Out of the past: April 20

1993

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is expected to crest later today at 40.3 feet, 8.3 feet above flood stage and its highest level in almost seven years; in addition to closing several streets in unprotected areas of the north and south sides of the city, the high water has also interrupted rail service through Cape Girardeau, after the floodgate over the Burlington Northern tracks next to Sloan's Creek was closed Friday.

Circuit Court Judge William Syler has ruled Andrew Lyons, 35, is incompetent to stand trial for the shooting deaths of a Cape Girardeau woman, her mother and her 11-month-old son in September; Syler signed an order committing Lyons to the Department of Mental Health for a period of no less than six months for further mental evaluation.

1968

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, will make an appearance in Cape Girardeau Thursday morning, it is announced; Kennedy plans to make a speech at the Town Plaza Shopping Center, after meeting in a reception with district Democratic leaders.

Libson Shops, Inc., 113 N. Main St., a women's ready-to-wear store, is moving into a larger building with an addition and expansion of stock; a long-term lease has been signed with the Hecht Properties Co., for the building at 119 N. Main, formerly occupied by the Biederman Furniture Co.

1943

Just a week after the campaign officially opened, Cape Girardeau County attains and passes its quota in the Second War Loan campaign; including purchases made up to noon, a total of $719,065.20 in war bonds has been bought in the county; the quota was $641,000.

Twenty naval aviation cadets of the intermediate classification arrived yesterday at Teachers College from St. Louis and Evansville, Indiana, to begin another phase of their flight training and to do intensive ground school work; they are housed in Chaney Hall.

1918

Illmo is to have a passenger station on the Frisco line at Hazel Spur, within the city corporate limits; travelers on the Frisco will no longer have to suffer the inconveniences and discomforts that have prevailed since the station at Froemsdorf, Missouri, burned months and months ago.

Several Cape Girardeau families have received postcards from sons announcing their safe arrivals "over there"; newly arrived in France or other distant countries are Earl Schultz, Martin Bierschwal and Lawrence "Little Hutty" Huttman.

-- Sharon K. Sanders