Out of the past: Feb. 18

1992

Three state senators from Southeast Missouri -- John Dennis, D-Benton, Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, and Danny Staples, D-Eminence -- say they are prepared to vote for a House-passed version of an increase in the Missouri fuel tax when it comes before the Senate today; under the bill, a 2-cent fuel tax hike would take effect immediately and additional 2-cent increases would take effect in 1994 and 1996.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Bollinger County Sheriff's Department will add a third deputy to its force next month; after operating with a sheriff and two deputies for several years, hiring a third deputy was approved by the county commissioners early this year.

1967

The "Red Baron and His Frau" were crowned Ugly Man and Miss Beautiful at the Beauty and Beast Ball last night, but the Cape Girardeau Civic Center was the real winner of the 18th annual Alpha Phi Omega Ugly Man contest, netting more than $3,500 in the fund drive; the winning combination of Meyers Hall and Dearmont Quadrangle, represented by Richard Place of Clarksville, Missouri, and Mary Ann Rice of Fredericktown, Missouri, collected $2,724.85.

The State Board of Education has given its approval to a proposed junior college district in the Bootheel, authorizing a popular election on the issue on April 4; voting will be citizens of Dunklin and Pemiscot counties and three school districts in southern New Madrid County: Gideon, Risco and Portageville.

1942

The city of Cape Girardeau, if it desires to do so, may have another opportunity to purchase the Mississippi River traffic bridge, which, less than two months ago, was about to pass into the hands of Alexander County, Illinois; due to a number of factors, the purchase plan by which the county was to acquire the span at a price of $2,525,000 hasn't been consummated; Alexander County's contract with the bond house to finance the sale expired Dec. 31 and hasn't officially been renewed.

Heads and representatives of all industries in Cape Girardeau County have been invited to a dinner meeting Friday at Colonial Tavern, where the matter of more effective protection of the physical properties of these industries during the war emergency will be discussed; guest speaker will be A.E. Jones, special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stationed in Cape Girardeau; in particular, he will discuss sabotage.

1917

Cape Girardeau has one less saloon; the William Seehausen saloon at Broadway and Frederick Street, the one that has long stood out boldly because of the gang of loafers that hung about the place and embarrassed passersby, closed its doors last night and won't re-open; the building was bought by Al Brinkopf, who will remodel it and make it a part of his furniture business.

Dr. J.C. Maple, pastor emeritus of the Baptist Church, is called on suddenly in the morning to deliver the sermon; the pastor, the Rev. J.P. Scruggs, finds himself devoid of voice sufficient to preach.

-- Sharon K. Sanders