Out of the past: Aug. 13

1993

ST. LOUIS -- President Bill Clinton yesterday signed into law a $5.7 billion disaster relief bill to aid Midwestern flood victims; Clinton stopped in St. Louis on his way to see Pope John Paul II in Denver.

Between 1 and 1 1/2 inches of badly needed rain fell Thursday morning on parched corn fields in the Cape Girardeau area, but agricultural sources say at least another 2 to 3 inches of rain are needed to prevent additional crop yield losses.

1968

Frederick Fielder, 27, a commercial artist and engraver, files as the first candidate to fill a vacancy on the Cape Girardeau City Council created by the resignation of J. Ronald Fischer.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education has authorized the hiring of an attendance officer; superintendent of schools Charles E. House asked the board for authority to hire a truant officer, saying he believes the officer could save the district enough to pay his own salary; state support of schools is based on average daily attendance.

1943

R.M. Sisk, a Charleston, Missouri, truck driver, his load of salvage material in flames, lost a race with the fire yesterday afternoon; he attempted to drive from near the Highway 61-74 intersection to fire headquarters at Independence and Frederick streets in an effort to have the fire boys extinguish the blaze; Sisk abandoned his efforts when he slowed to make the turn onto Independence Street; with the flames lapping into the cab, Sisk jumped out; the truck rolled to a stop in a ditch, and firemen were summoned.

With all four teams on the scene, arrangements for the Regional American Legion junior baseball tournament at Fairground Park are complete; the opening games will be staged tomorrow afternoon; participating in the tournament are teams from Fort Smith, Arkansas; Dallas, Texas; New Orleans and Cape Girardeau.

1918

The Cape Girardeau City Council, meeting in special session Monday, passed a resolution condemning the Green Tree saloon in Haarig, operated by Adam Cox, and then forwarded the resolution to the County Court asking that body to revoke the saloon's license; although the court is in session, the matter will have to be handled in a special called session, as five days' notice must be given the owner of the saloon under the law to file an answer to the charges.

A congregational meeting of Presbyterians has been called for Sunday to consider the question of purchasing or renting a manse for their pastor; several houses are being considered, including the H.L. Machen house at 315 Bellevue St., George S. Summers at 221 N. Ellis St., and B.W. Fletcher at 325 N. Pacific St.

-- Sharon K. Sanders