Out of the past 7/9/05

25 years ago: July 9, 1980

The oppressive heat that has clung to most of Missouri and the Midwest shows no sign of abating and, according to the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City, it's anyone's guess when a stalled high pressure system bringing the heat will move; the official high at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport yesterday was 101 degrees; in the city, readings topped out at 103 degrees.

The Jackson School District will operate in the 1980-81 school year with a $5.2 million budget; the school board approved the 1981-1981 budget last night.

50 years ago: July 9, 1955

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- An elderly resident is safe at home after more than 24 hours spent in a snake-infested woods east of here that searchers, wearing high-top boots to protect themselves from the reptiles, scoured last night; Noah Eaker, 79, is returned to his home at 8:30 a.m. by an unidentified motorist, who picks him up on a highway near Lone Rock, Mo., 3 1/2 miles from where he entered the woods to pick berries.

J.H. McLane of Piedmont, Mo., president of Piedmont Wholesale Grocer Co., announces the purchase of a 1.29-acre tract at the southeast corner of Broadway and Kingshighway intersection upon which will be built a modern food market; the company owns and operates the Ward Store chain of 10 outlets.

75 years ago: July 9, 1930

In a special election yesterday, residents of Illmo voted to grant the Missouri Utilities Co. a renewal of a 20-year franchise for supplying electric light and power to the town; under the new franchise, the rates will remain the same as on the present basis for both street and residence lighting; Illmo pays $1.75 per month for a 100-candle-power lamp, or $21 per year for street lighting.

Climbing toward a new high mark for the year, the mercury at 2 p.m. is at the 98-degree mark and still going strong; a thermometer on Broadway reads 110 degrees.

100 years ago: July 9, 1905

August Shivelbine has gone to Mountain Valley, Ark., to try the waters at that place for a few weeks; he is feeling much better lately, but has gone away to see if he can't become further improved.

Otto Kochtitzky recently returned from Poplar Bluff, Mo., where he started a corps of surveyors working on the proposed drainage ditches.

-- Sharon K. Sanders