Out of the past: Dec. 4

1990

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- "The Day of the Big One" turned into "The Day the Earth Stood Still" yesterday; despite predictions of a massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault by climatologist Iben Browning, the only shaking that occurred was when visiting news media trucks and vans rumbled out of town disappointed.

While a cold snap has hit the area during the first days of December, last month was the warmest November in 45 years in Cape Girardeau; the average temperature last month was 52.3 degrees, 5.6 degrees above average.

1965

The Illmo Service Center branch library of the Riverside Regional Library, which recently moved from the Rialto Theatre to the Hartner Memorial Building, will hold an open house tomorrow afternoon; the building was a gift from the Hartner family to the Illmo Development Corp.

Expanding Cape Girardeau is employing formerly limited-use areas in its growth; a 40-acre tract on the city's south fringe has been purchased by Gene Rhodes and James Tlapek; the plot lies south of the Nash Road and just east of the old Cape Drive-in Theater property; definite plans for the development haven't been made, but the area has a high potential for industrial usage.

1940

Extra checks equivalent to one week's pay will be issued to the 1,200 workers of the International Shoe factory here before Christmas; the employee bonus here will amount to about $24,000; a similar bonus was paid last year.

Prosecuting Attorney Elmer A. Strom receives orders as a member of the 35th Division staff to report at Kansas City on Monday; Lt. Col. Strom is to be at Kansas City and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for a physical examination and conferences for 14 days, in preparation for mobilization of the National Guard on Dec. 23.

1915

Sam M. Carter, secretary of the Southeast Missouri Trust Co., last night was elected president of the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club for the ensuing year; Charles W. Stehr was elected first vice president; Will Bergmann, second vice president, and George L. Summers, treasurer; named as trustees were J.H. Friant, Joel T. Nunn and A.N. Tinsley.

Otis Goza of Cape Girardeau has sold all his livery and equipment, except his horses, to John Buerkle and will retire from that business; Goza has purchased a large farm in Arkansas and plans to go there in January to farm on a large scale.

-- Sharon K. Sanders