Out of the past 4/8/13

1988

Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft praises the cooperative efforts of all levels of government in making possible the construction of a veterans' nursing home here; Ashcroft speaks at ground-breaking ceremonies in the morning at the Highway 61 site.

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission approves the department's recommended location of a new Mississippi River bridge site at Cape Girardeau and a cross-city highway linking it with Interstate 55; the $73,043,000 project involves the construction of a four-lane bridge just to the south of the existing bridge and an east-west, 4.25-mile, four-lane highway across the city.

1963

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education passes a tentative budget that calls for expenditures of $2,855,030.51 during the next fiscal year; the budget is subject to change, particularly if an expanded school foundation program is enacted by the State Legislature.

Cape Girardeau police have difficulty keeping up with two prisoners; one man walks off from a work crew and another crawls out a window in his jail cell; the former is apprehended later in the day, while police are still hunting the latter.

1938

Democrats of Cape Girardeau County are criticizing Gov. Lloyd Stark's selection yesterday of a new prosecuting attorney to replace Mayor-elect Edward L. Drum, without awaiting an endorsement by the County Democratic Committee; Stark has named Robert B. Oliver III to the post.

Russell O. Hawkins, for the past nine years principal of Jackson High School, has been elected superintendent of the Jackson public schools; he succeeds C.C. Conrad.

1913

Despite predictions of another flood crest on the Mississippi River, the stream began falling last night; the river is at 29.4 feet, and no further rise is expected unless local rains swell the river.

Joe T. Wilson, councilman for the First Ward, comes into his own when the new city council is organized; after years of opposition to the mayor on various issues, the mayor appoints Wilson chairman of the street and wharf committee and, in addition, is elected president pro tempore of the council.

-- Sharon K. Sanders