Out of the past: Jan. 24

1990

Coast Guard Officials suspect a five-mile-long sheen spotted a week ago on the Mississippi River north of Cape Girardeau may have occurred when a towboat emptied its bilge or "slop" tanks; because the sheen dispersed the next day, the cause may never be known.

Willie C. Jones, a employee of Procter and Gamble Paper Products Co., has filed for a three-year term on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education; this is Jones' second attempt to win election to the school board.

1965

State College students from low-income families will be helped to remain in school under a federally backed program to provide part-time jobs for them; a grant of $21,5134 for State College to help finance the program for the spring semester was announced yesterday by the U.S. Office of Education.

The possibility that Interstate 55 might be landscaped brings favorable reactions from county civic leaders; Allen Robinson, the executive vice president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, says it's very good news to hear President Lyndon Johnson wants landscaping to be a required part of all interstate projects.

1940

Another cold blast is sweeping toward Cape Girardeau and the district, with indications temperatures in this section may sink to between 5 and 10 degrees below zero.

To see a program in Chester, Illinois, Monday night presented by the International Harvester Co., it is reported that more than 100 persons from Missouri living opposite the Illinois city walked across the frozen Mississippi River to attend; at the show, there was a combination of a display of farm machinery, motion pictures and dancing; a Cape Girardeau orchestra played at the show.

1915

While skating at the fairground pond last night, Gertrude Johnson, a student, and Professor Clifford Logan of the Normal School broke through the ice and went in up to their necks in the cold water; before they were able to make their way home, their water-soaked clothing had frozen stiff.

Julia Morse gives an afternoon tea at the home of Mrs. Robert L. Wilson on Broadway, at which she presents Gertrude Sparks of St. Louis to 25 or 30 couples of the younger society folk of the city.

-- Sharon K. Sanders