Out of the past 9/30/11

25 years ago: Sept. 30, 1986

With the Oct. 7 election growing near, Cape Girardeau school officials are striving to educate the public on the need for the passage of the 48-cent school tax levy increase the district has on the ballot; volunteers are using a low-key approach, attempting to persuade people on a face-to-face basis.

G. Paul Corbin, a former resident of Cape Girardeau and graduate of Central High School, has been named director of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Training Center in Jefferson City.

50 years ago: Sept. 30, 1961

A separate section for youths through the eighth grade will be officially opened Monday afternoon at the Cape Girardeau Public Library; located in what was formerly called the basement auditorium, it will be known as the "Juvenile Library"; Peggy Kearney, a State College student, will be in charge.

Two farm real estate transfers were made this week; Hester Dalton Miller sold 141.65 acres to Earl Drum near Oak Ridge, and the Ben H. Frank farm of 80 acres, north of Jackson, was sold to Arthur C. Fornkohl.

75 years ago: Sept. 30, 1936

Roscoe Ates, the stuttering star of the movies, spends a day of rest in Cape Girardeau seeking to recover from a bit of excitement -- a roadside holdup in Arkansas; accompanying the star are two of Paramount's dancers, Lora Lane and Janet Dickson; the three were en route from Dallas to Dayton, Ohio, when they were stopped and robbed last night near Forrest City, Ark.

Another chapter in the story of "How Cape Girardeau Didn't Get a Storm Water Sewer System" is written as $25,000 raised by property owners to meet a pledge of the Works Progress Administration is returned to contributors.

100 years ago: Sept. 30, 1911

GRAYS POINT, Mo. -- Mrs. Jessie G. Meacham and Mrs. Paul Bond were able to observe the airplane flights at the Cape Girardeau Fair from a point of prominence near here last evening; the two had an unobstructed view from a promontory along the river.

Owners of The Daily Republican purchased from an exhibitor at the fair a pair of Chinese cats that were imported from the Celestial Kingdom not many months ago; the cats have been named Lum and Sing, after the recent Cape Girardeau newlyweds.

-- Sharon K. Sanders