Out of the past: Jan. 12

1991

Thirty-eight Seabees, a construction unit that trains at the Cape Girardeau Naval Reserve Center, leave here as a step toward deployment in the Persian Gulf. The group leaves by chartered bus for St. Louis, where it will board a plane en route to Port Hueneme, California.

Congressmen in Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri vote on opposite sides of a resolution to give President Bush authority to send U.S. forces into combat against Iraq. Missouri Congressman Bill Emerson is one of the 250 who vote to grant war authority to the president. Glenn Poshard of Illinois votes against the resolution.

1966

A study conducted by Rod Schwartz, public library consultant with the Missouri State Library, shows the space needed at the Cape Girardeau Public Library is three times greater than now exists. The seating capacity at the library will be reduced even further in the next six months, when new stacks are added.

Ceremonies marking the opening of the new Harris Dodge Truck Center, Independence Street and Highway 61, are attended by trucking industry executives, fleet owners and civic officials from Missouri and adjacent states. Owner of the new distribution center is Charles N. Harris.

1941

Despite unfavorable weather, considerable progress was made during the past week on two new church buildings under construction in Cape Girardeau. About half of the brick walls has been put on the Assembly of God Church, South Sprigg and Hickory streets. All of the wall construction on the new Church of the Nazarene, South Park Avenue and Merriwether Street, has been completed, and the roof is in the final stages of construction.

The youth of St. Vincent's Parish have formed a new organization, "St. Vincent's Young People's Club." Officers are Dick Guenther, president; Viola Dohogne, vice president; Dorothy Beckman, secretary-treasurer; and Beatrice McCart, reporter.

1916

D'Nean Stafford of Seneca, Missouri, was elected president of the First National Bank yesterday, succeeding W.B. Schaefer, who came to Cape Girardeau from Jackson a year or so ago when the bank started up again after being in the hands of a government for insolvency.

Robert Lamkin, manager of the Buckner-Ragsdale store here, has signed a contract for the rebuilding of their store room, which will make it one of the most attractive stores in town. The main feature will be the new front.

-- Sharon K. Sanders