Out of the past 5/22/09

25 years ago: May 22, 1984

For the 63rd consecutive day, the Mississippi River remains above flood stage at Cape Girardeau; although the waters have posed few problems for Missouri residents, the same can't be said for Southern Illinois farmers.

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Three Cape Girardeau County residents are selected as delegates to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco in July; Pauline Young and Kenneth McManaman will attend the convention as delegates for U.S. Sen. Gary Hart; Ken Cunningham will attend as a delegate for former vice president Walter Mondale.

50 years ago: May 22, 1959

An internal revenue bureau ruling that the money earned by Cape Girardeau's sesquicentennial celebration three years ago is not taxable brings from the anniversary committee a report that the money will be used for improvements in the city's park; the $5,075.94 will be used to purchase equipment for Arena, Capaha, Missouri and Indian parks.

John Schneider has been appointed assistant football coach and a member of the Physical Education Department at State College; he succeeds Ralph Harrison Jr.

75 years ago: May 22, 1934

MALDEN, Mo. -- Fire, believed to be of incendiary origin, within 30 minutes does damage estimated at nearly $750,000 to the Malden Compress Co.; the cotton compress was the northernmost one in the United States and was one of three in Missouri.

Judges James A. Finch and son James A. Finch Jr., partners in the law firm of Finch & Finch, have signed a five-year lease for a suite of rooms now being constructed on the east side of the second floor of the Surety Savings & Loan Association building, 320 Broadway.

100 years ago: May 22, 1909

Dr. R.P. Dalton notifies Mayor M.E. Leming that health conditions at the Adams Orphans' Home are back to normal and that he is prepared to lift the quarantine; there are no more cases of smallpox or any other serious diseases among the 24 children there.

Cape Girardeau School Board members took a whack at filling the superintendency post again last night; however, the deadlock remains.

-- Sharon K. Sanders