Out of the past 9/9/07

25 years ago: Sept. 9, 1982

Leaking gas fumes from a nearby service station are being blamed for triggering a fire alarm at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson; the Jackson Fire Department responds, but finds no fire.

A special panel has recommended to Gov. Kit Bond three nominees to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Supreme Court; they are William H. Billings, formerly a circuit judge in Stoddard and Dunklin counties; Byron Kinder, formerly of Charleston, Mo., and Jim Ruddy of St. Louis County.

50 years ago: Sept. 9, 1957

The 103rd edition of the SEMO District Fair kicks off at Arena Park; Carrie Suedekum, chief entry clerk, reports that while the number of livestock entries is the same as last year, other divisions are showing substantial increases; aside from the usual agriculture displays, the Al G. Kelly and Miller Bros. Circus provides evening entertainment.

Yesterday's Sunday morning special edition of the Missourian was a hit with readers; the Missourian published the edition to provide the news in the absence of the St. Louis Sunday papers, which are on strike.

75 years ago: Sept. 9, 1932

Workers are grading the area in front of the new building to house the Simpson Oil Co. service station at the U.S. 61-Broadway junction, and plans are to start laying pavement there Monday.

Emil Steck Jr., of Fornfelt, son of the Scott County collector, will be a student in the law school at Harvard University this year; he was an outstanding University of Southern California, Los Angeles, student last year and formerly attended school in Cape Girardeau.

100 years ago: Sept. 9, 1907

Mrs. Eleanor Bingham lectures on art on the Chautauqua stage in the afternoon; the evening's entertainment consists of the Chicago Glee Club and cartoonist Alton Packard.

For a third time in the last two months, representatives of the lot owners -- who made possible the bringing of the shoe factory to Cape Girardeau -- ask the city council for financial aid in building a bridge across Sloan's Creek; once again, the city fathers turn down their appeal.

-- Sharon K. Sanders