Out of the past: Dec. 26

1990

After more than a year of extensive, painstaking work to assure an accurate census count in 1990, city officials still are puzzled at the federal government's preliminary housing and population figures here; the city receives the results of the U.S. Census Bureau's review of its mid-summer preliminary housing count, which shows Cape Girardeau's population decreased over the past decade from 34,361 in 1980 to 34,167 this year.

Those who have enjoyed the past four days of cold temperatures, sleet, snow and slippery streets and sidewalks should enjoy the weather service forecast; more foul weather is on the way tonight; more freezing rain, sleet and snow is expected in the Cape Girardeau area, with accumulations of 2-4 inches of snow.

1965

Lawrence Amadi of Obinze, Nigeria, West Africa, and the Rev. S.O. Abegunde of Ire, Nigeria, speak at the Second Baptist Church in the afternoon; Amadi is attending Southwest Baptist College at Bolivar, Missouri; Abegunde is attending Oklahoma Baptist University at Shawnee; when they are finished with their studies, the men will return to Africa.

The Cape Girardeau Jaycees will again collect discarded Christmas trees from in front of Cape Girardeau homes; the pickup will be made Sunday afternoon, and the trees will be burned that evening at Arena Park.

1940

National Guardsmen return to the armory at the Arena Building at 6 a.m. to resume Army training, following a Christmas leave; an open house, for the public, will be held tomorrow evening; Lt. Col. Blount F. Davidson, regimental chaplain, will be in charge of the program, assisted by Lt. Co. R.M. Talbert, chaplain of the 35th Division staff; music will be furnished by the 140th Infantry Band, with Lt. O.T. Honey of Chaffee, Missouri, in charge.

Filling the first call for carpenters for the Army camp being built near Rolla, Missouri, the Cape Girardeau employment service has just sent 25 workers there; the carpenters are from Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties.

1915

The Rev. F.Y. Campbell, pastor of First Baptist Church, corner of Spanish Street and Broadway, is back from the McConnell campaign at Warrensburg, Missouri, and occupies the pulpit for the morning and evening worship services.

County Recorder Fritz Siemers of Jackson was kept busy as usual this Christmas issuing marriage licenses to young people from all parts of the county; the big rush came on Christmas day, when he issued nearly a dozen licenses.

-- Sharon K. Sanders