Out of the past 6/30/05

25 years ago: June 30, 1980

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. has advised the county court that the authority of assigning circuit court office space rests solely with the circuit court judges; Limbaugh's opinion, in effect, supports the planned move of circuit court offices to Cape Girardeau in that it leaves that decision up to circuit judges, who are the prime movers behind the plan.

Work on major construction projects in Cape Girardeau resumes following the settlement of a two-month long strike by members of Local 513 of the Operating Engineers.

50 years ago: June 30, 1955

Two girls are injured, one of them critically, when fire destroys the Villa Cafe and Motel on Illinois Highway 3 at the outskirts of McClure; loss unofficially is estimated in excess of $75,000; Sharon Moore, 12, who was visiting the daughter of the owner of the establishment, is in critical condition from burns at Saint Francis Hospital; hospitalized for cuts and bruises is Debra Dunning, 6.

Mrs. Frederick A. Groves of Cape Giradeau has been elevated to the top position on the national slate of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having been nominated as president general.

75 years ago: June 30, 1930

What may be an attempt to entice a 4-year-old Cape Girardeau boy from his home occurs shortly after 8 a.m.; a man drives up along a sidewalk in the Red Star suburb, where he attempts to lure the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Gockel into his automobile by offering him money and "two ponies"; Mrs. Amos Hargis, seeing the boy talking to the stranger, hurries out and grabs the child, as the man drives away.

Sheriff Nat M. Snider and other law enforcement officers are continuing to investigate the plot to extort money from several prominent Girardeans.

100 years ago: June 30, 1905

A crowd of parents and their children gather at St. Mary's Church for the blessing of the new sisters' home, which was recently finished; the Rev. Eberhardt Pruente conducts the service; the feast of the Sacred Heart is also celebrated, and a number of youngsters are received into the League of the Sacred Heart.

J.N. Burroughs, a lawyer of West Plains, Mo., is in Cape Girardeau visiting his mother and sisters of South Spanish Street; he is also becoming acquainted with the city and its legal fraternity with the thought of locating his practice here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders