Out of the past: Jan. 17

1996

The 82-year-old mortar holding bricks together at L.J. Schultz School crumbles like sand, prompting the Cape Girardeau Board of Education to seek advice from a structural engineer; on Thursday, a 60-foot section of the brick parapet of the school at 101 S. Pacific St., collapsed onto the roof; while no one was hurt, principal John Eck blames the collapse on the building's age.

KENNETT, Mo. -- The 1137th Military Police Company headquartered in Kennett is scheduled to leave for Europe Friday, a spokesman at Fort Benning, Georgia, said; the time of departure will depend on when the charter aircraft that will fly the soldiers to Europe arrives; the 125 solders of the National Guard's 1137th who were called to active duty for the Bosnian Peace-keeping operation will replace the regular military police units in Germany, which are being sent to Bosnia.

1971

During the morning worship service at St. John's United Church of Christ west of Fruitland, the Rev. Joseph Mayer, pastor, installs the new members of the church council, who were recently elected by the congregation; they are Paul Friedrich, Carl Wilhelm and Lloyd Schoenbeck.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A new building on the grounds of St. Mary's Seminary here will soon house new offices of the Association of the Miraculous Medal; the 25,000-square-foot brick and steel building was used for the first time during the Western Catholic Union pilgrimage several months ago; none of the interior work had been completed at that time, so it was used as a large dining hall; the Rev. Charles Rice is director of the association.

1946

The International Shoe factory here remains closed, with its 1,500 workers idle, victims of the strike of 1,500 truck operators in St. Louis; at Jackson more than half of the 400 International Shoe workers, too, are off the job; hundreds of other shoemakers in the district -- at Sikeston and elsewhere -- have been idled a week by the strike.

In service just over a year, Pfc. Wilbur Meier, son of Judge and Mrs. W.F. Meier, is an orderly in the home of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo, Japan, and MacArthur has asked him to be one of his aides; in a letter home, young Meier writes he will likely reject the offer, as he is anxious to return home and to the farm where he is needed.

1921

Eight members of the Federal Board of Vocational Training are in Cape Girardeau adjusting claims of ex-service men applying for assistance from the government under special acts of Congress; 150 veterans from this district who have made claims were ordered to report so their cases could be adjusted.

Charles L. Harrison of the Himmelberger-Harrison Lumber Co., who purchased the Cape Girardeau Handle Factory at public auction Saturday, says he hasn't completed any plans for operating the plant or what disposition would be made of the property; Harrison secured the factory for $2,600; it was inventoried at about $40,000; the industry was formerly managed by the George Turner, who died several months ago.

-- Sharon K. Sanders