Out of the past: Dec. 18

1990

Buildings constructed or renovated after January 1991 in Scott City will be required to be in compliance with seismic building codes; the Scott City City Council voted unanimously last night to approve a city ordinance that would enforce the state-mandated requirements.

Members of Operating Engineers Local 513 went on strike yesterday after a union contract with Southeast Missouri Stone Inc. expired Saturday; nine members of the engineers local walked off their jobs at the company's plant at 1274 S. Kingshighway.

1965

Vicki Rueseler was recently crowned Girardot Queen at the Girardot dance at the Central High gymnasium; her attendants were Margaret Ritter, Sally Wright, Jane McKeown and Dee Ann Bockhorst; her escort was Jim Cochrane.

Missourians in about four weeks will cast ballots on a second proposed constitutional amendment that would provide a way to reapportion the House of Representatives to conform to federal court rulings; an earlier plan was killed by voters four months ago; the vote is set for Jan. 14, a Friday instead of the usual Tuesday election day.

1940

Mayor Hinkle Statler appoints an advisory committee of merchants to draft recommendations for the city council on a new merchants' license ordinance; placed on the committee are Edward Vogel, David Shaltupsky, Albert Miller, Alfred Hirsch, Charles A. Himmelberger and J.B. Carpenter.

A Christmas Coal Fund has been established in Cape Girardeau to furnish fuel for those who may lack the funds to buy coal this winter for heat; $27.50 in cash has already been contributed, and four others have pledged donations of coal when it is needed; the Social Security office will administer the fund.

1915

Michael Miggins, who for 30 years or more was street commissioner of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday in St. Louis at age 70; his family lived with him in Cape Girardeau until about 15 years ago; they moved to St. Louis, where Miggins was a street car motorman for a few years; he then returned here and worked a little on and off, while his family remained in St. Louis.

At the dedication of the new Central High School in the evening, state superintendent Howard A. Gass predicted the city soon would have 500 high-school students and another building would be necessary to care for their needs; the first high school in Cape Girardeau was organized in 1908 as a one-year course, with 14 students enrolled; this year, there are 180 high-school students.

-- Sharon K. Sanders