Out of the past 9/12/09

25 years ago: Sept. 12, 1984

Blue skies yesterday and a steady stream of patrons has SEMO District Fair officials looking toward what could be a record-breaking attendance; an estimated 10,000 persons were checked through the gates yesterday; sure to attract another big crowd this evening will be the tractor pull.

The Saint Francis Mental Health Center has formed a foundation to solicit and receive gifts and contributions for the mental health facility, which is in the process of breaking away from Saint Frances Medical Center.

50 years ago: Sept. 12, 1959

There is no question that entries in livestock and several other classes of next week's SEMO District Fair will surpass all records established in previous years; fair officials also believe, given good weather throughout the week, that a new attendance mark may be set; it would have to surpass the 46,327 who paid to enter the grounds last year.

BENTON, Mo. -- Sikeston, Mo., Mayor C.E. "Daddy" Felker was directed by Judge Marshall Craig in Circuit Court yesterday to call an election to select councilmen under the council-manager government within 60 days; Sikeston voters approved the switch to a council-manager form in April.

75 years ago: Sept. 12, 1934

With a shift of 102 men and women ushered into their jobs at 7 a.m. and 102 more at 3 p.m., the government's beef-canning plant begins operation on South West End Boulevard; each worker is issued a wrap apron, white gloves and a towel to encase his head.

A welcome to Cape Girardeau is given the 650 students of State College in the first assembly of the entire student body enrolled for the fall and winter term, classes of which meet for the first time in the morning; extending greetings to the group is the Rev. R.H. Daugherty, pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, who represents the Ministerial Alliance.

100 years ago: Sept. 12, 1909

The Rev. H.W. Whitnell preaches his farewell sermon at Centenary Methodist Church; as Whitnell hasn't been in very good health during the past year, he asked for another assignment, hoping his health would benefit by the change.

Elder Horace Siberell of Cape Girardeau, the well-known state evangelist of the Christian Church, who has covered this territory a number of years, has been engaged by the American Christian Missionary Society to take the pastorate of the First Christian Church at Baton Rouge, La.

-- Sharon K. Sanders