked down and considerably shaken up by a runaway horse; the horse and runabout belonged to Louis Lamprich.

— Sharon K. Sanders