Out of the past 7/25/08

25 years ago: July 25, 1983

The heat wave, which had baked the Midwest for a week, continued yesterday as temperatures skyrocketed above 100 degrees at Cape Girardeau for a record-setting sixth consecutive day; thunderstorms that helped break the grip of the deadly heat wave in other parts of Missouri essentially bypass Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri.

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff Herman "Bob" Gribler is considering asking for a county grand jury to investigate the fatal stabbing of Deborah A. Manning.

50 years ago: July 25, 1958

The Mississippi River on its current binge is less than 4 inches from its crest following a rise of nearly 5 inches in 24 hours; the river is at 33.7 feet, and the crest is expected to come tomorrow night or the day after.

Another special election was conducted yesterday in the reorganized school district centered at Oak Ridge, and the results were again the same, with the bond issue being defeated for the fifth time; the issue of $110,000 would have provided additional classroom space and other facilities.

75 years ago: July 25, 1933

In a report transmitted to members of the Cape Girardeau City Council, Paul W. Terry, manager of the Missouri Inspection Bureau, classifies the city as having "fair" fire protection by reason of improvements made to the fire department since 1930; among improvements he recommends be made immediately is the hiring of at least two additional full-time firefighters.

A suit asking condemnation of four tracts of land north of Cape Girardeau needed for the construction of a farm-to-market road between Egypt Mills and Cape Girardeau was filed yesterday in Common Pleas Court by the State Highway Department.

100 years ago: July 25, 1908

Yesterday afternoon, while playing in the new house being built on College Hill, Joe Hunter, nephew of Mrs. L.B. Houck, fell from a ladder through the sleepers of the first floor, landing on a nail in a board in the basement; the wound isn't considered serious.

Jonas Foster, about 83, is killed by the outgoing Gulf train just south of the Houck crossing below Cape Girardeau.

— Sharon K. Sanders