Out of the past 9/3/05

25 years ago: Sept. 3, 1980

Veteran former state senator A.M. Spradling Jr. throws his Democratic support to U.S. Rep. Bill D. Burlison's Republican challenger, Bill Emerson; Spradling, a Cape Girardeau lawyer and lifelong Democrat, says Burlison "is so far out of step with the people of this area as to be a foreigner in his own district."

Concerns over a lack of sidewalks in the vicinity of some Cape Girardeau schools has prompted Mayor Paul Stehr to announce he intends to request a public hearing on whether the city should order construction of sidewalks on a number of streets.

50 years ago: Sept. 3, 1955

All but 600 to 700 acres of a 3,000-acre tract of land in the scenic hills of northeast Cape Girardeau County that has been proposed as the site for a Missouri state park have been placed under option; John L. Wescoat, chairman of a committee which has been engaged in securing options the past two months, says that chances the remaining ground will be secured on options "looks very favorable."

Increased enrollments will be the rule Tuesday when Cape Girardeau schools, public and parochial, open their doors for the 1955-1956 school year; with State College and St. Vincent's College added on, the enrollment in schools of the city will jump to an estimated 6,700 students.

75 years ago: Sept. 3, 1930

A controversy over the new location of Highway 34, from where it intersects with Highway 61 west of Jackson to Gravel Hill, flared at a hearing yesterday before the county court; while the Missouri State Highway Department has surveyed the proposed route for the new road, the highway commission never officially adopted the plan; a delegation of landowners favors the present location of the road.

The Lions Club votes to assist the Teachers College in the sale of season football tickets and in any other way possible to make the coming gridiron season a big success.

100 years ago: Sept. 3, 1905

The Rev. Olin Boggess preaches the last of his series of sermons on the Bible at the English Methodist Church.

H.C. Wasem, the Haarig racket man, has bought the drug store conducted in the same building until recently by Dr. A.D. Blomeyer.

-- Sharon K. Sanders