Out of the past: April 17

1993

The rising Mississippi River forces the closing of six Cape Girardeau streets; a revised National Weather Service report predicts the river should crest Tuesday at 40.1 feet, eight feet above flood stage.

The Cape Girardeau City Council is flirting with the possibility of placing before voters a transportation and capital improvements tax measure to fund infrastructure development; at a council retreat held yesterday at the Black Forest, north of Cape Girardeau, the city staff demonstrated a quarter-cent hike in the capital improvements tax and a half-cent transportation tax could generate $92.5 million in 20 years.

1968

Clinton M. Wunderlich, Cape Girardeau County treasurer, files as a Republican candidate for the state Senate seat held by Sen. Albert M. Spradling, Cape Girardeau Democrat; the 27th senatorial district embraces Cape Girardeau, Scott, Mississippi, Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties.

A. Robert Pierce Jr., 29, an attorney, is Cape Girardeau's new mayor, said to be the youngest mayor in city history; retiring Mayor J. Hugh Logan is elected chairman pro tem, breaking precedent of other years under the city-manager form of government.

1943

Men teachers who are essential and irreplaceable probably will be deferred from Army service at the end of the present school term, according to the Selective Service Board chief clerks of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties; the way already has been opened for the boards to defer, if they desire, the superintendents and principals and those teaching such work as mathematics and science.

Lt. Jack Carpenter, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Carpenter of Cape Girardeau, is a prisoner of war in Italy, having been captured in the heavy fighting in North Africa; word of his capture came in a telephone message last night to his parents from a St. Louis priest, who said the Catholic Church in St. Louis had been informed by the Vatican of his being a prisoner.

1918

Deputy U.S. Marshal George Orchard says he has received warrants from the marshal's office in St. Louis and would arrest several men who have been indicted by the recent federal grand jury for disloyal talk; he indicates warrants have been issued for a priest from Jackson and a local Lutheran minister.

Thousands of people of Cape Girardeau County and the surrounding area gather in Cape Girardeau to officially open the campaign for the Third Liberty Loan; the largest parade in the history of the city is staged, and every business house is closed, allowing every man, woman and child the opportunity to participate.

-- Sharon K. Sanders