Out of the past: Nov. 26

1990

OLD APPLETON, Mo. -- No more progress can be made on restoring the flood-damaged Old Appleton bridge until the volunteer project receives a donated hydraulic crane; nearly eight years into the restoration effort, the overall bridge is 45 to 50 percent rebuilt, while its main span is about 60 percent rebuilt.

Southeast Missouri State University president Kala Stroup speaks to members of the Missouri Business and Education Partnership Commission in opposition to a proposal to revamp Missouri's higher education system; she and others maintain the plan could threaten institutional autonomy and limit the ability of Southeast to meet regional needs.

1965

Jolly old Santa Claus lands in a helicopter in the morning at Town Plaza Shopping Center, much to the delight of the 700 children on hand to greet him; after the helicopter lands, Santa is mobbed by the children as he gives out lollipops.

The new service center of 12,000 square feet for the Missouri Utilities Co. on Minnesota Avenue has been completed, and the firm is occupying it; a building formerly used by the company at Morgan Oak and South Frederick streets has been abandoned, and the old trolley car barn on North Main Street has been all but abandoned.

1940

Acting at the reported request of the federal government, the Cape Girardeau City Council in a brief special session adopts a resolution formally offering the government a tract in the heart of Courthouse Park as the site for the new post office; hearing of the resolution, members of the County Court speak out against the trade; it is the court's position the park is county property.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Randol, who supervise the County Home, have transferred their 85-acre farm, adjoining the G.B. Schulz commercial orchard three miles east of Jackson, to W.B. Talley and H.L. Talley and their wives of Jackson; with this sale, the place passes out of the hands of the Randol family, which had owned it more than 100 years.

1915

Area editors are attending the annual meeting of the Southeast Missouri Press Association, the sessions being held in the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club rooms.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Armour George is resting well, after his leg was broken Friday night in the pool hall in his building on Yoakum Avenue; George was struck by a pool ball thrown in a fight between two men; George was formerly an engineer for the Frisco, but lost an arm in an accident at Commerce, Missouri, several years ago; since then, he has been in business here and now is running a garage.

-- Sharon K. Sanders