Out of the past: Dec. 9

1990

Longtime Cape Girardeau lawyer, civic leader and aviation pioneer Rush H. Limbaugh Jr., died here yesterday after a lengthy illness; he was 72.

Members of the outgoing and incoming board of directors of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce met Friday and Saturday for an annual retreat to review the past year and look ahead to the new one; elected to serve as chairman of the board for 1991 was Harry Rust, succeeding Larry Payne.

1965

Common Pleas Courthouse and the stairs leading from the east portico to Spanish Street are decked out in gay holiday dress beneath a large, light-outlined star on the building's cupola; the effect at night is striking, with colored lights marching up the steps and large lighted Christmas wreathes hanging from the portico.

The Harris Motor Car Co. is winding up its business at 232 Broadway, as it prepares to move to quarters on Independence at Highway 61.

1940

Caught in a general federal budget order halting further public building projects so the money can be spent on national defense, an appropriation of $430,000 to build a new post office in Cape Girardeau has been withdrawn; soon after receiving the news, the city council adopted a resolution repealing its previous action offering the government a site in Courthouse Park for the post office.

Taking heed of a communication from state military draft headquarters, the Cape Girardeau County Draft Board prepares to move into high gear to classify the top 20 percent of the 4,600 registrants of the county by Jan. 1.

1915

The Cape Girardeau Commercial Cub will have two important proposals to consider at its next meeting; the Cape Mill Manufacturing Co., maker of flour mills, is seeking larger quarters, having outgrown the former wheelbarrow factory in which it is now located; in addition, M.D. Miesner, president of the Miesner Manufacturing Co., would like to relocate his factory here from Wittenberg, Missouri, where he produces high-grade lawn furniture.

When Martin Lorberg files suit against J.B. Knight for $22 in Justice of the Peace W.H. Willer's court, it makes 6,000 cases the venerable justice has recorded on his books during his incumbency in that office; Willer was elected justice of the peace of Cape Girardeau Township in November 1890, and has been returned to office at every election since.

-- Sharon K. Sanders