Out of the past: Aug. 25

1999

First-day enrollment at Southeast Missouri State University climbed 4.3% over a year ago; Southeast had 8,113 students enrolled at the start of fall-semester classes Monday; Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, says 600 to 800 more students may enroll in classes at SEMO and its outlying education centers before final enrollment is calculated four weeks into the semester.

Cape Girardeau police have gotten more drivers to slow down over the last year, parking patrol cars outside businesses and homes; empty patrol cars parked along Kingshighway and other streets are left by police who live outside the city limits; for insurance purposes, the cars must stay within the city limits.

1974

Sister Mary Anita Ressel celebrates her golden jubilee in her home town of Kelso; the former Leona Ressel, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Theodore E. Ressel, became a candidate with the Most Precious Blood Sisters of O’Fallon in August 1921; she entered the order in September 1922 and made her first vows Aug. 10, 1924; the jubilee celebration begins with morning Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church, followed by a reception in the parish gymnasium.

The new worship facilities of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville are dedicated in the morning; the pastor, the Rev. W.F. Neumann, preaches on the theme “All Glory Be to God Alone”.

1949

The annual meetings at Old McKendree Chapel are to be resumed this year after a lapse due to the war, it is announced by the McKendree Board of Trustees; Bishop Ivan Lee Holt, while in Cape Girardeau early this year, agreed to preach the sermon, showing much enthusiasm over getting the annual events started again so the Methodist shrine may be kept alive.

Except for a 1,400-foot stretch and a few minor gaps where physical barriers must be crossed, laying of pipe to bring natural gas from the Big and Little Inch lines near Illmo to Cape Girardeau has been completed; no timetable for actual completion of the distribution system has been set by Missouri Utilities Co., but those in charge say the arrangements are underway for a team of about 30 men to arrive here early in September to make preparations to convert the present equipment for use of natural gas instead of the manufactured variety.

1924

Marshall Leslie, 65, a farmer, is probably fatally injured when he is attacked by a bull in a field on the Ben Heuer farm on the Perryville Road, five miles northwest of Cape Girardeau; physicians say Leslie’s condition is critical; he was attacked from behind by the vicious animal as he drove a cow from the pasture.

I. Ben Miller, J.A. Serena, Julian Friant and Fred and George Naeter leave early in the morning by automobile for Memphis, Tennessee, where they will attend the Cotton States Merchants Association convention; in all, 17 Cape Girardeau businessmen will attend the convention.

Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a blog called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper. Check out her blog at semissourian.com/history.