Out of the past: Aug. 20

1990

The Cape Girardeau City Council votes 5-1 to place a quarter-cent park-tax proposal before voters on the November general election ballot; the three-year sales tax levy would fund construction of a regional sports complex at Shawnee Park, the purchase of park land and improvement and beautification projects in other city parks.

City Councilman Doug Richards proposes a long-term, four-phase plan to clean up an abandoned railroad right-of-way; the council has focused on the right-of-way, and extension of Fountain Street, during its consideration of a downtown exit from a new Mississippi River bridge route.

1965

Premiums offered at the SEMO District Fair, to be here Sept. 14 through 19, will total more than $43,750; the speed program includes pace, trot, free-for-all pace and trot and quarter-mile pony race events.

Cape Girardeau County Court turns down a request by the Cape County Boy Scouts to supply bridge timber for a creek crossing on the Scout tract near Trail of Tears State Park; the Scouts have built concrete abutments for a bridge over the stream and wanted the county to supply the timber at a cost of $57; however, the court said the land there was given to the Scouts by the county with the understanding that all development of the land would done by the Scouts.

1940

Proposed ordinances, one a revised measure to license and control the operation of a motor bus system, and the other order to regulate taxicabs, were considered by the city council yesterday and then placed on file at the clerk's office for one week for study by the interested public.

A stormy reorganization session of the Democratic County Committee at Jackson ends with one of the party's factions taking the other "for a ride" as it elects its entire slate of candidates for two years; Lindsay W. Simmons of Cape Girardeau is elected chairman, winning over Maj. Giboney Houck.

1915

After The Republican wasted much good space yesterday explaining to excited people, who had lost hope of getting to the circus, just how to get there without miring or losing their lives in the flood and mud, the management called off the night performance; a big crowd of about 3,000 attended the afternoon show.

Yesterday, the first day of the Homecomers reunion at Jackson, was a wash because of the heavy rain; several street concessions tried to do a little business, but most of them remained closed all day.

-- Sharon K. Sanders