Out of the past: May 16

1991

Gary West of West Signs Co. and Richard Stout of Stout Signs Co., both of Cape Girardeau, are working on the new mural being painted on the east side of the downtown floodwall; rainy weather prevented the painters from making significant progress on the mural until Tuesday, when the first color was applied.

Five years after a devastating flood prompted grassroots mitigation efforts, Cape Girardeau is poised to embark on a $34 million flood-control project; the Corps of Engineers and city engineering department yesterday held a pre-bid conference with area contractors interested in the first segment of the Cape LaCroix Creek and Walker Branch project.

1966

Cable television, sure to draw considerable attention from city officials in the weeks to come, was largely passed over last night by the city council; Mayor J. Ronald Fischer said the council would defer the discussion until the full body was present; the council has had three requests for a cable TV franchise to serve the community.

Byford L. Lowry, 39, of Cape Girardeau is injured in the morning, when his light airplane crashes into a field near Fruitland on the farm of Joe Mathews.

1941

Rapid progress is being made on government housing projects in Cairo, Illinois, according to Cape Girardeau city commissioners Phillip Steck and Raymond E. Beckman, who were in Cairo yesterday to view the projects; one unit will house white families, and the other is for blacks, with the buildings replacing facilities that are unsanitary and out of date.

The city of Cape Girardeau has ordered a water slide and a new diving tower to be installed at the swimming pool in Capaha Park, which is to be opened about June 1; the tower base will be more than nine feet high, and will be set in the concrete at the edge of the pool; the slide will be 11 1/2 feet high.

1916

The Council of Women's Clubs, those ladies who are spearheading the move for a public library in Cape Girardeau, met last night; several matters were brought up and voted on, including whether the organization should consider individual membership; this was discussed and approved by a vote; individual membership fees will be $1.

The ordinance calling for a special election for expanding the city limits on the north, west and south ends was read for the third time at the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting last night; however, the issue failed to pass, and the city limits will remain the same.

-- Sharon K. Sanders