History in the News
-
Out of the past: July 13 (7/15/24)The Mississippi County commissioners have delayed the completion date of the Mississippi County Courthouse at Charleston for a third time because of difficulties with receiving supplies; the delay won’t cost the contractor because the county didn’t include a time-delay clause in its contract; most recently, delays in receiving the limestone needed for the building’s exterior have kept the general contractor, C.A. Walker Construction Co., from completing work on the outside of the structure...
-
Out of the past: July 14 (7/15/24)Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan’s decision to veto the partial birth abortion bill leaves local anti-abortion supporters upset; Carnahan called the bill “deceptive and extreme” because he said it went beyond banning partial birth abortions. Peach production in Missouri may be down this year, but the 7.5 million to 8 million pounds expected to be harvested should make a good crop; David Diebold of Diebold Orchards near Benton says, “The taste is great. ...
-
Out of the Past: July 15 (7/15/24)A new kind of student housing likely will be coming to Cape Girardeau; without fanfare or controversy, the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission last night gave its consent for the rezoning of an 11-acre tract at the northeast corner of Bertling and North Sprigg streets; Place Collegiate Property is buying the land from the Cape Girardeau School District and will construct eight apartment buildings for student housing. ...
-
The allure of a mystery box (7/13/24)Marybeth NiederkornAt the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center in Jackson, we never know who will walk through the door with an intriguing document or item — and in this case, it was Doris Dace, a friend who is on the board at Old McKendree Church in Jackson and is generally very knowledgeable about local history. On this particular Monday, Doris brought us a small, lightweight wooden box, kidney shaped, roughly 6 by 3 inches, with a small drawer. “Cape Girardeau MO” was drawn across the top, with a sketch of three yellow roses in the middle. Then, Doris showed me, under the drawer was an inscription reading “From Noah to Cassa, 9-1-41.”
-
Out of the Past: July 12 (7/12/24)Lower humidity and a stellar card of attractions boosted attendance numbers at the second annual Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival; airport manager Bruce Loy estimates the air show drew between 9,000 and 10,000 spectators; gate figures aren’t yet available; last year, poor weather prevented some planes from flying in. ...
-
Out of the Past: July 11 (7/11/24)Members of Christ Presbyterian Church recently held a groundbreaking and dedication service at a construction site along Lexington Avenue; the church plans to build a 3,000-square-foot worship and education building; the congregation bought the 8-acre site nearly eight years and has raised money and planned for construction the past four years. ...
-
Out of the Past: July 10 (7/10/24)Cimarron Boardman quit playing football after his freshman year, an astonishing decision for a student at pigskin-loving Jackson High School; he just didn’t want to risk an injury that would end his ride on the rodeo way of life; the 18-year-old Boardman left Friday on a rodeo trip that eventually will take him to the National High School Rodeo Championship in Gillette, Wyoming; he earned the right to go by winning the Missouri high school calf roping championship last month in Ozark. ....
-
Former US Sen. Jim Inhofe, defense hawk who called human-caused climate change a 'hoax,' dies at 89 (7/10/24)Associated PressOKLAHOMA CITY — Former Sen. Jim Inhofe, a conservative known for his strong support of defense spending and his denial that human activity is responsible for the bulk of climate change, has died. He was 89. Inhofe, a powerful fixture in Oklahoma politics for over six decades, died Tuesday morning after suffering a stroke during the July Fourth holiday, his family said in a statement...
-
MARSgrams and memories: Enduring legacy of military auxiliary radio in connecting families (7/9/24)By Keenan Baker ~ Southeast MissourianAt first glance, the two messages, hand-written on a government-issued, letter-sized piece of paper, are unremarkable. “Received your package. Its appreciated. Many Thanks. I am fine.” “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I love you. Give my love to all.” For Mark Steiner, the few sentences he could send his mother were far more important than their inauspicious nature implied. ...
-
Out of the Past: July 9 (7/9/24)The 1999 Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival, which will be held this week, got an early start yesterday with a memorial service at Cape County Park North, attended by about 80 people; in keeping with the theme of the show — “Heroes and Legends” — Specialist Burt Lehman, a Vietnam veteran, declared “Every soldier is entitled to one certainty, that they will always be remembered. On the whole, the country has failed to honor that certainty.” ...
-
Out of the Past: July 8 (7/8/24)Interstate 55 overpass bridges at the Fruitland interchange will be replaced in the first phase of highway improvements associated with the Procter & Gamble expansion; a construction contract has been awarded to Penzel Construction Company, Inc., of Jackson for $3,295,745, and includes replacement of both existing I-55 overpass bridges over U.S. 61; work is expected to begin in September. ...
-
Out of the past: July 7 (7/7/24)Three cases of Hepatitis A were confirmed from a Cape Girardeau County day care, but county health officials say the outbreak was quickly contained thanks to prompt reporting by the day care; Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, says one adult and two children at Little Rascal’s day care had the infection...
-
Online resources for genealogy III (7/6/24)Bill EddlemanComprehensive websites go beyond a focus on specific types of records. Most require a fee for full usage — either an annual subscription or for use during a set time. Genealogists should check local libraries to see if they have a subscription and/or provide an access code for patrons.
-
Bataan Death March (Part 2) (7/6/24)David DickeySoutheast Missouri State University professor of military history Art Mattingly, retired, had the opportunity to interview several of the survivors of the Bataan Death March. He said he found two consistent comments from those interviewed. All said they were captured, and they didn’t surrender. And the other comment was they believed the U.S. Army let them down by not sending reinforcements and supplies.
-
Out of the past: July 5 (7/5/24)** 1999 The Cape Girardeau city engineering department didn’t have to look too far to find a replacement for a supervisor’s position as they promoted one of their engineers; Melanie Gertis takes over the job of Civil Engineer II and is in charge of the city’s design office; she will take over the duties for city engineer Mark Lester when he is out of town...
-
Out of the past: July 4 (7/4/24)Cape Girardeau residents kicked off Independence Day celebrations a day early with a parade and a host of activities at Arena Park; the festivities continue, with numerous activities and several bands scheduled for the third annual celebration sponsored by theVFW Post 3838, including a fireworks display at 9 p.m.; parade marshal for yesterday’s motorcade was U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson...
-
Out of the Past: July 3 (7/3/24)The Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau won’t close July 25 as earlier anticipated; the soonest the bridge could close for repairs is mid-August; on Friday, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission didn’t award a construction contract for improvements to the existing bridge; the project involves replacing the asphalt driving surface of the bridge deck; only one bid was received for the work, and it was considerably higher than anticipated. ...
-
Out of the Past: July 2 (7/2/24)R.L. Persons Construction Co. yesterday began losing $300 a day for missing its Wednesday deadline to complete construction of Blanchard Elementary School; the company must repay the Cape Girardeau School District for each day required for completion of the school under a contract clause regarding liquidated damages. ...
-
Out of the Past: July 1 (7/1/24)Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus would blend the old brick seminary with an addition and a separate horseshoe-shaped museum; the university’s Board of Regents yesterday reviewed the preliminary design with representatives of Sverdrup, the St. Louis architectural and engineering firm hired to draw up plans for the $35.6 million project; the regents voiced enthusiasm over the proposed design, which was displayed in a drawing and in a model layout. ...
-
Out of the past: June 30 (6/30/24)An 85-mile stretch of Highway 34 from Cape Girardeau to near Van Buren could be widened, straightened and improved into a “super two” highway; the highway would still be two lanes, but would be better designed to handle traffic; the Missouri Department of Transportation is paying $1.8 million to a St. Louis engineering firm to study traffic patterns and develop a plan to improve Highway 34 through Southeast Missouri...
-
The Lail Family Saga from Kentucky to Missouri (6/29/24)Beverly HahsOn Jan. 16, 1941 Edward D. Hays published an article in The Southeast Missourian titled, “Louis Lorimier Was Not the First White Resident in the Cape District". A popular attorney, Edward Hays was mayor of Jackson from 1903-1907. He was elected Probate Judge of Cape County 1907-1918. Later, the old 14th Missouri district elected him U. S.. Congressman to go to Washington D. C. Before the move, he lived his whole life in Cape Girardeau County. Hays was a student of history. While researching history for his work, “Life of Louis Lorimer", Hays became engrossed in the story of the Lail family.
-
Out of the Past: June 28 (6/28/24)Hooks, sonar and divers probed the bottom of Bella Vista Lake off Highway 177 east of Fruitland for most of Sunday searching or the body of Brad Reddick; it was located shortly before 10 p.m.; Reddick, 23, of Jackson had been swimming with two friends when for unexplained reasons he disappeared under the water. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 27 (6/27/24)Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel breaks ground for a new education building in the morning between worship services; the new, 5,500-square-foot building will house classrooms and a nursery; a new wing will be added to form a new entrance to the church; a parking lot also will be expanded as part of the project; Good Shepherd members will work with Laborers for Christ, an organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, to finish the construction. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 26 (6/26/24)U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchison, the lone undisputed GOP hero of the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, was the main attraction last night at a fund-raising dinner and reception for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau; more than 100 persons attended the reception at the home of Dr. and Mrs. C.R. Talbert Jr., and 50 paid $250 per couple for a private dinner afterward. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 25 (6/25/24)Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle will decide by Monday whether to charge a man who shot and killed a neighbor he says he thought was trying to break into his South Spanish Street house; police say intoxication and a climate of fear created by the proximity of suspected serial killer Rafael Resendez-Ramirez may have played rolls in the shooting late Wednesday night that left 44-year-old Debra Ann Poch dead. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 24 (6/24/24)It was months in the making, but the panelists last night all agree that a forum on diversity couldn’t come at a better time; the People-to-People forum was planned long before the June 11 melee on Good Hope Street, but it became the focal point as the place to begin to bring about better community relations; about 50 persons gathered at the Show Me Center to participate in a discussion of how to bring better communication between people with diverse backgrounds; the event was co-sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Multicultural Committee and Southeast Missouri State University. ...
-
Out of the past: June 23 (6/23/24)Southeast Missouri State University officials couldn’t be happier with the university’s $527 million share of the state budget; the funding includes $4.6 million for its River Campus project; Gov. Mel Carnahan signed the $16.2 billion state budget yesterday...
-
‘The walls caved out’: My family’s experience in the 1949 tornado (6/22/24)Bill EddlemanMost accounts of the Cape Girardeau 1949 tornado understandably focus on the devastating effects in Marble City Heights and Red Star. The area where the storm first touched down west of town receives less attention. I grew up hearing about the storm, which destroyed my grandparents’ house. Even though I was not born until 3 1/2 years after the tornado, and my dad, Rodney J. Eddleman, was serving in the U. S. Marine Corps at the time, I have heard stories from relatives.
-
Out of the Past: June 21 (6/21/24)Fishermen in Cape Girardeau County call Lake Girardeau at Crump “the Dead Sea”; Doug Flannery of Whitewater blames the Missouri Department of Conservation for the lake’s problems; he contends the agency has done a poor job of managing the 162-acre lake; Flannery says, “It’s fished out and they (the Conservation Department) are doing nothing to help it”; department officials, however, insist the lake is in good shape, both for fish and fishermen. ...
-
Donald Sutherland, the towering actor whose career spanned 'M.A.S.H.' to 'Hunger Games,' dies at 88 (6/21/24)Associated PressNEW YORK — Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” has died. He was 88. Sutherland died Thursday in Miami after a long illness, according to a statement from Creative Artists Agency, which represented him...
-
Out of the Past: June 20 (6/20/24)Robyn Hosp, a consummate professional used to performing in front of audiences large and small, admits she was nervous when she stepped on the Show Me Center stage yesterday afternoon to perform in the Heartland Homecoming ’99 talent shootout; however, Hosp prevailed, taking first place in the competition that featured dozens of professional gospel performers; the Gaither Video Artists production drew of a crowd of 3,172 to Cape Girardeau. ...
-
On Juneteenth, monument dedicated in Alabama to those who endured slavery (6/20/24)Associated PressMONTGOMERY, Ala. — Thousands of surnames grace the towering monument, representing the more than 4 million enslaved people who were freed after the Civil War. The Equal Justice Initiative, a criminal justice reform nonprofit, invoked the Juneteenth holiday — the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. — on Wednesday as it dedicated its National Monument to Freedom...
-
Blanks plan new developments to revitalize historic Cape Girardeau neighborhood (6/19/24)By Christoper Borro ~ Southeast MissourianA Cape Girardeau couple is about to break ground on an endeavor to redevelop a long-neglected part of the city’s historic downtown. Scott Blank and his wife, Lisa, own Bi-State Oil Co. in Cape Girardeau, operating a pair of Southern Convenience stores and gas stations in the city. Both are Southeast Missouri State University graduates, and Scott Blank’s family has a long history in a section of southeastern Cape Girardeau known as the Haarig Commercial District...
-
Out of the Past: June 19 (6/19/24)Something new is growing in Southern Illinois this year: rice; “We have a lot of water over there,” says Blake Gerard, who farms more than 1,300 acres in an area between Cape Girardeau and McClure, and “I decided to take advantage of it; Gerard’s 40-acre field of rice is alongside Highway 3, just north of the Highway 146 intersection; it is the farthest north of any rice crop in the United States. ...
-
Willie Mays, Giants’ electrifying ‘Say Hey Kid,’ has died at 93 (6/19/24)Associated PressWillie Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, has died. He was 93. Mays' family and the San Francisco Giants jointly announced Tuesday night he had died earlier in the afternoon...
-
Out of the Past: June 18 (6/18/24)The FBI will conduct an independent investigation into a clash between police and a crowd of about 150 that occurred a week ago, says Rick Hetzel, Cape Girardeau police chief; no timetable has been set for when the FBI will begin its work, but Hetzel says it should start relatively soon; the FBI will be looking into possible legal and civil rights violations from the near riot in the 400 block of Good Hope Street that resulted in nine arrests and injuries to six officers. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 17 (6/17/24)A complaint has been filed with the Cape Girardeau Police Department regarding police behavior during the arrest of two brothers in an incident that turned into a melee Friday morning; Rose Campbell, sister of the men, filed the complaint, which was forwarded to Police Chief Rick Hetzel; she also filed federal complaints with the Department of Justice and FBI alleging unnecessary verbal and physical abuse by officers during the incident that occurred in the 300 block of Good Hope Street ...
-
Out of the past: June 16 (6/16/24)Around 300 concerned citizens gathered last night at St. James AME Church to discuss the future of race relations in Cape Girardea; prompted by Friday morning’s melee involving 150 people on Good Hope Street, representatives of the Cape Girardeau Police Department wouldn’t talk about the altercation at the gathering; but South Cape Girardeau residents vented their frustrations on how the police operate in their neighborhoods; Friday’s altercation followed the arrest of a man on Good Hope after he allegedly tried to hit an officer.. ...
-
Freedom seekers (6/15/24)Juneteenth is an occasion to celebrate freedom and think of those in Missouri, until 1865, for whom freedom was “not yet.” This account of freedom-seekers took place in Cape Girardeau while slavery was fraying. History-curious readers have been introduced to Peter and Zerilda Byrne by way of Beverly Hahs’s two-part series in this space April 27 and May 25. ...
-
Out of the past: June 15 (6/15/24)Old Town Cape, the name selected for the local Main Street program that covers a wide area of downtown Cape Girardeau, has applied for membership in the National Main Street Network and the Missouri Main Street program; OTC is seeking volunteers for the organization...
-
Out of the Past: June 14 (6/14/24)No one knows about the origins of the street, but one thing city officials do know is that Walnut Street is falling apart; situated between Commercial Street and South Kingshighway, a 300-foot stretch of road is causing major problems for Motorsports Unlimited and Gary’s Car and Truck Sales; both businesses sell vehicles that get covered with dust from the dirt road every day and frequently need to be cleaned to entice sales; no one seems to know who built the road, and because its origins are murky, no one know who is responsible for maintaining it. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 13 (6/13/24)The Rev. Hugh V. Stewart begins his new duties as interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau; he served 11 years as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Rolla; he and his wife, Pat, have two daughters and two grandchildren. ...
-
Civil War fountain reassembled in front of City Hall (6/12/24)By Bob Miller ~ Southeast MissourianWorkers reassemble the Civil War fountain Tuesday, June 11, at Ivers Square near Cape Girardeau City Hall. The statue, taken down March 4 to refurbish the monument, dates to 2003, but the monument itself was erected in 1911.
-
Juneteenth brings together Cape Girardeau community on the national holiday (6/12/24)By Nathan Gladden ~ Southeast MissourianJuneteenth will be celebrated Saturday, June 15, throughout Cape Girardeau with many events, including the annual Juneteenth celebration at Ivers Square...
-
Shady Grove Cemetery trustees, descendants to gather for family reunion (6/12/24)By Christopher Borro ~ Southeast MissourianThe trustees of a historic Cape Girardeau County cemetery are once again hosting a family reunion to celebrate their ancestors and get to know distant relatives...
-
Out of the Past: June 12 (6/12/24)An altercation between a motorist and a Cape Girardeau police officer early yesterday led to a melee in the 300 block of Good Hope Street as customers were leaving the Taste Restaurant and Lounge; angry spectators threw rocks, bricks and cinder blocks at officers that converged on the scene; five officers and a Southeast Missouri State University officer were injured; eight persons were arrested in connection with the incident, including two Cape Girardeau brothers who fought with police. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 11 (6/11/24)The Scott County Commission may propose a capital improvement sales tax to fund a new county jail, courthouse repairs and road and bridge improvements; Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel says the commission is exploring the idea but isn’t close to making a decision. ...
-
Out of the Past: June 10 (6/10/24)The Procter & Gamble Co. has announced details of its five-year, far-reaching, strategic plan to carry the company into its next phase of “Organization 2005”; during the process, which will increase long-term annual sales growth 6% to 8%, 15,000 jobs will be eliminated over the next six years — about 13% of the work force — and 10 plants may be closed; “We see no immediate or planned impact on the Cape Girardeau County facility,” a company spokesman said. ...
-
Out of the past: June 9 (6/9/24)Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council will spend more than three-quarters of a million dollars this fiscal year in hopes of strengthening local families and encouraging service agencies to work together; the council will receive $627,456 from the state budget to fund projects; it also has been given $148,142 through House Bill 1519, and the department of Social Services and Child Support Enforcement has awarded it $6,571...
-
ID Friday (6/8/24)Marybeth NiederkornNothing strikes dread into the heart of a historian like the question “What do I do with these unidentified photographs?”, because the answer is generally “Make your best guess and keep the ones you have an idea about, ask your older relatives if they know anything, but there generally isn’t an easy way to figure it out.” Telling that to a person who is usually grieving the loss of a loved one, bringing home to them that they haven’t just lost a loved one, they’ve also lost untold stories and so much family history -- it’s not my favorite, and it happens with depressing regularity.