25 years ago: Sept. 14, 1981
Cape Girardeau County's prisoner work detail program is being expanded to include not only county projects, but municipal projects in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.
A 50-entry parade, including floats, marching units and bands, kicks off the SEMO District Fair; the parade winds its way from Capaha Park, which in earlier days was home to the fair, to Arena Park.
Mayor Walter H. Ford was elected to a two-year term on the board of directors of the Missouri Municipal League, and city attorney Gerald B. Rowan was chosen vice president of the city attorney's organization within the league at the organization's meeting this week in Kansas City.
The highest total for residential construction this year, and the largest in 14 months, pushed Cape Girardeau's 1956 building total, based on values declared by builders, passed the $5.5 million mark in August; in the first eight months of the year, the city's building permit value totaled $5,529,165.
Educators of Southeast Missouri, including most superintendents and principals of district schools, are in Cape Girardeau for a meeting at the Teachers College at which the new school law, which becomes effective today, is explained by state superintendent Charles A. Lee.
A petition is being circulated in Cape Girardeau asking the city council to consider the menace offered to property by fire hazards and to make proper preparations to prevent such fires and to control them when they break out; better and larger quarters for the fire department also are asked, and the purchase of added fire-fighting equipment with money the city has on hand is advocated.
According to the latest reports, Cape Girardeau was a liberal contributor to the Wallace Circus; it is said that eight games of chance were operated during the afternoon the circus played here, and that fully $4,000 was secured by gamblers.
The cornerstone for the new courthouse at Jackson will be laid with much ceremony Sept. 20; the Masonic order will have charge of the event; former governor A.M. Dockery will make the principal address; work on the new building is moving slowly; the contractors have been promising to put more men to work, but so far the number has been very small.
-- Sharon K. Sanders
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