Out of the past 8/7/10

25 years ago: Aug. 7, 1985

Renovations at two elementary schools -- Alma Schrader and Jefferson -- are set to begin shortly after classes start next month; the project will add two new rooms at each school, replacing open courtyard space; at Jefferson, the new rooms will house a library and one classroom; at Schrader, both rooms will be classrooms.

Douglas W. Thompson, thrice convicted slayer of a Cape Girardeau auxiliary policeman, loses a round in his continuing bid for freedom; the Missouri Supreme Court summarily denies Thompson's petition challenging his imprisonment on a life sentence imposed after his third trial last December.

50 years ago: Aug. 7, 1960

The Rev. W.E. Hicks of Tampa, Fla., and formerly of Cape Girardeau, delivers the sermon for both services at the Red Star Baptist Church, since the pastor, the Rev. Thomas D. Hill, is attending a revival meeting.

The arrest of 11 Cape Girardeau youths, all but two of them juveniles, solves a series of entries at Elmwood, the Louis Houck residence off of Bloomfield Road, and a number of other burglaries in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

75 years ago: Aug. 7, 1935

Sick only eight days, Dr. Paul Williams, a Cape Girardeau physician, dies at a St. Louis hospital; Williams was 47 years old, and for 23 years he had been a practicing physician here.

Engineers with the state highway department have promised to come to Jackson at once to make surveys looking to the widening and straightening of Hubble Creek; it is proposed locally to make a Works Progress Administration project of the job, if it can be arranged, with cooperation by the city, school district and property owners.

100 years ago: Aug. 7, 1910

Owing to the absence of the Rev. A. Kistler, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, no preaching services are held at the church; Sunday school exercises, however, are at the regular time.

Having been notified that the farmers would have 6,000 sacks of wheat for his boat, Capt. William "Buck" Leyhe has been forced to cancel his engagement with the Knights and Ladies of Security for their excursion Tuesday night.

-- Sharon K. Sanders