Out of the past 5/9/11

25 years ago: May 9, 1986

President Ronald Reagan intends to nominate Bootheel farmer Peter C. Myers, 55, to become deputy secretary of agriculture.

Dr. Linda Godwin will be promoted in August from astronaut candidate to astronaut with NASA and hopes to join a space shuttle crew within the next few years; she speaks to reporters at the University Center as part of a weekend schedule that will include giving the spring commencement address for Southeast Missouri State University graduates.

50 years ago: May 9, 1961

Heading toward an apparent crest on Saturday of 39.5 feet, the Mississippi River reaches 34.8 feet, a rise of 3.7 feet in 24 hours; city street employees and other workers are rebuilding and strengthening an emergency levee built 13 months ago to protect the shoe factory from overflow of the rising river.

Only hours before the deadline, the Cape Girardeau City Council rejects referendum petitions that would have made necessary an election on repeal of all ordinances under which a Public Housing Authority has been set up to provide homes for families of moderate or low incomes.

75 years ago: May 9, 1936

Their enthusiasm riding tandem with their official club name, Optimists of the eighth district launch their annual convention at Cape Girardeau with the arrival of the steamer Golden Eagle from St. Louis.

The major part of the work on the Lorimier School grounds Works Progress Administration project is expected to be finished today, but a few men are to be used for several weeks in finishing work at the site; a temporary drive is being made to the S.D. MacFarland dwelling, where the ground was cut down.

100 years ago: May 9, 1911

Although the flames had spread all over the livery stable of Jim Miller in Haarig this morning before the blaze was discovered, Tom Miller and other hands manage to cut loose 13 fine driving horses, leading them to safety, and then roll out a number of equipages.

Judge James A. Bowers of Oak Ridge, formerly a member of the county court, is in Cape Girardeau en route to Memphis, Tenn., to visit his son Ray, who owns a large barbershop there; the judge was born in Tennessee and was brought to this county when he was 3; he has never been back to the state, so he anticipates a fine trip.

-- Sharon K. Sanders