Out of the past 8/4/05

25 years ago: Aug. 4, 1980

Republican Kit Bond and Democrat Milton Morris of Kansas City are the winners in Cape Girardeau County in a test of the computer that will tabulate the punch card votes cast in tomorrow's primary election; the test, witnessed by two Republican and two Democratic party representatives as well as County Clerk Rodney Miller, proved successful as the hand-counted results agreed with the electronically tabulated totals.

The movement to enact a home rule charter from of government here takes another step forward, when the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously endorses a report from a chamber task force established to investigate the alternative government form.

50 years ago: Aug. 4, 1955

Crops around Cape Girardeau County, while looking good, are beginning to cry for rain, says A.D. Arnhart, farm extension agent; some spots in the county aren't badly hurt by the dry weather, but most of the county is fully ready for heavy rainfall.

Mr. and Mrs. Orville Gearing have purchased Swinney's Market in Illmo from Mrs. G.C. Swinney, who with Mr. Swinney until his death in May had operated the store for 32 years; the store will now be known as Sprad's Store.

75 years ago: Aug. 4, 1930

Two obstacles stand in the way of securing rights of way for the first farm-to-market road from Dutchtown toward Whitewater; it is learned that the owner of a tract of land in Dutchtown through which the proposed road would pass is demanding damages, and Maj. Giboney Houck won't give right of way for widening of the road through his land.

Cape Girardeau blacks celebrate the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with a picnic at Fairground Park; a parade of automobiles, headed by an orchestra, leads revelers to the park.

100 years ago: Aug. 4, 1905

J.M. Rutledge finished his survey of the Second and Third wards in Cape Girardeau, and the result is decidedly gratifying to the managers of the Jackson courthouse campaign; the Second Ward supports a new courthouse 59 to 18, while Third Ward voters support the plan 39 to 7.

Ed Howard, cashier of the Cape Girardeau County Savings Bank at Jackson, spent several days at Oak Ridge assisting Mr. Miller in the opening of the Oak Ridge Bank.

-- Sharon K. Sanders