Out of the past: April 12

1990

The census count in the Southeast Missouri district is moving along at a good pace, with about 50 percent of the forms having been returned in some areas of the 27-county district; a total of 260,000 census forms have been placed in households in this district.

The dedication and open house of Cape Girardeau County's veterans nursing home has been set for May 12; Gov. John Ashcroft will be among the dignitaries in attendance.

1965

Cape Girardeau County public schools are scheduled to receive $288,692 next fiscal year under the major title of the federal education bill signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson yesterday; it is believed the funds will be distributed on the basis of the number of children from low income families in each district.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- An estimated six tons of an insecticide containing arsenic poison is discovered in an area used as a refuse dump near here; law enforcement officials are attempting to learn who disposed of the poison, which is in small barrels, cans and bags.

1940

Because of a reduction in the congressional appropriation, the office of the U.S. Engineers in Cape Girardeau will "be closed eventually;" while there is no definite date fixed for the closing, it will likely be about July 1; the Cape Girardeau office has supervised the extensive river and levee work in this district.

Application of Martin W. Operle to erect two billboards on a lot owned by Mrs. Iska W. Carmack on the north side of Broadway, just west of Whitelaw Street, has been granted by the City Board of Adjustment; Operle, who sought to place the boards within 35 or 40 feet of Broadway, agreed to move them back to 75 feet from the street, and to build them subject to removal when the lots nearby are developed.

1915

A meeting of the baseball magnates of Southeast Missouri is held at the St. Charles Hotel; on hand are Shap Hunter from New Madrid, S.W. Reiney of Caruthersville, B.W. Bowman and J. Ross Holcomb of Dexter, Dr. J.H. Yount of Sikeston and S.S. Thompson of Portageville.

The Civic Improvement Association is pushing for the appointment of a sanitary officer for Cape Girardeau; his main duty would be to keep the streets and alleys clean, to oversee the disposal of refuse and garbage, and to carry out a comprehensive plan for conserving the public health.

-- Sharon K. Sanders