Out of the past: Dec. 28

1990

Parts of Southeast Missouri are digging out from a snowstorm that yesterday dumped up to 12 inches of snow in the area; after a brief respite from the harsh winter today and tomorrow, more cold arctic air, freezing rain, sleet and snow is predicted to return to Southeast Missouri.

Along with the winter weather, a rock-salt and snow-sled shortage has hit Cape Girardeau; a check of area stores reveals just a few bags of salt and even fewer sleds available.

1965

Navy Yeoman 3-C. Charles Ray Cannon of Cape Girardeau was recently awarded the Purple Heart in South Vietnam for wounds he suffered Oct. 28 in a Viet Cong attack; the young Seabee is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cannon of Cape Girardeau; his wife, Emma, also resides here.

Cape Girardeau probably passes its airport bond issue on the third try; but the official result of today's balloting won't be known until after the absentee ballots are counted; the $880,000 general obligation bond proposition falls just four votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority in the regular voting.

1940

A crowd estimated at 1,000 people was at the armory in the Arena Building of the new city park last night for an "open house" concert and demonstrations by the National Guardsmen now on active duty; along with local residents, U.S. Army and National Guard officers attended.

Second Lt. George I. Staley of Cape Girardeau left by train yesterday for Fort Benning, Georgia, where he will attend the Army Infantry School for the next three months.

1915

The first real wintry weather of the season came last night, when the all-day rain turned to sleet and snow, covering the city and entire area with a depth of ice and snow of about six inches; ice began accumulating on telephone and trolley lines here about 2 p.m., crippling service; the ice became so thick on the trolley wires street cars had a hard time making their rounds; several hours were required in making a circuit of the city.

Several Cape Girardeau people are hurt in falls on the ice; Willis Martin, former chief of police and now a dairyman, falls and sustains a sprained knee as he is unloading hay from a wagon at his barn in the rear of his home on William Street; he is confined to his home, unable to walk on the injured leg.

-- Sharon K. Sanders