Out of the past 5/8/12

25 years ago: May 8, 1987

John E. Pepper, president of Procter & Gamble Co., was guest speaker yesterday at the 10th annual Marketing and Small Business Conference at Southeast Missouri State University.

An increase in the state's gasoline tax by 4 cents a gallon will likely only keep Cape Girardeau County's bridge-building program at its present level; the tax increase will bring the county about $100,000 in additional road and bridge funds; however, revenue sharing, which brought the county $165,000 annually, has been discontinued.

50 years ago: May 8, 1962

New air service possibilities for Cape Girardeau are being investigated in view of the proposed merger of Ozark Air Lines and Central Air Lines; Cape Girardeau is particularly interested in a route to Little Rock, Ark.

Announcement of the Pulitzer Prize winners brings special excitement to Mr. and Mrs. Hessie B. Sullivan of Cape Girardeau; their son-in-law, Frank Loesser of New York City, is co-winner of the drama prize for collaborating in the hit musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; Loesser is married to the former Jo Sullivan.

75 years ago: May 8, 1937

It is announced that the Jewish citizens of Southeast Missouri will build a synagogue in Cape Girardeau; a lot on South Main Street has been acquired, and construction will start soon, so the building will be ready for service next fall.

The county court and county highway department are making a survey of the damage done by recent floods to roads and bridges in the county; over the past eight days, the county has seen rain, hail and thunderstorms, during which 4.61 inches of rain fell on the already drenched earth.

100 years ago: May 8, 1912

Jackson High School will hold its commencement exercises May 19; graduates are Rosa Bingenheimer, Millie Grossheider, Ruth Burton, Mary Belle Halley, Grace Browning, Mary Howard, Grace Cracraft, Hazel Poe, Mary Rafferty, Nellie Cramer, Arthur Boone and Paul Mueller.

Ed Schindler and Henry Sanders, baseball experts, are said to be organizing a team for Cape Girardeau; players who desire to sign for the season at fat salaries should apply at once; experience isn't necessary.

-- Sharon K. Sanders