Out of the past 5/23/10

25 years ago: May 23, 1985

Cape Girardeau police disclose they will initiate a plan this summer to "aggressively combat" an increasing presence of homosexuals gathering in Capaha and Arena parks.

About 15 law enforcement officers spend several hours early in the morning combing the wooded area behind the Mid-Way Gas and Go Service Station, on U.S. 61 just east of the Jackson city limits, searching for a youth who flees from the station after a deputy spotted an open office door to the building; the search is called off around 6 a.m.

50 years ago: May 23, 1960

Dr. Peyton N. Rhodes, president of Southwestern University in Memphis, Tenn., is the commencement speaker at State College graduation exercises in the morning; 204 receive diplomas.

A 10-acre tract of the Serena property on U.S. 61 is sold at public auction at Common Pleas Courthouse for $93,500; the successful bidder is Jesse Tow, owner of the American White Cross Laboratories plant, who says he bought the property for himself.

75 years ago: May 23, 1935

John A. Snider, 75, of Jackson, for eight years judge of Common Pleas Court in Cape Girardeau and formerly prosecuting attorney, president of the Jackson Exchange Bank, and for many years a leader in Republican political circles, dies in the morning at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Despite objections by the Frisco Railroad, Cape Girardeau is going forward with plans to improve South Main Street from William to College streets, linking up the south side with the downtown business district and providing an additional riverfront drive.

100 years ago: May 23, 1910

Judge John A. Snider of Jackson has decided to make the race on the Republican ticket for the judge of the circuit court of the 28th District; while the circuit heretofore has been "helplessly Democratic," the Republicans feel that a strong candidate will carry the district.

Last night's heavy rains cause landslides, which delay the noon Frisco mail train from St. Louis for several hours.

-- Sharon K. Sanders