Week of March 6-12

March 8, 1954

Central Grabs State Honors

It was Central High all the way as the Tigers Saturday night annexed their first state basketball championship, clinching the Missouri Class A title with an amazing 79 to 55 victory over Christian Brothers of St. Louis.

Central hit an amazing 72 per cent in the game of a decade, with 29 shots in 39 tries.

C.W. Suedekum had 12 shots at the goal and made 10, while Don Koch took 14 and made 10.

In the free throw department Central hit 23 of the 41 shots awarded them...

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March 11, 1961

Girardeau Police Officer Shot to Death

One of two men sought in the killing of a regular Cape policeman and a Wayne County sheriff and the beating of a Madison County farmer was captured at 7:40 a.m. today in a heavily wooded area near Grassy in Bollinger County.

The shooting in which the auxiliary officer, Herbert L. Goss, was slain and regular officer Donald Crittendon was wounded occurred on U.S. 61 not far from the entrance to Arena Park.

Sammy Aire Tucker, 26, a fugitive from San Luis Obispo, Calif., was captured by the police.

Goss, 67, who as a member of the auxiliary served without pay, died within minutes after being shot down at 9:30...

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March 8, 1990

Old Opera House 'total loss'

By David Hente

Staff Writer

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A part of Cape Girardeau's heritage died early today when fire swept through the city's Old Opera House, which was built in 1868,

The building, which housed the Royal N'Orleans restaurant at Broadway and Lorimier Street, has been termed a total loss, as was its contents.

At the scene this morning, Dennis Stockard, owner of the building, said, "We'll rebuild." He expressed hope that the building can be saved.

The fire is believed to have started in a utility room behind the kitchen, on the Lorimier Street side of the building.

Fire officials said a faulty flue pipe from a gas water heater ignited wall paneling between