Out of the past: May 17

1994

At the behest of the Cape Girardeau City Council, members of the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board have agreed to look at ways to reallocate capitol improvement funds to start the Washington Park project two years ahead of schedule.

Employees of Dumey Excavation Inc. of Cape Girardeau are installing a floodgate at the Union Electric viaduct substation on old Highway 61; the gate will be used for employee traffic into the substation and can be closed if high water threatens the facility.

1969

Two steel towers which will support an electric power line traversing the Mississippi River are rising toward their ultimate height of 400 feet on either side of the river south of Cape Girardeau; the construction is part of Union Electric Co.'s project to make a connection between a sub-station in Lutesville, Missouri, and the Electric Energy Inc. plant at Joppa, Illinois; the twin towers are being built just north of Commerce, Missouri, and at Thebes, Illinois, by L.E. Meyer Construction Co. of Chicago.

Negotiations last night between officials of Central Packing Co. and members of a meat cutters union were successful in averting a strike by about 75 employees of the plant; workers have accepted a wage increase of 50 cents the first year and 20 cents the third year of a new contract.

1944

An Army investigating board, composed of a captain and two other officers, is to come here this afternoon to check on reports of a low-flying airplane, the antics of which drove hundreds into the streets yesterday afternoon; Mayor R.E. Beckman, concerned about the danger of such a plane crashing here, declares, "This practice of low flying over Cape Girardeau must be stopped."

The Mississippi River fell another 2 feet during the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. today, and residents of the Smelterville suburb are preparing to return to their muck-laden property until the next flood comes along and sends them scurrying back to city-provided havens; the flood stage in the morning is 32.6 feet, putting the river entirely within its banks all along the city's waterfront.

1919

M.A. Ollie, a bridge contractor living at 49 N. Hanover St., is believed by neighbors to have been burned to death at an early hour this morning, when fire destroyed his home; but a careful search through the debris by firefighters fails to find any remains.

A few weeks ago, the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, by prompt response and efficient work, saved from destruction the large lumber yard of C.W. Henderson and the extensive plant of the Goodwin & Jean poultry farm; the owners of these establishments recognize the services of the firefighters with a handsome and substantial bonus.

-- Sharon K. Sanders