Out of the past: Jan. 31

1997

Vision 2000 recognized individuals and organizations for their contributions to the future of Cape Girardeau during its annual breakfast yesterday morning; 12 honorees were recognized at the eighth annual Awards of Distinction Breakfast; Area Wide United Way, Cape County Rotary Club, Robert A. Dempster Hall, Missouri Housing and Southeast Missourian's YELL edition were all recognized for contributions to the city in the areas of community service and monetary and equipment donations; Erik Yount and Mark and Vicky Busch were honored for instigating community beautification projects; Dan Cotner, Anita Meinz, Juanita Spicer and Harold Tilley were recognized for outstanding community service.

A Cape Girardeau police officer Cpl. Barry Hovis is nursing a broken arm, sustained Thursday after he fell off a fence while chasing a juvenile he suspected of taking part in a drug deal on Middle Street.

1972

Charges of prostitution, illegal possession of liquor by minors, aggravated assault and operation of a house of prostitution are being prepared against eight persons following weekend raids by the Illinois State Police on two Southern Illinois nightclubs, the Body Shop club of McClure and the Town and Country nightclub on Route 127, a mile south of Jonesboro.

A mild earthquake along the New Madrid fault shakes parts of Southeast Missouri all the way to St. Louis shortly before midnight, but in the center of the quake at Wardell, residents are mostly unaware of the tremor; the tremor registers 3.7 on the Richter scale, according to seismologists at St. Louis University.

1947

Cape Girardeau Mayor R.E. Beckman says he plans to call a meeting of the City Council, Board of Health and representatives of milk processing plants in the near future to see whether some type of milk inspection can't be worked out for the city and county in view of the improbability of assistance from the County Court in securing a full-time service; Beckman says he hopes an arrangement can be worked out whereby the processing plants would assist in financing a milk-inspection program.

A net profit of $201.03 was made by the River Hills Garden Club through a variety sale staged Thursday; the funds will be used to purchase magnolia trees for planting along Highway 61's Ten-Mile Garden.

1922

Dr. Ernest E. Huber of Booneville, Missouri, has been recommended by the International Health Service, the U.S. Public Health Service and the State Board of Health to be the first county health officer in Cape Girardeau County; he arrived in Cape Girardeau yesterday in the company of Dr. J.W. Mountain of the state board and John D. McCutcheon of the Red Cross, and is looking over the situation in this county.

Cape Girardeau members of the Daughters of the American Revolution are making elaborate plans for a celebration on George Washington's birthday, Feb. 22; they, with their husbands, will meet at the home of Mrs. E.J. Deal, and an interesting evening is looked forward to; the ladies will wear colonial costumes, and one of the diversions of the evening will be the dancing of the minuet.

-- Sharon K. Sanders