Out of the past 8/30/05

25 years ago: Aug. 30, 1980

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Failure to reach agreements during a second night of talks between striking teachers and the Meridian Unit 101 Board of Education will bring the federal mediation and conciliation service into the next negotiation session; the board and a negotiating committee of the Meridian Teachers Association met for almost six hours last night, and the only agreement reached was that federal mediation would be necessary to bring both sides together on a new contract.

Fifty-year-old Houck Stadium is getting a facelift, including an attractive paint job of red and gray; work to the stadium is costing the university approximately $80,000.

50 years ago: Aug. 30, 1955

Search for the two fugitives wanted for Bollinger County burglaries and thefts of three cars moves into Cape Girardeau on a report that men answering their description had been seen near Traveler's Oil Station, 101 N. Sprigg St.

A budget setting forth substantial salary increases for Cape Girardeau officials who will be elected next April was adopted Monday by the city council; the budget proposes a salary of $5,100 annually for the mayor and $4,200 a year for the four county commissioners.

75 years ago: Aug. 30, 1930

Fairground Park is seething with activity as stands are built, decorations hung and food trucked to the clubhouse kitchen, all in preparation for the big Labor Day picnic Monday, sponsored by Centenary Methodist Church; along with a parade, concert by the municipal band, baseball game and pageant, the women of Centenary will serve chicken and dumplings and barbecue at noon and fried chicken in the evening.

The Army Engineers have approved rebuilding of the Diversion Channel levee south of Cape Girardeau; the project will cost $500,000.

100 years ago: Aug. 30, 1905

The work on the street railway has progressed so far that a stretch of track extends up Broadway west of Frederick Street; a curve has been placed at the intersection of these streets and leveled up; the line laid on Frederick has been leveled and the earth tamped under the ties.

The large barn on the property of C.H. Wolters, the well-known dairyman, burns to the ground between midnight and 1 a.m.; the barn contained Wolfers' milk wagon, two farm wagons, two buggies and other light wagons, harness and winter's supply of grain and hay.

-- Sharon K. Sanders