Out of the past: Dec. 21

1990

Circuit Court judges A.J. Seier and Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. began handling a court docket in Perry County, Missouri, this week under a six-week assignment from Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Blackmar. The move was made to take the pressure off the 24th district circuit judges, who have struggled with a rapidly growing caseload.

Volunteer Santas yesterday delivered Christmas presents as part of the 16th annual Toybox toy drive, a joint project of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian; 319 families, representing nearly 800 children, were served.

1965

What started as a routine matter has snowballed into a freezing of relations between the Cape Girardeau Police Department and reporters of The Missourian and KGMO radio. A new policy was instituted yesterday by the department that disguises whether police are keeping a complaint or arrest secret from the public.

A federal agency is reserving $3,386,000 to finance the construction of two dormitories at State College. The funds would constitute a federal loan to the college to build two more high-rise dorms to complete a complex now in progress in the Home of the Birds.

1940

A small wing of the U.S. Army will be training temporarily in Cape Girardeau starting Monday, when the 90 members of Service Company and Headquarters Detachment, local National Guard outfits, mobilize at the armory in the new Arena Building. Lt. Joe E. Moore, in charge of Service Company, will induct the Guardsmen into service, and from that time, they will be a part of the Army in the expanded national defense program.

The rush of Christmas traffic, which began in earnest yesterday, has virtually doubled the motor bus and train passenger business in and out of Cape Girardeau.

1915

FAYVILLE, Ill. -- An explosion of two powder mills at Fayville, below Thebes, Illinois, and across the river from Commerce, Missouri, occurs at 9 a.m. The extent of the damage to buildings and lives isn't known. The explosions are strong enough to be heard distinctly at Commerce, and even at Illmo and Fornfelt; Commerce houses are rocked violently.

Fred Mills and William Hitt, two of the best-known young men in Haarig, have opened a cleaning and pressing establishment on Good Hope Street, next door to the Mueller meat market.

-- Sharon K. Sanders