Out of the past: Aug. 14

1999

Big Kmart officially opened in Southeast Missouri yesterday; Kmart stores at three sites — 11 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, 2233 N. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff and 1110 S. Main St. in Sikeston — have been converted to the company’s “Big K(mart)” concepts; the “new” stores have the old, familiar departments — automotive, electronic, apparel and garden shops — but also feature small coffeeshops, an expanded “kitchen corner” and “pantry”.

State Rep. Mary Kasten has a hug for everyone who steps up to the podium; one by one, friends and lawmakers stand to sing her praises; the event is U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson’s annual political picnic at the Arena Building; but this year, the event serves as a tribute to Kasten, a longtime Republican representative who is widely viewed as the “grandmother” of the Missouri House.

1974

A $25,000 deficit in the Jackson School District cafeteria operation and a projected $57,000 deficit at the end of the upcoming school year prompted the school board last night to raise the price of meal tickets; the student lunch tickets will jump from 40 to 50 cents for one-day meal tickets, while the weekly ticket will go from 35 cents to 45 cents; the cost of an adult ticket will increase from 45 to 60 cents.

Jackson’s new chief of police, Robert L. Clifton, completed his first week in the new position yesterday; he was appointed to replace David M. Gellatly, who resigned to become chief at Addison, Illinois; “Red”, as his friends call him, lists two items of importance he hopes to accomplish immediately; one is clearing up investigations of several petty thefts, and the other is establishing a city ordinance that would make possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana a misdemeanor; the chief says the ordinance would aid in bringing suspects to court when state charges are denied by county authorities and would help lower drug traffic in Jackson.

1949

Dean Forrest H. Rose of State College is guest speaker at the morning worship services of Grace Methodist Church in the absence of the pastor, the Rev. P.A. Kasey, who is on vacation; special music is furnished by Hilda Harrington, Betty Sander, Johnny Mehrle and Norman Ueleke.

The Rev. Ivan Nothdurft, who has been working as a missionary and educator at Lima, Peru, for a number of years, is the speaker at Centenary Methodist Church, being introduced by the pastor, the Rev. R.C. Holliday; Nothdurft, a former Girardean, came to the States a few days ago; in connection with his sermon, he tells of plans and efforts to build a modern highway to link North America and South America, and of the natural and political stumbling blocks which have so far delayed the undertaking.

1924

Cape Girardeau County rural schools will receive $35,056.35 this year as their apportionment of the state school funds; this amounts to $5,501.20 more than the sum received last year; each of the seven other Southeast Missouri counties shared in the increased allowances, most of them receiving a proportionate raise in the amount of state aid.

Little River Drainage District will be allowed to proceed with its plan to “better equalize drainage facilities” for 500,000 acres of farmland in Southeast Missouri; the Missouri Supreme Court decides for the district in a suit brought by a New Madrid County landowner to prevent the district from issuing new bonds to underwrite the cost of the improvement; Little River’s plan includes excavation and widening of present canals, construction of two storage basins and completion of floodways between levees to handle excessive water.

Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a weekend column called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper.