Out of the past: Sept. 18

1993

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- About 300 weary residents, tired of fighting floodwaters for weeks on end, relax together at the Ste. Genevieve High School football field; a group of residents organized the county-wide picnic to thank the flood workers.

Amid fall-like temperatures, the 138th edition of the SEMO District Fair wraps up with an antique tractor pull in the morning and country singer Collin Raye performing at the grandstand in the evening; today's good weather brings out the crowds, a stark contrast to the middle of the week, when bad weather kept attendance down.

1968

An enthusiastic, cheering crowd hears George C. Wallace, third-party candidate for president, speak at the grandstand in Arena Park; he promises to return to the people the right to control their schools, their children, certain aspects of labor unions and their properties; the audience, conservatively estimated at 6,000, is made up of persons from over the Bootheel area, considered a key section in the overall state political picture.

The Cape Girardeau City Council takes another step for an addition to and renovation of the terminal building at the municipal airport, giving first-round approval to the city engineer's plans, specifications and estimate of $124,920 for the airport project.

1943

Freddie Joe Bollinger, 3, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ancle Bollinger of near Millersville, was found late Thursday after being lost several hours; the child strolled from home and, when missed, a search was started that included the pupils from Big Spring School, who were dismissed early to help look for the boy; Norman Willer found him a mile from home beside a country road picking up walnuts; the boy said he had started for his grandmother's house, but missed the road.

Beginning this week, the payroll at the shoe factory here, for the first time in many years, will be issued on a weekly basis rather than every two weeks; work at the plant was suspended at the close of the workday Thursday until Monday because of a shortage of materials.

1918

When the special Frisco train leaves for Sikeston, Missouri, two companies of Home Guards from Cape Girardeau County entrain; there are 80 men in each company going to take part in the patriotic exercises scheduled for the Sikeston Fair's entertainment.

The astonishing news has come to the people of Jackson, and especially to the members of the McKendree M.E. Church, that the bishop has ordered the Rev. Dr. C.M. Hawkins to another conference; he will be relocated to Springfield, Missouri.

-- Sharon K. Sanders