Out of the past 9/4/09

25 years ago: Sept. 4, 1984

More than 3,000 signatures of registered voters have been collected in a petition drive, well above the 1,949 needed to put a proposition to repeal the Sunday sales ban on the November ballot.

Lehne-Marner Corp. of St. Louis, the developer of Cape Girardeau's downtown redevelopment plan, is given an option to draw up a plan and financing package for the renovation of the old shoe factory into an apartment complex.

50 years ago: Sept. 4, 1959

Motorists are cautioned by police that the intersection of Morgan Oak and Sprigg streets has been made a four-way stop; a blinking light has been installed at the intersection by the State Highway Department.

Cape Girardeau's biggest industry -- education -- moved into 1959-1960 production this week with the largest number of students on record traveling down its grades-one-through-12 assembly line in 12 schools; the tabulation of enrollees through today shows 5,239 pupils.

75 years ago: Sept. 4, 1934

Cape Girardeau's Golden Troopers come home to the merited praise of home folk for their second victory scored in two years in the annual American Legion contest for drum and bugle corps; decked out in their snappy uniforms, the musicians executed their drills with precision, winning first place honors at the Legion convention at Kansas City before a crowd of thousands in Muehlebach Field.

Launching the fall season, an all-star wrestling card is on tap for Wednesday night in Houck Field House; Wild Bill Honeycutt will again be the headliner, taking on big Jim Parker.

100 years ago: Sept. 4, 1909

Believing property owners along Broadway are anxious to have the street paved yet this year, notices have been sent to property owners instructing them to make connections with the sewer, water and gas mains at once; by having the connections made before the paving is started, a considerable amount of time and money can be saved.

A phone message to The Republican newspaper from Sikeston, Mo., states that in the local election today, the "drys" had conceded defeat both in Sikeston and throughout Scott County.

-- Sharon K. Sanders