Out of the past: April 18

1990

More freight trains have been whistling through Scott City and Cape Girardeau recently; officials with the St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) Railway and Burlington Northern and Union Pacific railroads say rail traffic is on the increase because of more business.

Cape Girardeau city staff and interested residents are exploring ways to construct a recreation trail along Cape LaCroix Creek as part of the Corps of Engineers' flood-control projects; in addition, a more limited trail could be developed along a portion of Walker Creek in conjunction with the flood-control project.

1965

Easter Sunday. The Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance sponsors a sunrise service in the Municipal Band Shell at Capaha Park; the sermon is delivered by the Rev. Thomas N. Bass, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Balmy weather and the beauty of spring flowers, blooming redbud and dogwood trees combine to make an almost perfect setting for Cape Girardeau's Easter parade; churches are, of course, packed to capacity for the retelling of the Easter message.

1940

Dr. Bernard W. Hays of Jackson, former president of the Missouri State Medical Association, and for 44 years a practicing physician in Cape Girardeau County, dies of a heart ailment in the morning; he was 72 years old.

Twenty-two rural school boards of education in this county have been asked to come to Jackson Thursday to confer with the, rural school supervisor; all of these schools have a small attendance and, in some cases, it has become advisable to close them and transport the pupils to another district.

1915

Chicago Mayor-elect William Hale Thompson and a party of friends and political supporters aboard the steamer Kabekona arrive at the Cape Girardeau wharf shortly after noon, having cruised south to Cairo, Illinois, on Friday; once here, and it being Sunday, the group requests the services of a minister and the Rev. J.F. Lawson of the Presbyterian Church obliges; because of the diverse religious makeup of the group, Lawson keeps his address broad and along general religious lines.

Four automobiles transport 17 Knights of Columbus from Cape Girardeau to Cairo, Illinois, for the big Knights convention; over 300 attend the evening banquet.

-- Sharon K. Sanders