Out of the past: July 11

1991

Cape Girardeau County voters may be asked in November to give their opinion on an "Enhanced 911" emergency system for the county; a county committee, led by county emergency coordinator Brian Miller, has recommended the implementation of E-911.

About 40 students and residents stop by the science building at Southeast Missouri State University to view a solar eclipse through a 6-inch reflective telescope. Elsewhere, at the Trail of Tears State Park Visitors Center, between 100 and 150 people show up to watch the solar event with the help of the park's 10-inch telescope.

1966

In an effort to head off potential trouble regarding a federal matching funds grant for the planned work at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, the city will repurchase four acres it sold last year for industrial purposes. Lear-Siegler Inc. will sell the property back to the city at the original purchase price.

Cape Girardeau County taxpayers will be paying 50 percent more tax on vehicles this fall than they might have under the tax assessments in effect a week ago. The County Court in the morning receives notice from the State Tax Commission a 50 percent assessment increase is being ordered on all cars, trucks, planes and motorcycles assessed in this county.

1941

Planning for the construction of an airport near Dutchtown hits a snag. An investigation shows the County Court, in proposing a bond issue to build an airport, will be limited to an amount necessary to acquire the land. The bonds cannot be issued for development of an airport. Those sponsoring the proposal had hoped to see the court submit a bond issue of about $65,000 to purchase the land and develop it to a major degree, with the help of a WPA grant.

Cape Girardeau has been asked to submit a bid to house the district WPA office, now at Farmington, Missouri. Annually, bids are taken by the WPA for location of the office.

1916

J.A. Rigdon said he will start building a modern laundry building on Sprigg Street, between Independence and Themis streets, some time in September. Rigdon recently purchased a lot 45 feet by 180 feet on Sprigg, across from the black Masonic hall. He proposes to build a laundry about 45 by 120 feet. At the rear of the lot on the alley will be wagon sheds, coal houses and storage rooms.

At a meeting of the Cape Girardeau Retail Merchants Association, W.W. Hinchey is named as delegate to attend the committee meeting of the State Retail Merchants Association, and Charles W. Stehr is named a delegate to the state convention.

-- Sharon K. Sanders