Out of the past: March 21

1993

American Superstores will open a new facility in the Cape Girardeau market in the near future; the firm has leased the 45,000-square-foot building that formerly housed Storey's Food Giant in Cape Girardeau Centre, 201 S. Broadview.

Retired Dr. William O.L. Seabaugh, 71, is the driving force behind the Sprigg Street Medical Center, a health care facility designed to help meet the needs of individuals and families with little or no access to medical care; after about five months operation, Seabaugh says about 40 percent of his patients are Medicare patients.

1968

Cape Girardeau, which narrowly missed the honor a year ago, is named an All-American City by LOOK magazine; the publication selected 11 cities coast-to-coast for the honor.

Jerry Lorberg, a Gordonville farmer, files as a candidate for Cape Girardeau County judge of the First District; he is a Republican; Lorberg operates a farm of about 900 acres in partnership with his brother, John.

1943

Don M. Barnes, president of the St. Louis Browns, arrives in Cape Girardeau from St. Louis to spend most of this week with his club in spring training; arriving with him are Charles W. DeWitt, traveling secretary, and Anthony Buford, secretary of the Browns; DeWitt will remain in Cape Girardeau for the duration of the spring workouts.

Without warning, the office of Price Administration halts the sale of butter, lard and similar products at midnight, saying sale of those commodities will not be resumed until rationing starts next Monday; the order catches Cape Girardeans unprepared; when the word spreads this afternoon about the order, dozens of people go to retail places they believe butter might be had; butter is quickly snapped up at the few places offering it for sale.

1918

If a plan baseball enthusiast Joe Barenkamp of Cape Girardeau has in mind works out, and fans give him their support, a new sort of baseball will be tried here this season; Barenkamp plans to form a league in Cape Girardeau with four teams and play two games each Sunday; every member of these teams would be a home boy, and professional players wouldn't be allowed; also, the teams would be as evenly balanced with talent as possible.

The hearing before Commissioner E.J. Bean of the Missouri Public Service Commission on the Frisco passenger station matter is taken up in the afternoon; a number of witnesses tell of the need of a new station in Cape Girardeau; offering testimony are the city's school nurse and sanitary officer.

-- Sharon K. Sanders