Out of the past: Sept. 4

1999

​The Missouri Legislature may win the veto showdown with Gov. Mel Carnahan over the anti-abortion bill; in state Sen. Peter Kinder’s view, the outcome could hinge on the votes of half a dozen state senators, including Jerry Howard of Dexter and Danny Staples of Eminence; the veto session starts Sept. 15 and could last several days.

Taking a lesson from comedian Jeff Foxworthy and his “You might be a Redneck if…” routine, the Southeast Missourian newspaper has launched a new contest that will earn the winner $1,000 in West Park Mall gift certificates; contestants are urged to enter one-liners in the “You are so Swampeast Missouri if…” contest.

1974

​Using Southeast Missouri State University’s 1973 head count as a guideline, enrollment in Cape Girardeau’s schools yesterday totaled 14,058, a decrease of 29 from the 14,087 enrolled on a similar date last year; Tuesday was opening day for the public schools’ 1974-1975 academic year, and the attendance was 4,889, including kindergarten pupils; last year, 4,927 reported to the public schools on the first day, or 38 more than were counted yesterday; most other schools began the new term in late August.

The special election on the proposed issuance of $2.5 million in municipal industrial revenue bonds for expansion of Hardware Wholesalers Inc. facility on Nash Road is expected to be held on the last Thursday of this month; an ordinance calling the election for Sept. 26 is on the agenda for consideration at tonight’s Cape Girardeau City Council study session.

1949

​The Rev. Tom K. Simms, for the past four years district missionary of the Cape-Stoddard County Baptist Association, has taken steps to reach more people through preaching the gospel; he has resigned his position as missionary here and has entered the evangelistic field; Simms will maintain his residence in Cape Girardeau, but will be on call to any place in the Southern Baptist Convention to conduct revivals and evangelistic services, using his art training to illustrate his sermons.

This evening’s services of West Side Church of God will be the last to be held in the Mission Hall, 421 Broadway; the pastor, the Rev. E.C. Fisher, says the congregation will attend services in the basement of the church building under construction at 2222 Bloomfield St. in the future; without any ceremony, the cornerstone for the new structure was laid Friday.

1924

​The Cape Girardeau County Court, in session yesterday at Jackson, ordered county engineer Charles Bollinger to receive bids at once for the graveling of Hobbs Hill, on the lower Bend Road, six miles north of Cape Girardeau; a distance of 1,400 feet is to be graveled to a depth of 6 inches, and the roadway will be 12 feet in width; when completed, farmers living in the vicinity of Egypt Mills and Neely’s Landing will enjoy an all-the-year highway to Cape Girardeau.

Work on the new steel and concrete bridge over Sloan Creek at Chestnut Street is progressing steadily, and it is planned to have the span open for traffic by Oct. 1, according to W.F. Bergman, township special district road commissioner; the reinforced concrete buttresses at each end of the bridge are in place, and wooden false-work has been set up preparatory to placing the steel girders, which are now being assembled.

Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a blog called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper. Check out her blog at www.semissourian.com/history.