Out of the past: May 17

1990

Cape Girardeau County Highway Department officials are busy surveying damage to county roads and bridges after last night's torrential rain; while the county missed the tornadoes and thunderstorms that pummeled other parts of the region, it was deluged with heavy rain and intense lighting that knocked out power in some areas for several hours.

Members of the Downtown Merchants Association have endorsed a Lorimier Street exit as part of the new Mississippi River bridge route; merchants favor the Lorimier Street route over an alternate exit at Fountain Street.

1965

Area Jaycee members made an impressive showing at the Missouri Jaycee Convention in St Louis over the weekend, gaining numerous honors; Gary Cooper of Marble Hill, Missouri, was elected president of the Missouri Jaycees, the first state president from Southeast Missouri; Harold Kuehle of Cape Girardeau was elected one of six Missouri National Directors to serve on the U.S. Jaycees Board of Directors.

Dr. Harold O. Grauel, chairman of the State College English Department, speaks to honor students at an assembly at Academic Auditorium; seniors graduating with honors are presented red cords signifying high academic achievement; special mention is made of Audrey Reynolds, who is expected to be the first woman in college history to graduate with a straight A average.

1940

Angle parking of automobiles on the south side of Themis Street between Spanish and Water streets, on the south side of Broadway between Main and Water streets and on the west side of Frederick Street between Good Hope and Morgan Oak streets has been abolished by police.

Cape Girardeau and Jackson leaders organize a permanent committee for the purpose of selecting and acquiring a site for a major airport in this county; Dr. Rusby Seabaugh of Jackson is named chairman.

1915

The city council discusses the amount of the bond issue that the people will be asked to vote upon; while the council has adopted a committee report recommending the purchase of the fairgrounds for $30,000, the issue now is how much additional money should be asked for in order to improve other city-owned property.

The Conroy Piano House opens for business in the morning at the corner of Broadway and Spanish Street; the room, which had been occupied as a drugstore, is filled with pianos of various kinds.

-- Sharon K. Sanders