1989

A group of people opposed to construction of a recreational lake in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties has concluded that more opponents must be found, if the lake is to be stopped; the group agreed that the 160 landowners who would be directly affected by the lake should be polled on their positions.

Winter returned with a vengeance in the Cape Girardeau area yesterday, ending what had been spring-like November weather; temperatures plunged 34 degrees in 26 hours and snow flurries fell.

1964

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- District foresters warn that the few light drizzles that have fallen in the six-county Perryville Fire District will do little to control the danger of fires; the drizzles, high humidity and overcast skies yesterday combined to prevent forest fires from breaking out, but firefighters are still working to keep a 600-acre blaze in Ste. Genevieve County under control.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education voices concern over bids on proposed work at the old Junior High School; Hal B. Lehman, director of buildings and grounds, and architect Fred Dormeyer Jr. tell the board that all the bids appear to be higher than expected.

1939

In accordance with the new date set by President Roosevelt and approved by Gov. Lloyd C. Stark, Cape Girardeau will officially celebrate Thanksgiving Day this year on Nov. 23; in some states, Nov.30, the traditional date for the holiday, will be observed.

Ben Gockel, 76, former sheriff of Cape Girardeau County, dies at a St. Louis hospital after a year's illness; he served as sheriff from 1899-1900 and from 1905-1908; in his first term, it fell to his lot to execute John Headrick for the murder of Jim Lail.

1914

Having covered only a small corner of the city, Lucille A. Settle, attendance officer of the public schools, and Emma Jane Howarth, a critic teacher in the Normal School, have found 24 children of school age who are without sufficient clothing; as a result of their investigation, the ladies have asked The Republican newspaper to call upon liberal citizens of Cape Girardeau to supply clothing for these children.

The ladies of the public library and reading room committee serve tea in the afternoon as part of the formal opening of the reading room at the corner of Themis and Spanish streets.

-- Sharon K. Sanders