Out of the past 5/23/06

25 years ago: May 23, 1981

Two Cape Girardeau men are charged with arson and burglary in the afternoon as the result of an early morning fire that heavily damages Shakey's Pizza Parlor, 801 Broadway; the fire severely damages the rear of the basement and dining area and causes extensive smoke damage to the upstairs portion of the building.

Officials with Cape Mercantile Bank and Trust Co. have announced plans to greatly expand its main facility at 385 N. Kingshighway; the existing structure will be renovated and an addition will be constructed along the north side, adding 3,000 square feet of usable space.

50 years ago: May 23, 1956

A 130-foot radio antenna pole, which will provide two-way communication for the U.S. Engineers sub-office at Cape Girardeau, is being erected in a difficult engineering feat atop Coker Knob, one of the highest points in Cape Girardeau County; A.T. Utley Construction Co. of Cape Girardeau is doing the work.

Friends of Ben Reiminger meet early in the day at his farm on Highway 61 south of the Nash Road to plant 170 acres of soybeans for him; Reiminger was severely burned a few weeks ago and remains in a local hospital.

75 years ago: May 23, 1931

The Missourian's Century Club, a recently started organization designed to include every person in Cape Girardeau County who is 75 years old or older, has a membership of 15 and is growing rapidly.

The Callahan Construction Co., rebuilding the levee at the south edge of the Little River Drainage District diversion channel, has 800 feet of the dike finished at the west end of the project; that work has been done at Allenville, where the construction is to progress to the east.

100 years ago: May 23, 1906

Tomorrow is dedication day at the Normal School; in the morning in the great auditorium, the exercises will begin and many prominent men will take part in the formal opening of the new school buildings; former governor A.M. Dockery will be on hand to give one of his excellent speeches, as will W.D. Vandiver.

One of the most prominent visitors in Cape Girardeau this week attending the Normal School commencement activities is Jerome L. Cheney, a prominent attorney of Syracuse, N.Y.; Cheney is the son of the first president of the Normal School and was one of the early graduates of the school.

-- Sharon K. Sanders