Out of the past: Oct. 18

1991

Training for volunteer and some paid firefighters in the state may be reduced sharply because of state budget cuts. The cuts would affect mainly small-town and rural fire departments in Southeast Missouri that have limited budgets. The cuts also may affect future attendance at the Southeast Missouri Regional Fire School, held in October in Cape Girardeau County.

Lewis M. Blanton of Benton, Missouri, is sworn in as U.S. Magistrate for the Eastern District of Missouri during ceremonies in the Federal Building in Cape Girardeau. He has been Scott County associate circuit judge since 1979.

1966

Cape Girardeau's citizen-led strides in government, industry and civic development over the previous year have won it a place among 22 finalists in the All-America City competition. The National Municipal League and Look Magazine annually co-sponsor the contest to recognize cities where citizen action has led to major improvements in government, education, business, industry and other areas.

Members of the Breakfast Optimist Club in Cape Girardeau begin selling fruitcakes as a fundraising effort. The cakes will be sold until Christmas.

1941

Because lumber is bringing an attractive price, logs buried in rivers or ponds for years -- some possibly a century -- are being salvaged and sawed into boards. Some of the logs being lifted by derrick from the water of the lower Black River, south of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, are thought to have been submerged between 75 or 100 years. They include oak, cypress and other species.

Improvements are being made at the Consolidated School of Aviation on Highway 74, which will make the airfield capable of accommodating larger planes. Missouri Utilities Co. is moving power lines back from the highway to the hills west of the port. Preparations are being made to move a barn on the site and tear down fences to enlarge the airport.

1916

A farmer going into Oran, Missouri, early yesterday morning to trade found a dog on the highway dragging the leg of a human body. This led to the discovery of the body of George Eberhart on the Iron Mountain tracks in the center of the town a short time later. Eberhart farmed on the Charles Adams place, two miles northwest of Oran. He leaves a wife and nine children.

The millinery shop of Florence Boone will be moved Thursday from the Elks Building to Main Street, next to the new Buckner-Ragsdale store. The new location has been remodeled in colors of gray and old rose.

-- Sharon K. Sanders