Out of the past 7/30/08

25 years ago: July 30, 1983

Britt Airways Inc. of Terre Haute, Ind., one of the largest regional air carriers in the nation, is expanding its operations to the Cape Girardeau area with three round trips daily to St. Louis beginning Sept. 1; Cape Girardeau will be the 25th city in seven states to be served by Britt.

The new $5 million Edward D. Campbell Critical Care Center at Saint Francis Medical Center is dedicated; a number of people turn out for the dedication of the two-story, 34,379-square-foot wing on the west side of the hospital.

50 years ago: July 30, 1958

Cape Girardeau police have uncovered what is believed to be a bicycle theft ring with the discovery of a large pile of dismantled bicycles in a coal shed in the Good Hope Street area; three youths were questioned and six others are sought; Sgt. Ivan McLain estimates between $500 and $600 worth of bicycle parts were found in the shed.

Substantial damage is done to one of six boilers at the Missouri Utilities Co. power plant around 7:30 a.m., when there is an explosion of natural gas used to fire the equipment; no one is injured in the explosion, although three employees -- Charles Lipps, George Dupin and Lester Miller -- are nearby at the time.

75 years ago: July 30, 1933

The Rev. Reinhart Lehman, pastor of Christ Evangelical Church, speaks in the evening at the regular union services sponsored by the Ministerial Alliance at Courthouse Park; his topic is "A God Great Enough for Our Day."

About 50 members of Red Star Baptist Church go to Randles for an afternoon worship service; Red Star's pastor, the Rev. W.E. Hicks, preaches the evangelical sermon "God's Call."

100 years ago: July 30, 1908

The people of Mount Tabor Church will give their annual barbecue and picnic tomorrow; the church is on Louis Houck's place, about five miles from Cape Girardeau on the Bloomfield Road; the purpose is to raise money for the church; hacks will transport picnickers to the grounds for 35 cents a round trip; county candidates will speak during the day.

L.B. Houck is having his building at the corner of Main and Themis streets in Cape Girardeau freshened with a coat of paint.

-- Sharon K. Sanders