Out of the past 5/7/08

25 years ago: May 7, 1983

Floodwaters in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois begin receding, leaving behind damage to crops, homes and business, estimated at more than $40 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the river crested yesterday at 45.05 feet in Cape Girardeau, slightly under the 1973 record flood crest of 45.5 feet.

The Cape Girardeau County Court has awarded a contract to Burnett Plumbing and Heating of St. Clair, Mo., for replacement of the heating and cooling systems at the Common Pleas Courthouse and Annex in Cape Girardeau.

50 years ago: May 7, 1958

A search is underway in two states for three prisoners, two of them facing trial for their lives for a crime spree in Pemiscot County, who broke out of the Cape Girardeau County jail at Jackson last night; the desperate criminals overpowered Payne Dow, jailer assistant, and ran from the building after locking Dow and Marie Headrick, wife of a deputy sheriff, in a cell.

Dwaine Miles, senior and leading scorer of the Cape Girardeau State Indians basketball squad for the 1957-1958 season, receives the Clarence Vogelsang trophy as the squad's most valuable player.

75 years ago: May 7, 1933

The Rev. V.A. Moore, Cape Girardeau Baptist minister, has accepted the half-time pastorate of the Burfordville Baptist Church; he also gives half time to the Millersville Baptist Church; in recent years, Moore has been pastor of a number of rural churches in the district.

Cape Girardeau Sunday schools, obeying Gov. Guy Park's proclamation for a statewide Go-to-Sunday-School Day, appropriately observes the occasion by counting almost a record attendance; for 18 Sunday schools, the attendance is 3,553, just 197 under the record mark set Easter Sunday.

100 years ago: May 7, 1908

The third annual track and field meet and prize speaking of the Southeast Missouri Athletic and Oratorical Association will be held tomorrow and Saturday at the Normal School; high school athletes are hoping for a suspension of the recent rains.

The Ladies' Aid Society of the First Christian Church gives a red tea at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Caton, 500 Good Hope St.

— Sharon K. Sanders