Out of the past: April 22

1995

Twenty-nine people have now turned in resumes expressing interest in serving on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education; adding their names to the list of hopefuls Thursday and Friday were Robert Blank, Pamela Sheets Spradling, Calvin Chapman, Jacqueline Sessoms, Louis Haynes, Marie Walker, Janet Rueseler, Charles Herbst III, Shaunna McGhie, Morris Osborn, Dr. James Fletcher Jr., Debra Ann Tracy, Sheldon Tyler, John Jenkins and two people who asked the commissioners not to release their names.

Design plans for the new Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau are "more than 95% complete," said Fred Martin, assistant chief of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Department's bridge division; once funding is secured, contracts for construction of the cable-span bridge could be let by the end of 1995, says Martin.

1970

A funeral procession of about 75 marchers parades through Cape Girardeau's main thoroughfares in the morning, carrying a coffin symbolizing Earth 10 years from now, dead as a result of litter and pollution; the solemn marchers, moving in step with the slow beat of a drum, carry the coffin about a mile from downtown Cape Girardeau to Academic Hall, where a funeral service is held; the march is sponsored by a State College group, the Eco-Activists.

A plaque marking completion of 21 years of service on the Southeast Hospital Board of Trustees and ending 44 years of family membership on the board was presented to Martin Hecht at the annual meeting of the hospital association last night.

1945

A male quartet -- composed of Chester Haman, John Hargens, Wendel Suits and W.J. McBride -- sings "Jesus Never Fails" at the morning worship services at Grace Methodist Church.

St. James A.M.E. Church holds a special afternoon service to celebrate the close of a campaign to raise funds to retire the church indebtedness; since the drive began March 10, $800 has been raised and paid on the debt, and pledges are outstanding for some additional funds; several pastors of other churches in the city are guests, and the sermon is preached by the Rev. Ray Swartz of the Christian Church.

1920

The proposition of building a new church was presented to the First Baptist congregation by the pastor, the Rev. A.B. Carson, at a meeting last night; a committee was appointed to study the matter from all angles.

Cape Girardean Theodore J.E. Umbeck has the distinction of being the only American citizen in the employ of a foreign nation in Washington, D.C.; for the past three months, Umbeck has been employed by the Swiss delegation, which is handling the affairs of the German government in this country; during the war, Umbeck served as a field clerk with the American Army in France, being used as an interpretor in a prison camp; his enviable war record won him a place with the Swiss government in Washington after his return.

-- Sharon K. Sanders