Out of the past: May 3

1991

Practical and Professional Written Communication, a class at Southeast Missouri State University, wants the Cape Girardeau City Council to ban smoking in grocery stores. Michael Hogan, who teaches the class, explains students have worked all semester to develop a report supporting their proposal. The proposed ordinance will be submitted to the council Monday.

The first-ever Cape Shrine Club Rodeo begins in the evening at Arena Park. The rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and includes bull riding, saddle-bronc riding, bareback riding, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.

1966

The Jackson City Council last night awarded a contract for a 400,000-gallon water tower to the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. for $94,400.

BENTON, Mo. -- The proposed reorganization of Scott County schools into two districts is defeated by a large margin in both of the proposed districts. Voters in the proposed northern district -- Illmo, Scott City, Chaffee, Oran, Benton and Kelso -- defeat the proposal for the merger 2,425 to 334; patrons in the proposed southern district -- Morley and Sikeston -- vote down the merger 1,801 to 916.

1941

Heavy damage was done to the American White Cross Laboratories Inc. medical cotton processing plant, 1 College St., when fire gutted a portion of the building overnight. The blaze broke out shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, and firefighters remained at the plant until 6 a.m. today. Much of the processed and partially-processed cotton was burned. A variety of machines were damaged by heat and water.

Two thousand persons looked on approvingly as 600 Boy Scouts and Cubs of Southeast Missouri staged their first merit-badge show last night in the spacious Arena Building.

1916

A report from the chief of the inspectors who recently examined all business houses in Cape Girardeau to discover fire hazards is received from the St. Louis office of the inspecting bureau. The report, which is furnished to insurance agents, lists each property by address and the hazards found. The Daily Republican newspaper office is listed as well: "223-25 Broadway -- Gasoline, defective wiring, rubbish."

The petition for the continuance of his saloon is granted by the County Court to John L. Miller, pioneer saloon man of Cape Girardeau. This is the first time in many years -- more than a quarter of a century at least -- that any question has been raised over Miller's petition because of his standing in the community.

-- Sharon K. Sanders