Out of the past 7/23/05

25 years ago: July 23, 1980

Police are awaiting further word on a report that a body might have been seen floating in the Mississippi River about 35 miles south of Cape Girardeau; authorities have been searching for Margaret Smith, 73, of Cape Girardeau, who has been missing for almost two weeks.

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Although the new Meridian Elementary School building won't be ready until at least October or possibly December, due to construction problems, the district school board last night voted to return the district's 1,300 pupils to a full-day schedule for the first time since 1976; the district has operated on a "split-shift" schedule since two of three district elementary buildings were closed by the state Office of Education in 1976 for safety violations.

50 years ago: July 23, 1955

N.B. Mullen announces he has sold the Mullen Appliance Co., 707 Broadway, to Emmett Young, who has been associated with Mullen for the past nine months; Mullen will retain ownership of the building.

Talent shows, rides for youngsters, and plenty to eat and drink will be the features of the eighth annual VFW-sponsored J-V Day picnic, to be held Thursday through Saturday next week at Capaha Park.

75 years ago: July 23, 1930

Equipment of the Bunnell & Mack Construction Co. of Paragould, Ark., contracting firm which will build Highway 74 from the end of the Rock Levee Road to Highway 25 near Dutchtown, is being unloaded at Chaffee, Mo., and work on the road is expected to begin shortly.

Believing 35 years is long enough for any man to be in one profession, Dr. J.S. Dalton announces he has retired from dentistry and has sold his office and equipment to Dr. A.J. Rasche of Jackson, who recently graduated from Washington University; Dalton has been a dentist in Cape Girardeau for the past 10 years.

100 years ago: July 23, 1905

Several important changes in textbooks were ordered Friday by the Cape Girardeau Board of Education; by the change, pupils in the public schools will benefit greatly in three branches of study; "McMaster's History of the United States" replaces "Shinn's," and the American Book Co.'s "Steps in English" and "Fry's Elementary and Intermediate Geography" were adopted.

Dr. J.B. Game preaches in the morning at the Presbyterian Church; there is no evening service.

-- Sharon K. Sanders