Out of the past: July 8

1999

Interstate 55 overpass bridges at the Fruitland interchange will be replaced in the first phase of highway improvements associated with the Procter & Gamble expansion; a construction contract has been awarded to Penzel Construction Company, Inc., of Jackson for $3,295,745, and includes replacement of both existing I-55 overpass bridges over U.S. 61; work is expected to begin in September.

For five years, one police officer has defined community policing in Cape Girardeau; as he leaves the department this month to take a marketing job in Jackson, Cpl. Charlie Herbst will leave behind a legacy that will be difficult to top; Herbst and his partner, Ike Hammonds, have a dossier of accomplishments that is more than 28 pages long.

1974

While most farmers in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois don’t consider it a drought season, they are worried about the prospects for a good harvest this fall unless the dry conditions experienced over the last month begin to change; the last measurable rainfall was .19 inches on June 9 at the municipal airport.

Three of the five firms that have been contracted to construct Kelso’s first municipally owned water system will begin work by July 17, with all work expected to be completed within the current calendar year; contractors are Boyer Drilling Co. of Jackson for drilling of the well, Jackson Excavating Co. of Jackson for installation of water lines, Bruce Williams Co. of Joplin for foundation work and installation of pilings for storage tanks, Sauter Industries of Emporia, Kansas, for installation of storage tank and Bridger Plumbing and Heating Co. of Sikeston for construction of a pump house.

1949

Laying of pipe to bring natural gas to Cape Girardeau, Illmo and Fornfelt will begin early next week, a contract signed by the Missouri Utilities Commission with the Mid-States Construction Co. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, calling for completion of the project by Sept. 1; the variable contract, with cost dependent on types of earth formations encountered, amounts to approximately $32,000 for labor and equipment only.

There is a note of optimism in a prediction by A.E. Kies concerning the horse racing program for the 1949 SEMO District Fair; Kies, president of the fair board, says things look promising and there should be enough horses on the grounds to afford patrons a good speed program; this year’s card is to be filled wholly with trotting and pacing events, except for the county horse, mule and pony running races.

1924

Fred E. Kies, publisher of the Republican weekly newspaper at Jackson and a leading Republican worker of Cape Girardeau County, has purchased an interest in a job printing plant in Cape Girardeau from J.H. Washburn; he has arranged for Theo. Ade to come here and take charge of the shop.

The regular evening excursions on the steamer Cape Girardeau will be temporarily discontinued, says Capt. William “Buck” Leyhe; there hasn’t been enough interest in the night trips to justify their expense.

Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a blog called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper. Check out her blog at www.semissourian.com/history.