Out of the past: April 29

1991

Sanford N. McDonnell, chairman emeritus of McDonnell Douglas Corp., will present the address at Southeast Missouri State University's spring commencement May 11 at the Show Me Center.

The National Weather Service is predicting the swollen Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau will continue falling slowly until mid-week; a light rise is expected Wednesday, but the increase should be insignificant; the river crested here Wednesday at 31.7 feet, just shy of flood stage.

1966

The buildings on the old I. Ben Miller farm at North Sprigg and Bertling streets are being razed to make way for a new residential area; the farm most recently was used as a dairy farm by the Schonhoff family and has been purchased by Loy Crites and Charles N. Harris for development.

Between showers, work is progressing rapidly on the widening and resurfacing of Highway 72 in Jackson and west of Jackson; asphalt paving is being applied over the old concrete highway surface and is nearing completion; at the same time, machines and men are busy 3 miles west of Jackson, digging out next to the old pavement for the widening work.

1941

Protesting failure of the Fornfelt Board of Education to re-employ L.L. Schuette as high-school principal, social-science instructor and athletic director, pupils in the school stage a walk-out strike, refusing to return to classes until the board reconsiders its actions.

BENTON, Mo. -- Loss of the ballots cast in Benton in the November election is reported by the vote-checking board of Scott County in its record sent to Jefferson City; the fact the Benton precinct bag is missing was discovered on the final day of the recounting of votes in the governor's contest; it is believed the sacks of ballots were burned when the 1938 ballots were destroyed.

1916

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Frisco master mechanic W.B. Thomson was in Springfield, Missouri, a few days ago and, while there, was notified plans and blueprints for a new storehouse here have been completed.

E.W. Flentge will serve his last day as postmaster of Cape Girardeau tomorrow; since he began his three-year tenure, the post office has seen remarkable growth; when he took charge, it had three clerks and three carriers, and the total receipts for the year were $12,000; as he retires, he leaves an assistant postmaster, six clerks, two substitute clerks, eight city carriers, four rural carriers and three janitors; during his administration, the annual receipts have grown to more than $27,000.

-- Sharon K. Sanders