Out of the past 9/15/11

25 years ago: Sept. 15, 1986

Total attendance at the 131st SEMO District Fair was down about 13.5 percent this year with a weeklong total of 82,417 people visiting the exposition; it's the second year the fair has experienced a decrease in attendance; last year, attendance was about 98,000, down about 17,000 from 1984.

Helen Thomas, United Press International's White House bureau chief, will address a conference of the Women's Interests Network Committee at Southeast Missouri State University in October.

50 years ago: Sept. 15, 1961

State College passed another plateau of growth yesterday with the enrollment of the 3,000th student; Joyce D. Rodgers, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Rodgers of Van Buren, Mo., became the first student to reach the significant point.

The 1961 SEMO District Fair is at its peak; hundreds of schoolchildren and adults jam the grounds today as they did Thursday, and a record crowd is expected Saturday; entertainment at the grandstand this evening will be the Trans-World Auto Daredevils.

75 years ago: Sept. 15, 1936

When the public school motor bus is operated in the morning for the first time on two routes, 53 children are taken to Franklin School from the Perry Avenue district and 39 from the Koch Addition to the same school; all grade school pupils are eligible to ride the bus.

Paul Bray, pitcher for the Illmo-Fornfelt Big Bucks, was in St. Louis on Monday to attend the St. Louis Cardinals baseball school; because of a position here, Bray is unable to remain at the camp throughout the week; before returning home, he was told his speed was exceptionally good.

100 years ago: Sept. 15, 1911

The second issue of the weekly Sikeston (Mo.) Standard, a Naeter Bros. publication in the Scott County metropolis, appears today, published from The Republican office again and circulated from Sikeston.

George W. Cross, manager of the Press Brick Works, is beginning the construction of a residence near the brick yards; material for the foundation is being hauled to the site.

-- Sharon K. Sanders