Out of the past 6/12/07

25 years ago: June 12, 1982

Scores of youthful fishermen zero in on the lagoon in Capaha Park to participate in the annual Cape Girardeau Jaycees Fishing Clinic; Jaycees members are on hand as novice fishermen learn to bait their lines, cast out and reel in fish.

A.J. Blanton of Cape Girardeau, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, has been named to serve as a national aide-de-camp within the VFW during 1981-1982; he was appointed to the position by the VFW's national commander, Arthur Fellwock of Evansville, Ind.

50 years ago: June 12, 1957

Members of the Southeast Missouri Drummers' Association gather at the Marquette Hotel to open the 61st annual meeting of the organization; it will continue through Friday.

A sign has been posted conspicuously at the entrance to the Cape Girardeau traffic bridge, calling attention to the date, June 29, when the Mississippi River span will become free of tolls; a community celebration on the occasion is being planned.

75 years ago: June 12, 1932

Emil Pott, retired Cape Girardeau business man, dies at a local hospital; he sought treatment Friday, and yesterday underwent an operation to relieve a complication of internal ailments; peritonitis developed, and he succumbs this morning; born in Cape Girardeau, Pott was 61 years old.

The building occupied by Fletcher, Simpson Inc., variety store, 16 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, is being remodeled and redecorated; the entrance will be changed and an open-type front is being constructed.

100 years ago: June 12, 1907

The special meeting at the Commercial Club rooms last night to hear a proposition from C.J. Crawford, who desires to establish a Portland cement plant in Cape Girardeau, is sure to result in success; the corporation is to be capitalized at $900,000; if the people of Southeast Missouri subscribe for $175,000 of the stock, Crawford will guarantee to supply the balance of the money, which would be sufficient to build the plant and furnish working capital.

Peter Hanschen comes to Cape Girar-deau from Gordonville on business and to visit some of his friends.

-- Sharon K. Sanders