Out of the past 8/12/11

25 years ago: Aug. 12, 1986

The Parks and Recreation Board has recommended that Cape Girardeau's soccer leagues be allowed to use the city's soccer fields for both practices and games for one year; at the end of that time, the board will review the situation; the action is an effort to settle a dispute between the Cape Area Youth Soccer Association and the Cape Soccer Club.

Area residents will be able to honor loved ones and help beautify city parks under a memorial tree program that is scheduled to be implemented by the parks department and the chamber of commerce within the next few weeks.

50 years ago: Aug. 12, 1961

Placards announcing the first Rose Stakes and a full week of racing on the expansive new TWIKA track at Municipal Airport are being distributed widely over a three-state area; a week of go-kart racing is planned for Aug. 21 through 27.

The price of major-brand regular gasoline in Cape Girardeau has dropped to 25.9 cents per gallon, while the price of premium gasoline has dropped to 29.9 cents at most major stations; the price for regular had been 29.9 and 33.9 for premium.

75 years ago: Aug. 12, 1936

The farm situation in Southeast Missouri is as bad as it was at the worst of the 1934 drought, and still there is little hope for rain in the immediate future; with normal farm work practically at a standstill, farmers spend most of their time supplying water and feed to livestock; it has been 43 days since rain of any consequence fell in Cape Girardeau County.

Carl Meyer, pitcher and third sacker, is pacing the Capahas in individual batting for the first 11 games the club has played, although Meyer has participated in only six of the games; his average is .473.

100 years ago: Aug. 12, 1911

The summer session of the Normal School closed last evening with appropriate exercises; because of the heat, the exercises were held in the open air, the beautiful entrance of Academic Hall forming an admirable setting for the occasion.

Russell and Julian Dearmont return home on the train from north Missouri, where they have been enjoying their vacation.

-- Sharon K. Sanders