Out of the past 7/15/05

25 years ago: July 15, 1980

Stores selling plastic wading pools and air conditioners are doing a booming business as temperatures continue to climb; yesterday's prediction of 100-plus fell a little short, reaching only 99 degrees; however, high humidity leaves residents in misery.

Residents, city officials and Census Bureau authorities are in basic agreement -- the unofficial census count released last week for the city of Cape Girardeau is too low.

50 years ago: July 15, 1955

Louis W. Muegge, 51, coach of athletics at Central High School for 23 years and its athletic director last school year, died unexpectedly yesterday at a St. Louis hospital; Muegge suffered a heart attack in February while playing golf at the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Formation of a regional library to serve patrons in the rural districts of Cape Girardeau, Scott and Perry counties was completed at a meeting in Jackson last night of members of the library boards in the three counties; while tax money from a 10-cent levy won't be available until after Jan. 1, some funds will be advanced by the state, which will also provide a bookmobile and books on a temporary basis, so that actual operation may begin in September.

75 years ago: July 15, 1930

Petitions protesting the release from the state penitentiary of Luther Little, who is serving a 35-year prison term for complicity in the slaying 10 years ago of Cape Girardeau night patrolman Willis Martin, are being circulated, and many signatures have been obtained.

H.F. Wickham, former chief of police of Cape Girardeau, has been named wholesale distributor of oils and gasoline for Cities Service Oil Co. within the surrounding territory and will have his headquarters in Cape Girardeau; he has purchased a Ford truck and will start on his new work as soon as the company completes construction of a storage building.

100 years ago: July 15, 1905

John Hobbs, the well-known farmer living above Cape Rock, is in Cape Girardeau and tells of the loss of his crop of pumpkins; he had a fine patch before the high water came, but now the river has covered it and by the time it recedes, all the pumpkins will have disappeared.

Dr. G.W. Travis presents The Daily Republican with a copy of the Missouri Gazette, the first paper published west of the Mississippi River; it was published by Joseph Charles at St. Louis, Louisiana (Territory), Tuesday, July 26, 1808.

-- Sharon K. Sanders