Out of the past 6/12/05

25 years ago: June 12, 1980

The foreman of the recent Cape Girardeau County grand jury has reported that its investigation of possible labor union irregularities in the area was hampered by the fact that some of the labor officials called to testify refused to answer questions on Fifth Amendment grounds.

The remaining four Scott County aldermen elected last week were sworn into office at a special meeting of the board of aldermen last night; they were Ward 2 aldermen Grover St. Clair and Linda Davis and Ward 4 aldermen Velma Jane August and Mike Miller.

50 years ago: June 12, 1955

A detailed history of Cape Girardeau County -- "The most American of Missouri's original five counties" -- is presented by Floyd C. Shoemaker, secretary of the Missouri Historical Society, in dedication services for the county historical marker on Highway 61 near the County Farm; the ceremonies are transferred to the courtroom of the Jackson courthouse because of the threat of showers.

An unidentified man eludes police early in the morning in the neighborhood of Fountain and Independence streets, after abandoning the stolen automobile in which he had led police on a crosstown chase at speeds reaching 100 mph.

75 years ago: June 12, 1930

Corrected figures, including names secured in a cleanup campaign, give Cape Girardeau a 1930 population of 16,223, says Carl F. Bloker, district census supervisor.

The Brockmeyer Pond, a body of water 12 miles northeast of Cape Girardeau near Egypt Mills, is to be closed; Ollie Brockmeyer, who owns the land on which the pond is located, says the pond will be leased to a group of Cape Girardeau men to be used for a private fishing club.

100 years ago: June 12, 1905

Because of a series of mishaps to The Daily Republican's machinery, which the publishers were unable to have repaired, it is impossible to print today's edition; this is the first time mechanical problems have kept The Republican from being issued since the Naeter Brothers resurrected the publication in October 1904.

A merry crowd of pleasure seekers went to the Dutchtown club house yesterday and had a great time; no record was kept of the fish caught, but George Siemers declares so many fish were hooked that they couldn't haul them all home; in the party were Siemers, Henry Herman, Albert Summers, Oscar Reudiger and wife, Gus Cooper and wife, Alma Myer, Clara Sanders and Amanda Summers.

-- Sharon K. Sanders