Out of the past: Jan. 29

1991

Two candidates filed for seats on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education yesterday, a day before the filing deadline; Daniel Dunavan filed for a three-year term, while Sandy Bonner filed for a one-year, unexpired term.

Security was tight Monday at the Federal Building as jury selection began in the trial of five defendants accused of drugs and weapons violations as a result of an investigation into a Bootheel motorcycle group; trial proceedings begin this morning.

1966

Winter plunged its sharpest dagger of the season into Southeast Missouri yesterday and this morning, first dusting the area with a light snow and then sending temperatures to sub-zero weather for the first time this year.

Firemen, hampered by below-zero temperatures, are unable to save the contents of a single-story frame house in a fire at 1230 S. Ranney St. in the morning; water pumps on two trucks from Fire Station No. 1 freeze, forcing the men to call for a truck from Station No. 2; a water hydrant near the house also is frozen; the resident of the house, Mary Niswonger, is treated for minor bruises and burns at a local hospital and released.

1941

Remodeling work begins on the revamping of the second floor of the Playdium, 115 Themis St., for conversion into a short-wave sending and receiving station for the National Youth Administration; the national defense project ultimately will employ 50 young men, paying them $16 for a 64-hour month; a girls' project, which would have employed between 250 and 300 young women of Cape Girardeau at a salary scale of $16 per month each, has been deferred, perhaps for good.

Looking to possible construction of a dwelling on Rockwood Place, near West End Boulevard, Eddie Erlbacher is having soundings made there to make sure stone will not be encountered in the excavation of a basement.

1916

At a recent meeting of the Retail Merchants' Association, a resolution was adopted unanimously calling for the city council to put the wood-block street paving in good condition immediately and also to see that the street cleaners don't leave piles of dirt on the pavement day after day, but haul refuse away promptly.

The smokehouse at the home of the late Judge R.G. Ranney on North Main Street was visited by robbers some time after darkness last night; the thieves made off with four of the choicest hams and one fine shoulder.

-- Sharon K. Sanders