Out of the past: Dec. 7

1990

Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. has empaneled a grand jury in Cape Girardeau County to investigate drug cases.

Outgoing Southeast Missouri Hospital administrator O.D. Niswonger gained a bit of immortality yesterday. Niswonger, an administrator at Southeast for about 30 years, was honored at a retirement ceremony in the afternoon; at the same time, James W. Wente, his replacement, announced the hospital would establish an employee recognition award in honor of Niswonger.

1965

Donald Keith of Jackson, representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, appeared before the Jackson City Council last night and advised his union now represents a majority of city water and electric department employees in Jackson; he offered two methods of proving the majority of the employees want the union to represent them.

Plans and specifications for the Naval Reserve Training Center, which will be built here on a city-owned site north of Arena Park, have been completed and are being reviewed by Navy officials; bids for construction of the building are expected to be taken by the Navy Department after the first of next year.

1940

Mayor Hinkle Statler said he believes there is danger the $430,000 federal building project for Cape Girardeau may be shelved by the government in giving monetary preference to national-defense projects.

The Central Packing Co. has purchased seven lots in the Smelterville suburb, between the packing plant and South Sprigg Street; the company doesn't plan any expansion or development at this time; the lots were purchased from William A. Woods and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Earl C. Allen and Mr. and Mrs. Tom G. Harris.

1915

Cape Girardeau is given a hard shake early in the afternoon; the earthquake rattles dishes and knocks pictures from walls, but apparently does no real damage; still, agents with the Frisco Railroad said trains heading south will be going slower than normal this afternoon, in case damage was done to bridges in the southern part of the state and in Arkansas.

The South Cape Methodist Church is growing so fast the members are worried because they can't seat the crowds that attend Sunday services; not long ago, the church building was moved from a location near the Frisco tracks in South Cape to the corner of Ellis and Maple streets.

-- Sharon K. Sanders