Out of the past: Dec. 23

1989

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep believes the criminal justice system is "out of control" in Cape Girardeau County and is calling on the prosecutor, judges and sheriff to find ways to reduce costs; he contends the criminal justice system is devouring more and more of the county's general revenue budget and warns unless the trend is reversed, the commission may have to restore a general revenue property tax to pay for it.

Bitterly cold weather grips much of the nation, including the Cape Girardeau area; a low of minus 9 degrees is recorded in the morning at the municipal airport.

1964

The Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo, Illinois, which has had ice or low-water miseries for the past three winters, may be entering a new season of navigational problems; the result could be a major reduction or possibly total suspension of river transportation; the stage at Cape Girardeau is 6.9 feet and falling.

A doe, one of two from a herd of four deer killed in Madison County yesterday when struck by an automobile driven by a Marquand, Missouri, man, has been given to the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau for use in Christmas baskets; the animal dressed out a little over 70 pounds.

1939

R. Moyle Sr., general manager of the Marquette cement plants, arrives in the morning and, at a meeting with more than 350 employees, hands each man a check for a week's salary, not as a bonus from the company but as a Christmas present.

Earl Volkerding, who has a government position in Washington, D.C., is here visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Volkerding, for several weeks; he will be back at Washington by Jan. 15.

1914

The repair shop of G. Hartung, at the corner of Broadway and Frederick Street, was entered by robbers last night; four pistols and several boxes of cartridges were stolen.

The Commercial Club room looks like Santa Claus headquarters, the municipal Christmas tree committee having taken it for a storage room for all the presents that will be distributed Christmas Eve; the workers are assembling 125 baskets of food, as well as toys for the youngsters attending the celebration.

-- Sharon K. Sanders