Out of the past 6/24/06

25 years ago: June 24,1981

The budget ax that came slashing out of the governor's office this week is chopping at Southeast Missouri State University's payroll; Dr. Bill W. Stacy, president of the university, says there will be a number of layoffs and dismissals of the school's faculty and staff; university administrators are continuing meetings which began yesterday in an attempt to find $2.2 million in planned expenditures that can be eliminated from the school's operating budget for Fiscal Year 1982.

Cape Girardeau County chief deputy Eugene "Doc" Coombs has resigned to take a position as a patrolman with the Festus (Mo.) Police Department.

50 years ago: June 24, 1956

Lightning jabs brilliantly pointed fingers and its twin, a strong wind from the northwest, tears its way through trees to bring a disruption of electrical service to several customers of Cape Girardeau in the evening; a slow, steady rain follows the violent disturbance.

Two snake-bite victims are treated at Southeast Missouri Hospital, and one remains overnight for further observation; Walter U. Post Jr. of Cape Girardeau is bitten while walking through weeds on a picnic on the Whitewater River near Patton Junction, Mo.; Larry Scowden, the 8-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Scowden of Valmeyer, Ill., is bitten while visiting at his grandparents' home at Sedgewickville, Mo.

75 years ago: June 24, 1931

Rain, accompanied by an electrical disturbance, sweeps scattered sections of Southeast Missouri, bringing relief to crops which had begun to feel the effects of a brief drought and a week of high temperatures.

Contracts for construction of additions to two Cape Girardeau schools was awarded last night to Gerhardt & Son of Cape Girardeau on a bid of $34,909.80.

100 years ago: June 24, 1906

L.B. Houck has purchased the property at the corner of Bellevue and Lorimier streets, known as the Hunze property; Phillips and Bartels bought the land and house some time ago, and Houck purchased from them for $4,000.

Cape Girardeau and the district have been visited recently by storms which had been delayed all season; yesterday, an electrical storm hit the city, and one bolt of lightning struck on upper Broadway, shocking several people; today, a severe rain visits the city; clouds hang low and completely obscure the sun, causing the city to be extremely dark.

-- Sharon K. Sanders