Out of the past 6/23/05

25 years ago: June 23, 1980

Things couldn't have been much smoother for the weekend Riverfest on the Cape Girardeau riverfront, say chamber of commerce officials; they estimate 40,000 people from a five-state area attended the two-day event.

Cape Girardeau's new public library at Clark and Woodlawn is dedicated in the morning and is immediately opened to the public; about 150 people are on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony; most stay to inspect the facility, and many of them immediately go to the book racks to find reading material.

50 years ago: June 23, 1955

The county court makes it clear that it won't "sell any part" of the County Farm; the expression comes in a statement to two representatives of the Federated Women's Clubs of Missouri, Mrs. J.D. Mackey and Mrs. D.I.L. Seabaugh of Jackson, who call on the court to get a decision on a request that part of the farm be leased to the clubs as a site for Missouri Girls Town.

Under orders effective July 1, the Cape Girardeau Naval Reserve Division will be reduced in its maximum strength by 50 men and one officer; under the order, the maximum force of the division will be cut from 200 to 150 men and down to 14 officers.

75 years ago: June 23, 1930

City Commissioner Philip Steck says the board of health has ordered the cutting of weeds on all vacant lots in Cape Girardeau and that the order must be obeyed; in previous years, the city's weed-cutting force has removed weeds from vacant lots where owners promised to pay for this service, but Steck says that won't be done this year because the city hasn't been reimbursed $300 for this service from former years.

For the second day in a row, temperatures at Cape Girardeau hover near the century mark.

100 years ago: June 23, 1905

The Jay Bird Club, official name of a youth organization, meets at the home of Warren Patton and elects officers for the coming year; the new officers are Robert Nunn, president; Warren Patton, vice president; Laurance Lance, secretary; and Jack Flentge, treasurer.

Louis Houck has on his table in his office a specimen of marble which was taken from the farm of a man near Fruitland and which is near the Houck line; it is of the red mottled variety, which hasn't been quarried in this area; it isn't known how much there is on the farm, but if there is any amount it will surely prove profitable for the owner.

-- Sharon K. Sanders