Out of the past 8/15/09

25 years ago: Aug. 15, 1984

Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputies will begin closely enforcing firearms and trespassing laws at the Missouri Department of Conservation boat ramp construction site on the Diversion Channel; the site, on old Highway 61, is regularly used by some to test-fire new weapons for target practice.

After another failed attempt to raise a stolen 1979 GMC Suburban that rolled into the Mississippi River on Aug. 9, the city of Cape Girardeau has called off the salvage operation.

50 years ago: Aug. 15, 1959

The selection of Hugh Logan, vice president and manager of Moon Distributing Co., to direct the annual United Fund campaign this fall is announced by Lehman Finch, chairman of the United Fund board.

Maj. Gen. William S. Stone, 49, new superintendent of the Air Force Academy, has been awarded the second oak leaf cluster to the Legion of Merit; Stone was born in Cape Girardeau in 1910.

75 years ago: Aug. 15, 1934

City Commissioner Paul R. Brooks and four members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department -- chief George D. French, drillmaster Roy Smith, Harry Rabe and Linder Allen -- go to Caruthersville, Mo., to attend the fifth annual fire school of the Southeast Missouri Fire Fighters Association.

Elmer A. Niemann loads about six car loads of drought cattle at Whitewater for shipment to southern states; the office of extension agent E.T. Mallinckrodt is besieged daily at Jackson by cattlemen who wish to dispose of their animals, for which they have neither feed nor water.

100 years ago: Aug. 15, 1909

In the absence of the religious sister who usually plays organ for Masses at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Annie Wulfers presides at the instrument in the first Mass of the day, while Leone Haas plays at the second Mass and benediction.

The Portageville, Mo., baseball team comes again to Cape Girardeau and trims the Capahas to the tune of 5-3; the attendance is the largest for any game this year.

-- Sharon K. Sanders