Out of the past: Aug. 2

1991

A new laser procedure for treatment of obstructive heart disease began yesterday at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Regional Heart Center. The first surgeries using the excimer laser angioplasty system were performed by Cape Girardeau cardiologists James B. Chapman and C.R. Talbert Jr.

Officials with Lone Star Industries of Cape Girardeau say plans are to convert the plant's coal-burning cement kiln into a system that will burn toxic-waste fuels. The new facility could be operating by February 1992.

1966

Activity at Cape Girardeau's 14 polling places in the morning is slow for the most part, with only 941 city residents voting. The primary election is selecting party nominations for state, district and county offices. Poll watchers predict the total turnout in Cape Girardeau will be less than 4,000 voters.

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Three Texans carrying a small arsenal are arrested in Mississippi County after allegedly robbing a Kentucky sheriff and escaping aboard a Mississippi River ferry while officials watched from the Kentucky shore. The three are arrested at 7:30 p.m. one-half mile south of Big Oak State Park by county authorities and the highway patrol.

1941

It's watermelon time again, and those boys who substitute rolling melons from trucks for the old-fashioned plan of taking them from the patch itself are having their day here. Police are irked by the numerous calls complaining of boys who clamber onto slow-moving melon trucks traveling up the old toll-gate hill on South Sprigg Street and toss the produce to their compatriots running alongside.

Skyrocketing on the crest of a wave of nine accidents in the final 11 days of July, Southeast Missouri's traffic death toll last month reached 14, bringing the mark for the first seven months of the year to an unprecedented 47 killed, 23 more than for a similar period last year.

1916

With four precincts still to be heard from, it appears Ernest Caldwell won the race for county assessor on the Republican ticket in yesterday's election. Jeff Hutson of Cape Girardeau seems to have won handily over Bill Schade for sheriff on the Democratic ticket. Bill Summers, the current sheriff, defeated Harry Gaines for the nomination for assessor on the Democratic side, and Russell Dearmont was defeated by Ben Vinyard for committeeman from Cape Girardeau Township.

Mrs. L.J. Albert leaves on the steamer Cape Girardeau in the evening for her home in St. Louis after spending two weeks with her daughter, Mrs. Garrett Glenn, and other relatives.

-- Sharon K. Sanders