Out of the past: Dec. 31

1990

Capt. Michael DuPerier, formerly of Jackson, has been named the year's best instructor pilot for the 64th Flying Training Wing; he is stationed at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas.

The year 1990 found Cape Girardeau city officials embroiled in discord; the city council's voting "flip-flop" of engineering plans for the Lexington Avenue arterial project, the Airport Advisory Board members' criticism of the council for "ignoring" them and the question of where to locate a downtown exit from the new river bridge route were a few of the hotly-contested elements of city government this year.

1965

Minnen's was at the corner of Main and Themis streets. (G.D. Fronabarger ~ Southeast Missourian archive)

Minnen's a ladies ready-to-wear business in Cape Girardeau's downtown for 46 years, closes out the store in the old Sturdivant Bank building; Mr. and Mrs. David Minnen and Mrs. Fannie Samuels own the building and business, and the structure has been leased to Kay's a ladies ready-to-wear firm, which will remodel and occupy the space within a short time.

Judge Marshall Craig, president of the Southeast Missouri Boy Scout Council, announces plans for construction of a dam and lake facilities at Camp Lewallen; the dam will be constructed by the R.P. Potashnick Construction Co. of Cape Girardeau, which will donate all labor, materials and equipment.

1940

A gift by Judge I.R. Kelso of a 2 1/2-acre plot adjoining Twin Trees Park on Cape Rock Drive to be used to increase the facilities of the center is announced by Dennis M. Scivally, engineer of the Cape Special Road District, owner of the park.

Chief clerk of the Cape Girardeau County Draft Board, Allen A. Reed, said registrants in the county aren't taking the draft orders as seriously as they should; for practically every call that has been sent out to draftables to report for physical examinations, some have failed to show up; in the future, the names of all men who don't have a legitimate excuse for not reporting will be turned over to the U.S.

1915

In 1915 there were at least 164 new houses built in Cape Girardeau; at the same time, there were perhaps 25 business houses erected.

The young ladies of Cape Girardeau's social set carry out their annual custom and entertain the young men at a New Year's ball and reception at the Elks Club; special music is furnished by the Shivelbine orchestra.

-- Sharon K. Sanders