Out of the Past: April 30

1990

Larry Dowdy, an official of the Little River Drainage District, tells the Lower Mississippi River Commission changes in federal wetlands regulations last year will have a devastating impact on farming and the economy. At a public hearing aboard the Corps of Engineers vessel Mississippi, Dowdy tells the commission, "The wetlands issue becomes more and more asinine each day."

The results of a Vision 2000 business needs survey is presented to city officials and members of the media by the committee that conducted the survey in February; it showed Cape Girardeau generally is a good place to do business but needs to improve its streets, air passenger service and the availability of skilled laborers.

1965

Approximately 168 students could be housed in the Marquette Hotel, if arrangements are completed between State College and hotel officials for use by the college of the upper four floors of the hotel next school year.

The Citizens Council-Manager Committee has decided to make a new start on a petition drive aimed at bringing the council-manager question to a vote here; an earlier effort to gather names on petitions fell short.

1940

W.G. Wicker, district census supervisor, announces the 1940 population of Sikeston, Missouri, is 8,050, a gain of 2,374 over the official count taken in 1930. He also announces the population for several other Southeast Missouri towns: Canalou, 419; Morehouse, 1,598; and Fornfelt, 1,497.

While milking a cow in his barn 3 miles west of Kelso, Missouri, shortly after 6 p.m., Max Schaefer, a 30-year-old farmer, is crushed to death by timbers when the building is leveled by a tornado. A son who is nearby runs from the falling the building and escapes. The nearby farmhouse, sheltering Schaefer's family, isn't badly damaged, but other buildings on the farm are reduced to kindling.

1915

A great baseball meeting was held at Sikeston, Missouri, yesterday, and as a result, Caruthersville and New Madrid will remain in the Southeast Missouri league this year. There had been rumors floating about that the two would bow out of the league because of the expense.

The Good Hope Hay and Feed Store was sold by Andy Brown yesterday to brothers H.P. and J.E. Deevers. J.E. Deevers, an employee of the Frisco, will continue his position there, while H.P. Deevers will manage the feed store.

­-- Sharon K. Sanders