Out of the past: April 6

1992

The Cape Girardeau City Council unanimously approves a local ethics ordinance designed to better prevent conflicts of interest; the law will require public disclosures of council members' financial interests and expands penalties for violations of the measure.

Installation begins of new Fiberglas columns around steel supports in front of Common Pleas Courthouse; the new columns replace wood pillars that had become targets for woodpeckers and had weathered badly.

1967

The newly organized Cape Girardeau City Council last night approved the layout for a large trailer court, located between Minnesota Avenue, West End Boulevard and College Street near the Cape Osteopathic Hospital property. John Hill Jr. needed the council's approval of the layout of the court, which will include an office building, laundromat, two bath houses and a heated pool, prior to submitting a request for rezoning of the 28-acre tract.

Fifty years ago today, the United States stepped from the sidelines and joined the Great War; World War I had been raging for nearly three years before "the great neutral" sent its doughboys "over there." Fifteen months and five days later, the conflict was finished.

1942

Cape Girardeau observes Army Day without fanfare, flags draping the streets and appearing in increasing numbers throughout the community as the city pays tribute to soldiers who are in training or are serving on foreign fields.

Fourth of July will be a quiet one for Cape Girardeau; it is reported at a city council meeting no fireworks can be had; Commissioner R.E. Beckman says the American Legion has been advised by a company it has patronized that it cannot get picnic fireworks this year.

1917

A front-page headline in The Daily Republican newspaper reads, "War Declared at 1:13 today." The news is greeted quietly in Cape Girardeau, where plans are made for a patriotic rally tomorrow at the International Shoe factory on Main Street.

The Cape Girardeau Commercial Club officially, heartily and unanimously endorses the proposition for a bond issue of $1,000,000 for building roads at an evening meeting; county highway engineer Dennis Scivally explains to club members why the bond issue would be the best way to get permanent roads to be enjoyed immediately.

-- Sharon K. Sanders