Out of the past 7/3/11

25 years ago: July 3, 1986

At its First Friday Coffee -- moved to today because of Independence Day -- the Chamber of Commerce kicks off a campaign to raise awareness and prompt passage of three issues that will appear on the Aug. 5 ballot: solid waste fees, a flood bond issue and a one-half-cent sales tax; the latter would raise money to fund improvements and construction of streets and bridges.

Mailbox vandalism is becoming more than a nuisance for the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department; deputies have investigated more than 70 reported incidents since January; in addition, an officer was hospitalized Wednesday when his patrol car struck a tree while in pursuit of a suspected mailbox basher.

50 years ago: July 3, 1961

Felix E. Snider, owner of Ramfre Press of Cape Girardeau, says his company will issue a reprint of "History of Southeast Missouri," written in 1912 by the late Robert S. Douglass, if sufficient prepublication orders are received to warrant a printing.

Donald Hahs, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Hahs of Scott City, suffered a dislocation of his left shoulder in an accident while driving a go-kart at the track near the municipal airport yesterday; he cut the wheel of the vehicle and it threw him out.

75 years ago: July 3, 1936

Lyman Matthews of Farmington, Mo., recently appointed to succeed John A. Ferguson as liquidator for the Sturdivant Bank here and for six other banks in Southeast Missouri, is in Cape Girardeau in connection with his new duties; he is accompanied by Circuit Judge Taylor Smith of Farmington.

A modern sprinkler system designed and adjusted to turn on automatically in case of fire is being installed in the Montgomery Ward & Co. store.

100 years ago: July 3, 1911

The city clerk at Illmo is receiving bids for the next 10 days for putting in a sewer system; plans and specifications can be seen at the Bank of Illmo or at the office of the city clerk.

Mrs. Charlotte Renkel and daughter, Cora, of Otis, Kan., and Mrs. William Thoele of St. Louis, sisters of the late Capt. H.L. Hunze, are in Cape Girardeau visiting their relatives.

-- Sharon K. Sanders